Funny Fish

Tate always comes home from school singing a song they learned that day.  Yesterday evening, he let me record him singing "Funny Fish" - a song all about words that begin with the letter F.  So sweet I had to share...

Love to y'all,

Tracy

Mommy and Me Weekend

Brad went on a "boy's trip" this weekend to Galveston to go fishing.  He left on Thursday afternoon and gets back later tonight.  So Tate, Knox, and I had a weekend just the three of us. 

First off, I have to give soooo much credit to all the women that are single moms every day of the year... what a tough job!  I am EXHAUSTED to say the least and can't wait for Brad to get home.   I feel like he's been gone forever and has missed so much.

Knox's first tooth popped through Friday night.  It's barely there, but I can feel it poking through his gum... which is why he's had two terrible nights in a row.  I can't even count how many times I've trudged up and down our stairs in the last forty-eight hours. 

Tate had his second BLASTball game yesterday and did so well!!!  He hit great and was all over the field diving for groundballs.  He was a complete mess when we got home, but he was thrilled because he was awarded the "game ball" for his hustle during the game.  I couldn't have been prouder of him.

Of course I adore Tate and Knox, but I have to admit, I'm ready for a little help around here.  I'm predicting I'll be in bed before nine tonight.  Ahhhhh.... sleep.

Love to y'all,
Tracy

Swinging in the Rain

Every evening after dinner, Tate begs us to go outside to hit some baseballs.  Tonight was no different.  As we were clearing off the table, he was on his way to find his flipflops and batting helmet and was heading out the backdoor.  I warned him that it was getting a little dark and windy outside, but he didn't seem to mind.

After all, a little rain doesn't bother a real ballplayer, now does it?
Click here to watch a little video...

After all that excitement, Brad and the boys went in the garage to watch the rain.
Check out Tate in the rain...

Love to y'all,
Tracy

BLASTball!

I think today is a day that Brad has been waiting for since the moment in the hosipital when it was announced, "It's a boy!"  Tate had his very first T-ball game this morning! 

Their team is called, what else?  The Texas Rangers.  And there are only three other teams in the league.  Brad and two of his friends are the coaches and two of Tate's best buddies are on the team as well.  They call it BLASTball, but it's basically T-ball with a couple minor modifications to make it easier for four year olds.

Tate has been soooooo excited since Thursday when he brought home his "uniform" (T-shirt and hat).  He is convinced the front says "Texas Rangers" (its says BLASTball) and is thrilled he gets to be number 5, just like his daddy.  So Thursday night, he put on his shirt after his bath and wore it to bed and then kept it on for school yesterday.  I know, I know... We pick our battles around here, okay?  Anyway, my mom convinced him to let her wash it last night so he could wear it again today. 

So how'd it go?  Basically, he didn't want to field anything.  Just stood there looking cute.  When it was time for him to hit, he'd run out to the batter's box and swing like a little left-handed champ!  He knew exactly how to drop the bat and run to first base.  But he had trouble getting himself to run to second after the next kid hit the ball.  He'd act all shy and not want to run.  By the last inning, he finally got the guts up to run the bases, with a little coaxing from me. 

Overall, all the kids did a great job!  It was just so sweet to watch them out their playing like the big boys.  I couldn't be a prouder mama. 

Love to y'all,

Tracy

One more thing... after the game, I found Tate walking towards the other team while everyone was packing up.  I asked him what he was doing.  He said he was going over "to tell the green team they didn't win."  Guess we're gonna have to do a little bit more teaching on the subject of sportsmanship... Oops.

Breakfast of Champions...

GO RANGERS!!!

Simple Is Never Simple

We're having such a nice, relaxing Labor Day weekend.  No big plans.  Nowhere we have to be.  Just enjoying our family.  It all seems so simple. 

And yet, it's in these moments that Nash's absence becomes all too apparent.  Minutes ago, I was outside enjoying the beautiful September weather.  Tate and I were playing a game, while Brad was cleaning out the garage.  Knox is upstairs asleep.  It's times like these that I can't help but wonder where Nash would fit in to all of this.  Would he be bothering us while we tried to play, taking our ball and frustrating his older brother?  Would he be playing on the slide, happy to be such a big boy now?  Would he be sprawled on the couch with a sippy cup of juice as watched the Disney Channel in his jammies? 

I don't know. 

I wish I could get just a glimpse of what it would be like with all three of my little ones running around my feet.  I can't even imagine the peace that would come into my heart and fill my soul.  It's tough to accept that this will never be the way it is for me or for my family.

Our lives will never be simple.  I do have hope that they will become less complicated as the years go by.  But I know that simple will never be the way it is around here.

Love to y'all,
Tracy