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5.10.2011

The Big T.W.O. (Part One)

This past weekend (beginning before the weekend, really) was a blur of celebration in our home all centered around Jude.


One could claim the celebration began on Thursday. We visited with a couple friends at the park, ate lunch with Ryan and then hung out around the house. Jude played with his friends across the street and then Uncle Bryan came over to visit with Jude and we took a walk to get some dinner. I was a pretty low key day considering it was Jude's ACTUAL birthday, but I think we were good with that.

Friday was supposed to be a day all about Jude, but Ryan ended up having to head to work for a little while. Instead, Jude and did a few things during the day, did some pre-birthday party cleaning and then got all cleaned up for his big game! Friday night was the much-anticipated Phillies game!

We got to the park early and were among the first in. The visiting team was still going through batting practice as we were sitting down in one of the mini-restaurants ("Harry the K's") around the field. We ate a small meal and pretty much just tried to enjoy the surroundings. Jude had been asleep upon entering the park, and so when he woke up he was surprised and excited to realize where he was: a baseball field! After a mini-catastrophe involving an exploding poop diaper (the first cloth diaper I insisted be thrown in the trash), the purchase of a new pair of shorts and a good bit of post-traumatic laughter, we were on our way to our seats. For once we had to walk DOWN to get to our seats, instead of scaling the escalators to the 4th level. We were about 18 rows from the field, right along the first base line and one section away from the Phillies dugout. The seats were great (IMO)!

As the teams were taking the field, Ryan took Jude down to the front and Jude was in awe. He knows what a baseball field is. He knows what baseball players look like and he can identify the Phillies logo in an instant, so this was like heaven for him.

For the first bit of the game, he sat on my lap and I made a point to show him the players, point out the Phanatic and in general tell him what all was going on. We got him treats and he was taking it all in. At some point during the first inning, one of the Phillies "Phanstormers" came to our seats, threw confetti on Jude and got our section to sign him a big happy birthday. I'm not sure he really 'got' that part (or should I say I'm not sure he really cared), but we sure thought it was great.

After about 4.5 or 5 innings, Jude got restless. I got a little worried, but figured a little running around up top would help him out. Lucky for us though, before he went crazy, the Phillie Phanatic made his appearance on top of the dugout and Jude was mesmerized for the remainder of the game. He shook his belly like the Phanatic, tried to mimic his dance moves and even got in on the clapping and other 'rally' activities.

When the game was overs (Phillies lost 3-0), we packed up and headed out. The worn out and sleepy Jude was sad to leave, but fell asleep within minutes of climbing in his car seat.

I'm pretty sure there was no better way to celebrate Jude's birthday this year! With his fascination of all things related to balls, it was perfect.

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