Spring Training (week 273)

The Keisler household is filled with the sounds of baseball. Whether you are a player, fan, or little brother baseball abounds. If it isn't picture day, practice, or game time; there is baseball on the radio, baseball practice under the lights, batting practice at the park, or Wii baseball in the living room. To top it all off, I finally got to use some of my Christmas and Birthday money to buy a new Easton baseball bat (25 ounce), and a new Skillz baseball training stick.

The cool thing is that for the first time, Christopher (at 27 months) is also really getting into playing baseball. We are not sure if it is because he actually likes to play the game, or if it is because there hasn't been much else to do. He spends a lot of his free time with his best (girl) friend Maddie in the grandstands at Heartwell Park watching practice or games. He took one major fall off the bleachers and under the bench seating this Saturday, and he also had his first sunflower seeds (which he ended up chewing the shells and spitting out). But this was also the first week that he began to throw and catch the Whiffle balls in the backyard, and he went nuts when he got a hold of my new black "Hammer" baseball bat. Daddy and I were taking hitting practice in the garage after it got dark outside, and Christopher went nuts taking his turns and trying to hit the thing out of Daddy's hands. He was an animal!

This week was also picture day, pancake breakfast, and our game with the Red Sox (with Neel from across the street). It was the first time that I had to hit off the tee in the past two years...even though I had a big hit in my first at bat. Usually I hit the first or second pitch...for better or worse...but I think that the pancakes were weighing me down. I still ran the bases strong and finished with a smile (no sliding since I hurt my knee last week). After the game, Daddy and I decided to go to the sports store and pick out a new, lighter bat, a new ball, and some stickers to put on my helmet. I was pretty charged-up by all the baseball stuff at the store...and Daddy was shocked that there were youth bats for over $249 each.

In other news, Christopher continues to really improve his language skills and says the funniest things in the funniest ways. He is trying his consonants now but they are all just a little bit off. He says "yeddow" and "my turn-a" on a regular basis...which cracks everyone up. He is also in a huge tantrum mode and very dramatic. The slightest thing that doesn't go his way is the end of the world. For the most part, he is a perfect terrible two.