American As Apple Pie

Recently, I was able to fulfill a dream. Ever since, well, before Casey was born, I thought one of the coolest thing about being a daddy would be to goto sporting events with my son. Some of my memories of my childhood involve my dad taking me to games. He took me to see Pele play soccer. He took me to see the Harlem Globetrotters. And he took me to see baseball games. I also remember one time my big brother promised to take me to a baseball game too. On the day of the game, I was so excited, only to have my brother cancel on me... cause he had a date! With a girl.. EWWWW, she probably had cooties... Anyhow, I digress.

Back on track. On a recent visit to see Nai-Nai and Ye-Ye, I got to take Casey to his first baseball game. But that's not even the best part. Nai-Nai and Ye-Ye rallied and came too! So Casey got to experience his first ever baseball game with his daddy and his grandpa! (Oh, and mommy and grandma too). I think Casey had a great day. Honestly, I think his highlights were the train ride to the stadium, and the stairs and waterfall at Petco Park. What could be better than a baseball with your dad and grandpa. It's as American as apple pie!

We got Casey all dressed in his Padres outfit and took him to Petco Park. He got a tour around the stadium, and we visited the 'Park in the Park'. When he gets a little older, I'm sure he will be more active in the Park.

Casey's first trolley ride:
With Nai-Nai and Ye-Ye at Petco Park. His FIRST baseball game!Casey, in the 'Park at the Park'

Daddy and his son at his first baseball gameIn his Padres jersey, Casey is pointing at the waterfall.
Family portait in front of the Petco Park waterfall.

Hitting for the cycle

In baseball there are four types of hits; single, double, triple and home run. If a player gets one of each type, in one game, its called 'hitting for the cycle'...

In Los Angeles, these past few days have been HOT. Like record-setting hot. We took Casey to the pool in the afternoon for some relief from the heat. I guess there's some special "diapers" called swimmers, or something like that. At this point, I don't know much about them, and it really isn't that important. But you gotta know, somehow, they are gonna factor into this story, else I wouldnt have mentioned them. Since Casey hasnt learned to swim yet, I have to hold him in the water. Alternatively, he can stand on the steps leading into the pool. Depending on which step he is on, the water reaches his shins, his belly, or his chin. Today, I brought my swimming goggles, and would dive underwater, and pop up in front of him and yell 'peek-a-boo'. So, one time while I'm underwater, I look in his direction, and I see a dark-ish cloud expanding in the water... Being emitted from Casey... To be specific, emitting from just behind Casey. You know in the movies, when they show the mushroom cloud from the atomic bomb in slow motion.. Kinda like that, 'cept it was underwater, and brownish... It was just spreading in the water, and I thought, 'Uh Oh'...

Yup, he went #2 in his 'swimmers'. Drop a deuce in the bath tub. Drop a log in the shower. Splash some floaties into the bathwater. And now, pull a "Caddyshack" and poop in the pool.

Way to go kid, you just hit for the cycle.

Hide and Seek

Little Casey is quite the playful one. During a recent trip to visit Nai-Nai and Ye-Ye, he engaged in a game of hide and seek with Nai-Nai. He 'hid' on Nai-Nai's bed, surrounded by pillows.

Here I am!You found me, and my doggie!

Floaties

We had a great family day today. Casey got lathered in sunscreen, spent most of the day outside, walking in the LA sunshine, and running through a fountain. (Post to follow) He got so tuckered out that he took a great afternoon nap. After naptime, we all went out to eat. And Casey ate like a champ. He polished off about 4 'adult' bowls of food. We are trying to have him eat with his own spoon. So, he began with his spoon in his left hand, scooping food, having some of it fall off the spoon, missing his mouth with some more, and finally getting a small fraction of the original spoonful into his belly. Like his daddy, he's always thinking about making process' more efficient. So, he takes his right hand and grabs handfuls of food and shoves them in his mouth. I can tell he's thinking, "You people and your utensils... so inefficient". The downside to this method is that it is messy. Food all over his hands, face, arms, in his hair, and some stuck on his legs. Nothing a good bath cant take care of...

So, our great day culminated in bathtime. I gave him a bath, let him stay in the tub to splash around in the water. He was splashing so hard, water was getting everywhere. So, I pulled the shower curtain partially shut, and he thought I was playing 'peek-a-boo' with him. He also decided to take advantage of his newfound privacy. I pulled the curtain back, said 'peek-a-boo'... and looked down at the water... FLOATIES.. Yup, Casey was dropping nuggets in the water. I ran downstairs and grabbed my camera to preserve the moment.

And with this episode, he pretty much completes the trifecta. Drop a deuce in the bath tub. Check. Drop a log in the shower. Check. And now.. splash some floaties into the water. Check.

Melts in your...

A long time ago, when I was a kid, a well known candy company had an advertising jingle that went something like 'melts in your mouth, not in your hand'
Ummm, really?

"Whoa, my hand looks wierd!"
"Hey guys, does my mouth look funny too?"

Big Bro, Little ...

Soon, Casey will have someone to play catch with, to get mischevious with, to play hooky with, to pull all-nighters with, to bitch about his 'lame' parents with, to be his best friend, to be his partner in sports drills, to be his opponent in endless one-on-one games.

Soon, Casey will have a LITTLE BROTHER!

Swimming Pools

I have seen this photo for quite awhile now. But never really realized what I was looking at until MY mom recently told me a story.

She said, and I paraphrase, That I was so stupid, that I walked right up to the pool.. and kept right on walking. That's right, what I am wearing in that photo, is not 1960's childrens swimwear. That's my regular clothes. My poor Dad had to jump in the pool to save me from drowning.

Why do I bring this up now? Well, this summer I have starting taking Casey to the pool. He is adventurous, curious, independent, and apparently, smarter than his Daddy. Casey will walk up to the edge of the pool... And stop.

But he loves the water, and is really happy when I take him in. He hasnt quite mastered the concept of shutting his mouth so as to not drink pool water.