Take Me Out to the Ball Game

I don't tend to sentimentalize fatherhood, but yesterday was one of the best afternoons of my life. Monika and BJ sent Cody and I to see our first baseball game together at the Potomac Nationals (née Canons), right down the road.

The game started at 1:05 p.m. Cody woke up from his nap at 1:50. We were inside the front gate by 2:12. In the backpack, of course.

MAL and BJ got us great seats, where we were right up close, but not in danger of any foul balls.

And I was pretty shameless about asking people to take our picture.

After a couple innings, I realized the sun was pretty strong. I decided that it was important to get Cody some protection.

And I decided that maybe we should have matching hats.

Cody gave me four and a half good innings, which was more than could be said for the P-Nats starting pitcher. In that time, he got the full baseball experience: hot dog, Coke, dip-n-dots. A home team home run--courtesy of 3rd baseman (and NJ native) Tim Pahuta. Lots of cheering and stamping and clapping. My little dude was almost deliriously delighted by the entire experience. Note the afterglow:

This morning I taught him how to sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." He can't wait to go back.

Footnote: We left after the top of the 8th with the P-Nats down 5-6. At one point, they had been down 1-6. Turns out they came back to win, 7-6, in the bottom of the 9th. A charmed day for everyone.