Lately, on our nightly trips to Belmont, J.P. and I have been spending more and more time on the soccer field playing soccer. He has a small-sized soccer ball I picked up a long time ago at Athlete's House. I keep it in the back of my truck and we get it out each night we're up there.
He's really pretty good with the soccer ball. Usually, he runs onto the field when we get there, throws the ball on the ground, then takes off running and kicking it across the field (or dribbling, as they say in the World Cup). I chase him and he squeals as I get closer to him, laughing. As he kicks the soccer ball over the paved track at the end of his run, I yell "GOOOOOOAAAAL!" After a couple of good runs back and forth across the field, we stop and take turns "passing" the ball to each other.
It's awesome, really, because he'll kick the ball to me, then I'll kick it right back to him. Sometimes, he'll miss the ball completely and just laugh, which makes me laugh. Other times, he kicks it right back to me, which is pretty cool. He's clearly right footed but, with encouragement, he'll kick the ball to me with his left foot, as well. Although I know virutally nothing about soccer, I enjoy every minute of our time playing soccer together.
Tonight, we stood on the side of the soccer field nearest the tennis courts, passing the ball to each other. I kicked it backwards to J.P., with my heel, much to his delight. He tried to do the same thing, but couldn't quite manage it. He got tickled as he tried, which made me laugh even harder. We stood there on the soccer field, bathed in the light from the tennis courts, laughing and laughing. Not talking, just laughing.
That's what it's all about, I think.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Tennessee State Fair
The fairgrounds - home of the annual Tennessee State Fair - is about a mile from our house. We went to the State Fair last year and J.P. had so much fun that almost every Sunday since then when we drove through the fairgrounds on our way to church, he asked when the Fair would be back in town. Much to his delight, the Fair arrived a couple of weeks ago and we made plans to go Thursday night.
As we prepared to leave the house, J.P was so excited he was literally bouncing up and down and grinning from ear to ear. Unbridled joy, for sure.
As always, the food didn't disappoint. Although I threatened to get a beef sundae, I didn't. I did, however, eat a corn dog, french fries, most of Jude's Frito chili pie and some of J.P.'s soft serve ice cream. Oh, and I had a small cup of chocolate milk from the Purity Milk exhibition booth. And I felt sick on the way home. Yep, that's the State Fair.
For sure, J.P.'s favorite ride of the night was the Euroslide. He rode it with me for the first time last year and loved it. This year was no different. If we rode it once, we rode it 8 times and J.P. enjoyed it every time we slid down.
We rode a small, "caterpillar" roller coaster made for children. It was a bit loud for him, but he tolerated it pretty well.
He really got a kick out of skeeball, especially when I won a prize and he got to pick it out. The funniest part, though, was when he threw two of the wooden balls completely off the track and under a trailer. He cried when we wouldn't let him crawl under a tractor trailer to try and find them.
The safest thing we did at the State Fair was walk through the agricultural exhibit in one of the convention halls. Of course, that's where J.P. tripped and fell into a small picket fence and got his first bloody nose. Go figure.
As we prepared to leave the house, J.P was so excited he was literally bouncing up and down and grinning from ear to ear. Unbridled joy, for sure.
As always, the food didn't disappoint. Although I threatened to get a beef sundae, I didn't. I did, however, eat a corn dog, french fries, most of Jude's Frito chili pie and some of J.P.'s soft serve ice cream. Oh, and I had a small cup of chocolate milk from the Purity Milk exhibition booth. And I felt sick on the way home. Yep, that's the State Fair.
For sure, J.P.'s favorite ride of the night was the Euroslide. He rode it with me for the first time last year and loved it. This year was no different. If we rode it once, we rode it 8 times and J.P. enjoyed it every time we slid down.
We rode a small, "caterpillar" roller coaster made for children. It was a bit loud for him, but he tolerated it pretty well.
He really got a kick out of skeeball, especially when I won a prize and he got to pick it out. The funniest part, though, was when he threw two of the wooden balls completely off the track and under a trailer. He cried when we wouldn't let him crawl under a tractor trailer to try and find them.
Thomas the Train Comes to Town
Two Saturdays ago, Thomas the Train was in town and, much to J.P.'s delight, we went to see him, live and in person at the Tennessee Railway Museum. J.P. loves Thomas the Train and he could wait to "talk" to him and ride in a train he was pulling.
The ride itself was nothing to write home about, given that the train essentially backed down the tracks in one direction for ten minutes, then reversed course and drove forward up the same set of tracks back into the "station." Still, it was cool for J.P. to get to ride as a passenger on a train and he really enjoyed it. I enjoyed it, too, at least the part where I dozed off.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Volleyball
In mid-August, a couple of weeks before fall semester began, J.P. and I met several members of the women's volleyball team on a couple of our nightly trips to Belmont's campus. They were really sweet to him and made quite an impression, as he's asked about them quite often since then.
Tuesday night after dinner, J.P. and I drove to campus, parked and walked into the Curb Center. We took the elevator upstairs and, as we got off, heard noise coming from the gym. We walked in and were tickled to death to see the women's volleyball team playing a match against Tennessee Tech. Across the gym floor, J.P. saw Kelsey, one of the girls he really likes, and he waves to her. Smiling and trying not to be seen by the coach, she furtively waved back.
Within a few minutes, the match was over, Belmont winning all 3 games. After the teams shook hands at center court, I turned J.P. loose and he ran across the court to Belmont's team. Several of the girls recognized him and their faces lit up as he ran toward them. They were smiling and laughing as he gave them high fives and hugs. The ones that had met him were really pleased we had come to see them play. It was a sweet moment. I think we'll stop by on Tuesday, when they're playing the University of Dayton.
Tuesday night after dinner, J.P. and I drove to campus, parked and walked into the Curb Center. We took the elevator upstairs and, as we got off, heard noise coming from the gym. We walked in and were tickled to death to see the women's volleyball team playing a match against Tennessee Tech. Across the gym floor, J.P. saw Kelsey, one of the girls he really likes, and he waves to her. Smiling and trying not to be seen by the coach, she furtively waved back.
Within a few minutes, the match was over, Belmont winning all 3 games. After the teams shook hands at center court, I turned J.P. loose and he ran across the court to Belmont's team. Several of the girls recognized him and their faces lit up as he ran toward them. They were smiling and laughing as he gave them high fives and hugs. The ones that had met him were really pleased we had come to see them play. It was a sweet moment. I think we'll stop by on Tuesday, when they're playing the University of Dayton.
It's Fall!
I'm unwinding after an 8-mile trail run in Shelby Bottoms, sitting on our front porch listening to the city sounds on a gorgeous, 60 degree fall morning. Birds are chirping contentedly in the trees, the occasional car passes in front of my house and I can hear, in the distance, the sounds of one of the many ongoing construction projects at Belmont University. A light breeze is rustling the leaves of our stately, old Maple Tree and I can hear that, too. There are football games to be watched - college today and pro tomorrow - the weekend has begun and fall is officially here!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Laura
J.P. adores, and I mean adores, Jude's cousin, Laura McCutcheon (I guess that makes J.P. and Laura second cousins). For a while, when Laura was between jobs, she nannied for him. Laura is a wonderful person and in the relatively brief period of time she kept him for us, she made quite an impression on him.
Recently, Laura was home for a month from Spain, where she's been living and working for several months. She came over one night and we all went to a Nashville Sounds' game. When Laura arrived at our house, J.P. was so excited he couldn't contain himself. Jude and I have never seen him talk so much, so fast, about so many different things in so short a period of time. He was insistent on telling Laura about everything that was going on in his life, big or small, as quickly as possible.
Jude and I always have been so impressed with how good Laura is with J.P. - how well she connects with him. To me, Laura has just always seemed to radiate a certain happiness and it rubs off on other people. Certainly, it's rubbed off on J.P. He just enjoys being around her. It's been that way from day one, whenever she's been around him. Laura is going to be a wonderful mother, someday. I'm convinced of it.
It's funny, but one of the most rewarding things about my relationship with Jude's family and, in particular, her many cousins, has been watching all of them grow up. When I first met most of them, they were just kids, literally. Now, they're out of college, working and some are even married and have children. It's been one of my great pleasures to watch, often from afar, as they have matured into adulthood.
Recently, Laura was home for a month from Spain, where she's been living and working for several months. She came over one night and we all went to a Nashville Sounds' game. When Laura arrived at our house, J.P. was so excited he couldn't contain himself. Jude and I have never seen him talk so much, so fast, about so many different things in so short a period of time. He was insistent on telling Laura about everything that was going on in his life, big or small, as quickly as possible.
Jude and I always have been so impressed with how good Laura is with J.P. - how well she connects with him. To me, Laura has just always seemed to radiate a certain happiness and it rubs off on other people. Certainly, it's rubbed off on J.P. He just enjoys being around her. It's been that way from day one, whenever she's been around him. Laura is going to be a wonderful mother, someday. I'm convinced of it.
It's funny, but one of the most rewarding things about my relationship with Jude's family and, in particular, her many cousins, has been watching all of them grow up. When I first met most of them, they were just kids, literally. Now, they're out of college, working and some are even married and have children. It's been one of my great pleasures to watch, often from afar, as they have matured into adulthood.
Children's House
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Buckle Your Seatbelt
I'm sitting at Bongo Java, alone, at the table in the back where J.P. and I have had a many a breakfast. I got up a little early for a Saturday morning, hoping to beat the heat when I ran the trails at Shelby Bottoms and, also, hoping for a little quiet time to collect my thoughts. It's nice, just listening to the sounds of people talking in the front room and of coffee and drinks being made. I can hear Chad, Megan (J.P.'s favorite Bongo Java barristas) and a few other employees laughing and taking orders. It sounds like home.
Where to begin?
Jude's pregnant. Our doctor and friend, Roseann Maikis, gave us the green light at our visit with her on Wednesday to start spreading the news. In classic Jude vs. Phil fashion, since Wednesday Jude has shared our news with only a handful of people, mostly immediately family and close friends. I've told friends, co-workers, acquaintances, etc. I haven't mentioned it to complete strangers, although I've been tempted to. I can't stop smiling and, really, it was difficult for me to focus on anything at work this week. Every few minutes, I took out the ultrasound pictures, looked at them, and started smiling again.
It's weird - Jude and I were laughing about this the other day - but we can't remember much, if anythying, about her pregnancy with J.P. We can't remember the details, at least, or what happens at particular doctor's visits. You'd think she'd been pregnant with J.P. more than a decade ago, given how much trouble we have recalling what we learned then during the process.
We don't know if it's a boy or girl. We'll find out at the 20-week ultrasound, which is scheduled for six or seven weeks from now (Jude's around 13 weeks now, give or take a few days). We've got a long way to go and we realize that, but so far, so good. I don't feel as nervous as I was when Jude was pregnant with J.P., but that may change.
It's so amazing, so life affirming for Jude and me (and, yes, J.P.) to be starting out toegher on this journey again. It's kind of like taking a trip or a vacation and discovering a beautiful, idyllic spot with a wonderful view and, as you start to leave, feeling a little melancholy or nostaligic because you know, in your lifetime, you will probably never stand there with the same view again. Somehow, miraculously, you find yourself back in that same spot a few years later and it's just as beautiful, just as breathtaking, as it was the first time you stood there. Nothing has changed and everything has changed, but here you are, again.
That's how I feel.
Where to begin?
Jude's pregnant. Our doctor and friend, Roseann Maikis, gave us the green light at our visit with her on Wednesday to start spreading the news. In classic Jude vs. Phil fashion, since Wednesday Jude has shared our news with only a handful of people, mostly immediately family and close friends. I've told friends, co-workers, acquaintances, etc. I haven't mentioned it to complete strangers, although I've been tempted to. I can't stop smiling and, really, it was difficult for me to focus on anything at work this week. Every few minutes, I took out the ultrasound pictures, looked at them, and started smiling again.
It's weird - Jude and I were laughing about this the other day - but we can't remember much, if anythying, about her pregnancy with J.P. We can't remember the details, at least, or what happens at particular doctor's visits. You'd think she'd been pregnant with J.P. more than a decade ago, given how much trouble we have recalling what we learned then during the process.
We don't know if it's a boy or girl. We'll find out at the 20-week ultrasound, which is scheduled for six or seven weeks from now (Jude's around 13 weeks now, give or take a few days). We've got a long way to go and we realize that, but so far, so good. I don't feel as nervous as I was when Jude was pregnant with J.P., but that may change.
It's so amazing, so life affirming for Jude and me (and, yes, J.P.) to be starting out toegher on this journey again. It's kind of like taking a trip or a vacation and discovering a beautiful, idyllic spot with a wonderful view and, as you start to leave, feeling a little melancholy or nostaligic because you know, in your lifetime, you will probably never stand there with the same view again. Somehow, miraculously, you find yourself back in that same spot a few years later and it's just as beautiful, just as breathtaking, as it was the first time you stood there. Nothing has changed and everything has changed, but here you are, again.
That's how I feel.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
School Daze
And so it goes.
Tomorrow, J.P. has his first day of school at Children's House, the Montessori Day School he'll be attending (full time!) this year. He'll go to school 3 days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 2 days a week, Carley will pick him up at 11:30 a.m.
It absolutely boggles my mind that already, after what seems like such a relatively short period of time, J.P. is going to school full time. It's crazy! Just yesterday, or so is seems, he was with me, laying on a quilt in the front yard, crawling for the first time. I frantically called Jude - who was sleepings upstairs - to come watch him crawl.
And now he's starting school.
I just don't get how time could pass by so quickly. One day I'm strolling him down to Bongo Java, the next day we're dropping him off at school. So many memories flicker in my mind. 3 1/2 years have passed by in an instant. I suspect I'll cry more tomorrow morning than he does.
Damn. Now he's starting school.
Tomorrow, J.P. has his first day of school at Children's House, the Montessori Day School he'll be attending (full time!) this year. He'll go to school 3 days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 2 days a week, Carley will pick him up at 11:30 a.m.
It absolutely boggles my mind that already, after what seems like such a relatively short period of time, J.P. is going to school full time. It's crazy! Just yesterday, or so is seems, he was with me, laying on a quilt in the front yard, crawling for the first time. I frantically called Jude - who was sleepings upstairs - to come watch him crawl.
And now he's starting school.
I just don't get how time could pass by so quickly. One day I'm strolling him down to Bongo Java, the next day we're dropping him off at school. So many memories flicker in my mind. 3 1/2 years have passed by in an instant. I suspect I'll cry more tomorrow morning than he does.
Damn. Now he's starting school.
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