T-Ball

Makayla started t-ball a few weeks ago. I'm afraid the poor girl has inherited my total lack of coordination, athleticism, and ability to comprehend anything sports-related. Which is really too bad because she loves baseball. She's been looking forward to this since I signed her up in March.

Kasey and I took her to buy a mitt. or glove. (Wait. Is it called a mitt or a glove? Or are both correct? I'm so confused!) We got to the sporting goods aisle of Walmart and showed her the options. Right away she started jumping up and down, begging for the pink one. Please, please, please! Can I get the pink one? Pink is my very favoritest color in the whole Earth!!

So we bought her the pink one.

It has been so fun watching her at practices. She hasn't quite grasped the concept of moving her feet to field a ground ball. Rather, she puts her mitt(glove) on the ground and then watches the ball roll right by her, shocked that it didn't roll TO her. That darn ball!

Watching her throw the ball is a special treat for me, as well. The coaches have been teaching all the kids how to step and then throw the ball, using their weight and momentum to propel the ball forward. After chasing down the ball that has rolled past her, Makayla runs back to her spot and tries to throw the ball back to her coach. But I think the running kind of confuses her mind a little. Because instead of a step and throw, she does more of a skippity, shuffle-run "I'm-not-sure-how-to-do-this-so-I-hope-the-ball-makes-it-to-you" thunk. . thunk. . . . thunk. . . . . . (ball rolls almost all the way to the coaches feet before it stops.) Oh my Heck!! I LOVE IT!!

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Makayla's first game was on Wednesday. She was so excited. She had her uniform (complete with baseball pants, jersey, and hat) on and was ready to go.

We rushed out the door after a few quick pictures. She got to the field and warmed up with her team. The Twins were first on the field. A few kids batted and then I see Makayla lean over to her coach and say something. He nodded and Makayla started running toward me. Halfway across the field she yelled, at the top of her lungs, "Mom, I have to go potty!" A few of the parents sitting by me chuckled. "Yes, that is my daughter."

By the time we got back from her little potty break, it was Makayla's team's turn to bat. I got this awesome video of Makayla's first at bat. Kasey and I laughed about it several times.

I think my favorite part is when the coach turns her head to look at the ball.

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Although Makayla is absolutely loving t-ball, I have to admit that I'm not crazy about the schedule. Three to four days a week she has either practices or games. I know that doesn't sound like much. Really, it's not. But I am such a homebody. I'd be perfectly happy to stay at home, never leaving to even check the mail for 5-6 days at a time.

So for me, having my kids involved in things is a huge sacrifice. But I think the looks on their faces when they get to do something they love is absolutely worth whatever I think it may cost me. I mean look at the grin on this kid!