A trip to the big city

On Saturday we went down to Seattle for some fun at the Seattle Aquarium and a Sounders FC game. We left Brindzi with Tara and Marcus for the day and headed down during Corbin's nap. About a month ago we were at a restaurant with a big fish tank and Corbin thought it was the coolest thing. So I thought it might be fun to go to the aquarium. We met up with Uncle Kevin and waited in line in the rain.

It was a super speedy trip because of the unexpected long line, a long diper changing line, and things always just take longer with a baby. But Corbin loved it! He especially liked the tanks where he could stand at the glass and watch the big fish! He also liked the river otters that played and spashed about!

We then headed back to Kevin and Meghan's for a nap and some food. Then it was time for Corbin's first Sounders FC game. As you know, Adam is a little Sounders crazy. At first I was giving him a hard time. He spends countless hours on the internet reading all about them, reading blogs, message boards, etc. He knows the players, where they came from, who they played for, what songs have been written about them. It's an obsession. I thought his obsession with the Mariners was bad. I was wrong. He spent money on tickets when I thought we didn't have any money. But now I understand (a little). These games are awesome! There are a few things I like about it more than the Mariners or other sporting events. One, they are more enthusiasic fans. Everyone is into the game. Everyone is on their feet. We know how long it will last, unlike a baseball game that could go on for HOURS. There is constant action. Adam is not keeping score (in his book) but instead just super excited. The atmosphere is just so much better! So now I am a little more understanding with his Sounders craze. I even like the songs... Soundes till I die! And so is Corbin!

Blue softy made an apperance about half way through the game. Helped the teething action and getting ready to sleep.

It's a good thing Corbin already owns a bunch of blue and green. He also got to sport his fancy new scarf from his aunt Meghan.

This is how you cheer!

Yay Sounders!

Nighty night! Babies are amazing! How he can fall asleep through all the horns, screaming, cheering, clapping, singing, chanting, is beyond me (he did have ear plugs in but still)! At about 9 pm, almost 2 hours after his regular bedtime I put on our blanket and started to rock him (in the pack) and put my face inside with his. He just fell asleep. I think if I had tried earlier he might have even slept earlier. Oh well. As we were leaving the stadium people were cheering and chanting and blowing horns and he still slept! It was such a festive mood! I love it! He woke up as we transfered him into the car seat but then fell asleep again once we headed for Bham. And then made up for what he missed in his naps yesterday. He was quite the trooper!

GOOOOO SOUNDERS!

Give me the humus!

Hands in the dirt

Spring is here! Adam and I worked in the garden for the first time in a long time yesterday. It felt good to get my hands in the dirt. I have a small patch of mini daffodills that are blooming. Bulbs are coming up. Garlic is sprouting. Weeds are growing. Spring is here.

Oh to be a...Sounder!

OH! TO!
OH TO BE!
OH TO BE A!
SOUNDER!

Last night was the end of months of building anticipation and the beginning of a lifetime of fandom. I've been excessively obsessed about the coming of Seattle's new MLS franchise, Sounders FC. I've been reading too many Sounders blogs, perusing too many Sounders forums. In these last few weeks, as the inaugural game crept closer, I doubt there was an hour when the Sounders did not enter my mind.

The night before the game, I had an anxiety dream involving ferries, tickets, and incomplete cable channel lineups.

So yes. Maybe you should be concerned about me.

Thursday I took the afternoon off so we could head down to Seattle with time to spare. Kevin, Meghan, Neal, and Mom were coming to the game, and Dad was watching Corbin.

Corbin didn't go to this first game (thanks Grandpa, for watching him!), but he's ready! Aunt Meghan, knitting master, busted out a scarf for him. He might go to the next game, on the 28th, since we might not have a good babysitter option.

The other reason we came down early was to get downtown to participate in the March to the Match. It kicked off at Occidental Park, introduced and commenced by owners Joe Roth, Adrian Hanauer, and Drew Carey. The Sounders have a band (I'm still deciding if this is a good or bad thing; I'm leaning toward good), and they led us several blocks to the stadium. This is a nice tradition, and was fun to be a part of.

Kevin found us all scarves during the Sounders' guerrilla marketing campaign, "Scarf Seattle." There were scarves on trees and benches and signs and even buildings. It was definitely cool and built a lot of interest. And? Free scarf!

The Sounders warmed up a bit before the opening ceremonies. Above, front and center, we have Fredy Montero, who scored a brace for us, including the first goal in Sounders FC history.

I amazed even myself with my ability to identify players. It seemed to confirm that I had spent way too much time with Sounders on the brain.

The Emerald City Supporters are the main organized supporters' group for the Sounders. They are built around chanting, singing, making noise, drinking, and being crazy. They have my full support, and I think supporters' groups are very important to soccer teams, an important cultural component. I'm not into sitting with them, since they have huge flags that can block the view of the field, and I probably won't join their group, since I really have no need for the extensive pub discounts they provide, but I'm glad they're there. They orchestrated a nice display after the national anthem. The banner reads "Tonight our history becomes legend." It was impressive and well-done.


As the game began I had this vibrating excitement in my legs (actually, this last well past the final whistle). The whole stadium stood for the entire first half, and the noise and energy was incredible. When Fredy slipped in that first goal in the 13th minute or so, and involuntary and unexpected erupted from my mouth. I don't know that I've ever felt a cheer like that before. The Sounders have truly gotten to me.

I think it makes a difference, too, to be there for the beginning of something. I love the Mariners, but they are a few years older than me. They've been around. There have been incarnations of the Sounders in Seattle through the years, but this is the first time in 25 years that the top level of North American soccer has existed in our state. And the first time that I have known about it, and felt it, and been a part of it.

I'm pretty sure my voice was gone before the end of the first half.

I was wired and exhausted and energized by the time the final whistle blew. Since the soccer clock runs continuously, there is no rest for the engaged fan (unlike baseball and football, which are chock full of stops and starts--as much playing as waiting). I cheered every little thing, from a clearance to a quick pass, goal to save to header to foul. Everything was exciting, and I absorbed every second of it.

I'm Sounders till I die
I'm Sounders till I die
I know I am
I'm sure I am
I'm Sounders till I die.

While we are an expansion team, and no one would fault us for losing our very first game to an experienced side, it turned out Fredy's first goal was all we needed. We dominated and dismantled a New York team named for an energy drink. It was glorious and wonderous and the start of something good.

More 9 month photos

Becky took these at play group last week and I couldn't resist sharing them!

9 months

Yep. That's right my little baby is 9 months old! Crazy huh? He doesn't look so much like a little baby now, does he?

He thinks his next adventure is going to be climbing the stairs. I might think otherwise.

I keep saying when he reaches a certain month how much fun he is and how this is my favorite age. I really do think he is pretty fun right now, the most fun for sure! He is more predictable, which is nice. He eats breakfast, lunch and dinner and nurses 4 times a day (most days). He is eating all kinds of yummy things. Last week we introduced Cherrios (organic) and yesterday he tried sardines. He loved them! He seems to prefer the beans and cheese and fruit to other things like broccoli and other veggies. He feeds himself most things now. He will pick through what is on his tray to get what he wants. Eventually he will eat everything but he goes for his favorites first. We also have to watch that he doesn't just shovel the food in without chewing. He will get a mouthful and keep putting more in.

He takes 2 naps, most of the time they are an hour or more. Although he does seem to talk to himself and play in his crib for up to a half hour or more sometimes before falling asleep! If I miss the sleep window he will often take up to an hour to fall asleep, not crying but just hanging out. I have been trying to put him down at certain times but sometimes he doesn't seem sleepy. So we are trying to figure out the whole timing of naps. He is sleeping completely through the night! Almost 12 hours a night! Yahoo!! About a month ago I dropped the middle of the night feeding. All it took was one night! He didn't even cry for 5 minutes the first night and minus a couple of nights here and there, he has slept through with no problem!

When he is awake he is one busy guy! He is crawling all over the house. He follows me around or goes off on his own. His favorite room to go to is the weird entry/stairway room. He goes to the sliding glass door and stands at it looking outside. I even put up a baby gate on day to try to keep him in the living room and he figured out how to go around through the hallway to get to the window! He can now go from crawling to sitting up. So now sometimes he will be crawling furiously towards something, then stop, sit up, look around then continue on. It's so cute. Then he will get somewhere, pull himself up. Look around, maybe move along the thing, get down, and do it all over again. He likes to pull things out of his toy box. And one of his newest things is to take something like a block or book, or toy, and try to crawl around with it. It helps if it slides but sometimes it doesn't and he has this funny limp crawl while trying to drag it along! Ha! As you saw in the video he likes his new walker wagon. He is getting frustrated when he pushes it and it gets stuck somewhere. I wonder when we will have real walker on our hands. I walked at 9 months!

Changing his diaper has become a wresting match. Which I admit, is not fun. We are now compeletly washing our own cloth diapers. No more diaper service. I need to get my washing schedule down but so far so good. We LOVE our cloth diapers!

As usaul, he loves to be outside. He hardly falls asleep anymore when we are on walks. He just watches everything and talks and talks. It's so fun! He loves to go to the grocery store and sit in the cart. He smiles and flirts with all the ladies who smile at him. He still has his 4 teeth. I keep thinking any day he will sprout another one. But nope. He is also waving, not at everyone but sometimes the dog, the cat, me, Adam, the trees, it's cute.

We have his 9 month doctor appointment tomorrow so we will see how much he weighs and his height. And get some shots and blood drawn. I am not looking forward to that part. Then we head to Seattle for the opening game of the Sounders. Adam is a little Sounders crazy. Corbin is going to hang out with Grandpa Mark at Kevin and Meghan's but soon he will go to his first game too!

Walking...sort of

Another mom and baby adventure

This adventure went much more as planned. A ski on a beautiful warmish March day near Mt. Baker. Only a few tired cries from Corbin as we headed back to the car. And some great help form Vicky! All in all, a great day!

My funny guy

I finally have some time to write a blog post. I just finished reading the teen vampire saga, The Twilight Series. Basically good teen vampire fun reading! But it made it so that all I wanted to do during Corbin's naps was read. Not do the dishes, not use the computer, not do chores, not nap. Only read. Ha!

So now I get to do a little update while Corbin is playing around. He entertains himself so well these days. Just checking in with me once in a while. He is at a full crawl. Pulling himself up on everything. He was just sitting at his toy box pulling things out and looking at them. He follows me everywhere now. Almost like a little puppy! It's so cute!

He got a new thing in the mail last week. I thought I might wait till his first birthday or something to get this but he is ready for it now. And hopefully it will bring some long lasting fun way beyond the walking stage!

He is sooo funny when he eats! We introduced beans while at my parents house. So far he loves the red beans more than any other. He just shovels them into his mouth! And cooked carrots cubed. I have to stop him from stuffing his mouth so he won't choke! Now I understand why they need baths every day! Which by the way, he is taking by himself now. Sitting up, and crawling around, like a big boy. He LOVEs to splash! It is super cute! He is just growing up so big! And he is trying to wave. So far he is mostly waving at Brindzi and Gryffin and the trees. He kinda holds his arm up and then kinda moves it around. It's pretty funny!

Safety

Corbin is now an experienced flier. Not only does he read the safety instructions while waiting, he also knows how to sit up like a big boy with his seat belt on. Safety first!

Visting the Grandparents

Blogger just erased my whole writing and I don't feel like writing it again. So enjoy the pictures.