Anthony Varvaro

Bobby Dews

Brandon Beachy

Brooks Conrad

Chipper Jones

Cristhian Martinez #50 and Cory Gearrin #53

Cristhian Marti­nez

Dan Uggla

David Ross

Eric Hinske

Eric O'Flaherty

Johnny Venters

Jose Constanza

Kris Medlen

Martin Prado

Mike Minor

Peter Moylan

Stephen Marek

Wilkin Ramirez #30

Anthony Varvarro
Bobby Dewes
Brandon Beachy
Brian Snitker
Brooks Conrad
Chipper Jones
Cory Gearrin
Cristhian Martinez
Dan Uggla
David Ross
Eric Hinske
Eric O’flaherty
Frank Wren
Jason Heyward
Jonny Venters
Jose Constanza
Kris Medlen
Martin Prado
Mike Minor
Peter Moylan
Scott Proctor
Stephen Marek
Wilken Rameriz

Seven years ago today (tonight), you arrived in our world changed it forever. It’s true what everyone says, the birth of your child will change you. There’s no way to describe the feeling in a way that will make someone understand the relevance of the experience.

It’s been an amazing and crazy seven years. As I looked back at the photos in the video above, I not only wonder where that baby went, I wonder what you will look and be like in another seven years. Everyday is an adventure with you. I love seeing all the things in you that you have picked up from your mother, from me and the others around you every day.

I look at this young man who can name every dinosaur and recite every detail about them and see myself 30 years ago. I watch you read an entire book in a day’s time and remember when I used to do the same. I look at your face and see the beauty of your mother’s features transformed into a handsome young man. Watching you play baseball, I see “grandma’s” enthusiasm for the game transferred onto the field, having picked up a love and understanding of the game after spending summers watching it with her. I see “grandpa’s” engineering mind in your amazingly complex Lego and Lincoln Log creations. I see you holding “Granny Pete” to her promise to go looking for the Crystal Skull when you turn 16. I look at you now and see all that and more.

My mind cannot fathom what I will see in another seven years.

As we celebrate your birthday this year, I hope the Braves won the game against the Cardinals that we went to see. I hope they make to the World Series, so we can see Game 2 together. I hope you have added another autographed baseball to your collection. I hope we found the pack of Braves Logo Bandz that you wanted so badly. I hope you have enjoyed every minute of this weekend and the things we did together as a family. Most of all, I hope you know how much your father, your mother, your brother (yes, even Riley) and the rest of your family love you.

Happy 7th Birthday son.

The trailer for the documentary Babies looks absolutely fascinating. I’m not one on seeing documentaries in the theater, but I’d actually look for this one on April 16, 2010 when it’s released. Unfortunately, I’m sure it will only play in Nashville (which isn’t too far away), but having two kids, it might as well be a state away.

Still, the idea of following four newborns from four different cultures for a year is such a cool concept. You see the differences right away in the trailer as a goat casually drinks from the bath of the Mongolian baby. It will be interesting to see how different cultures treat their newborns.

I know that when Riley was born (our second son), our parenting approach was vastly different than it was with our first son Carter. I’ll admit, that we were too protective of Carter. As first time parents, I think that’s only natural. You don’t know what to expect, so you tend to be too cautious.

Because of this, Riley is a much more adventurous toddler than Carter. He’s absolutely not afraid of anything or any situation and will plow headfirst into any obstacle – and we let him. He can already climb by himself into the playhouse in the yard and slide down the slide. Mind you, this playhouse is on top of 4 foot posts, so it’s a good climb and a tall slide. Riley gets dirtier, plays rougher, and even eats things we wouldn’t let Carter touch until he was older (carrot sticks). A lot of this has to do with Carter as well. Having a brother that’s 4 years older, Riley thinks he can do whatever Carter can – and most times he does.

Just this past week we visited my sister’s house and Carter and his 4-year old cousin were having a pillow fight. Right in the middle, slinging his own pillow, was Riley. I wouldn’t change anything we’ve done – because we’ve got two wonderful boys.

Carter came home from school and he had pulled out his first lose tooth – September 1, 2009.

One day it’s loose and the next day he pulls it as school. Luckily he made it home with the tooth.

Get Your Monster Name

Made it to our second Atlanta Braves game this past Sunday. It’s was a great game (Braves won). Close all the way until the end with both teams playing great.

Carter ran the bases once again after the game and I managed to capture it on video.

On a side note—I think it’s time for a new glove. That one is starting to look small.

He was attentive, fast and ready for every hit. He knew where to take the ball every time and if he got an out, he’d turn around and check the other bases.

Here’s a video of him getting an out at first and then running home to try and get another:

Our regular first baseman had left for vacation (since school was out) or Carter could have thrown it to first, like he did at a previous game:

I couldn’t be more proud of him. He loves playing ball and wants to play (and practice). I won’t push him to play, but I do encourage him – because he’s good.

I’m looking forward to Fall Ball. I’ll be stepping up as head coach and hopefully we’ll have another fun season.

I live in a family of Atlanta Braves fans. That’s not a bad thing. It’s turned me into one as well. Growing up, it’s something I never would have guessed I would enjoy so much, but it’s become something that we, as a family, share.

This past weekend, Jill and I took Carter and my mother to Turner Field to watch game 3 of the Braves vs. the Astros. It was the first trip to Turner field for any of us. Before the game, we asked my mom how she got hooked on the Braves.

My mother is the biggest fan of the bunch. She subscribes to ChopTalk (the official Braves magazine) and can tell you stats, trivia and other facts. Since she spends so much time with Carter, it rubbed off on him at an early age. She was determined to get him into baseball. Since he’s now in his third season of playing T-Ball, I would say it worked. Being surrounded by it and helping coach Carter’s T-Ball team, I find myself wanting to watch as many games as I can. She’s passed her fandom on to us.

She started watching the Braves with my Granny (her mother). We’re not sure when Granny became a fan, but we think it was shortly after my grandfather passed away in 1993. At 78, she didn’t drive and we guess she started watching the Braves on TV to pass the time.

While she also watched Basketball, it was the Braves that she was always most interested in. From 2002 – 2006, I was lucky enough to work close by. I was able to eat lunch with her almost every day. She always looked forward to seeing me and I almost always found her waiting in the kitchen when I arrived.

Unless the Braves were playing.

In that case, she would be eating her lunch in her chair and I didn’t exist on game day. When I came in the door, I would give her a quick kiss and she would half-heartedly tell me what there was to eat in the kitchen. She never took her eyes off the game. She rarely spoke during the game. It was clear that during Baseball season, I ranked just below Chipper Jones (her favorite player).

Before the game, my mother joked that everyone always talked how Granny never said anything bad about anyone. That is, unless it came to the Braves. Mom remembers watching a game with Granny, only to hear her mumble something about Chipper Jones not batting as good as he should.

I’m sad to say that the day I purchased our tickets (great seats – row 17 – behind first base), Granny passed away. We never had our chance to tell her how excited we were to be going, but we sure had fun thinking and talking about her at the game.

I’ll continue this story in a few days with photos from the game and my impressions of the Braves, Turner Field and game day. Stay tuned

This has got to be one of my favorite costumes (although he’s only dressed up 5 times). I think I like it because it’s partially homemade or not a store bought kit. It looks more real.

Anything is way better than the plastic shirts and masks we had as a kid.

Riley is dressing up as Charlie Brown—because what baby doesn’t look like Charlie Brown. Photos of that to come.