Little Baby Pigeon: September 2013

Rory made his debut as a team sport athlete this fall playing Soccer with the Kiddie Kickers. Okay, so it wasn't really a team so much as a group of kids learning to play at the same time. There were no games or competitions, no wins or losses, just play. Coach Allen is amazing with the kids and has the most perfect energy for getting them all excited for the next exercise. And after 4 weeks of having fun, learning some foot skills and learning how to listen to a coach, they did get a trophy. All the kids were SO proud of their trophies, and for some, like Rory, it was their first one ever. Although it was technically a "participation" trophy, and the kids would've gotten one regardless of how they did, I was SO proud of him. My pride stems from something I witnessed on that last night, while he was playing. They were doing one quick drill at the end where they got to try to score a goal and to play a little defense, the only time the whole month that they got to play against each other. They paired people up and had them go 1 on 1 or 2 on 2 against each other to try to get goals. Unfortunately, Rory was matched up with a girl at least 4 inches taller than him and much faster. He got scored on the first 3 times they went out there 1 on 1, but he was still smiling and really excited to be running and playing and I was high fiving him saying "Great job trying buddy!", but after the 3rd time he got the ball stolen I could tell he was starting to feel sad. The coach was trying to make sure that each of them scored a goal before the session ended, so he kept throwing the ball closer to Rory than the girl and sometimes even helping out by stealing it from her and passing it to him, but his little legs were just no match for her. During their last run out there, I watched as this girl stole the ball from him and ran away kicking it in front of her (she was actually pretty good, not just tall) and I saw the look on his face as he ran go from a smile, to surprised, to a look of defeat, to the lip quiver that happens just before he's about to lose it and break down in tears. What I saw next was enough to bring me close to tears...he had slowed down to almost a stand still and I watched him take a deep breath, fight back the tears and run as fast as he could after her, with determination, with anger and frustration still in his expression, but determination ruling his legs. It was amazing!! He did get the ball back with a little help from the coach and he did get his goal eventually, but it was that moment of detemination that I am choosing to think of as the challenge behind the trophy. He learned a very important skill. A skill that is not specific to soccer, but more of a life lesson. He learned it without us verbally explaining it and without having to harp on it 100 times a day like brushing his teeth or hanging up his coat. He followed an instinct within himself to not give up, to turn his frustration into determination and to see it through. That made me more proud than any goal will ever make me. Not that he was an angel through the entire session. Just earlier that day he had decided he wasn't in the mood to play, wouldn't get out of the car and said he'd rather go home than get his trophy. We had to talk him out of the car, out of his horrid mood and back onto the field, but at least it all was worth it for that one moment of brilliance.

So much has happened in the last month or so since we've last written. Jordy got 2 teeth in August and has been crawling around like crazy. He pulls himself up on everything and this week he's even started to let go and test his balance. Fun for him but a bit nerve wracking for Moms. So far he has only fallen on his bum and been unaffected, so that's good. His other new favorite game is climbing up the couch pillows until he's standing or kneeling and then throwing his body backwards. Sort of like a trust fall only I'm not sure he actually needs the trust part since he doesn't seem to have the fear of falling backward. Lucky for him I'm always sitting there with him in case his aim is off, I'm starting to get nervous about what this daredevil is going to do when I'm not watching though.

Rory is having a blast at preschool and is super excited to be 4 years old now. He had a wonderful birthday weekend followed by an amazing wedding weekend for my sister Tara and her new husband Steve. He was a ring bearer and took his job very seriously. He did a great job walking down the aisle with over 200 people looking at him and we were so proud of him. He has also been playing soccer and riding his new bike (without training wheels) a ton this past month.

With so much going on we've had little time to blog lately but I wanted to get at least a couple new photos up before too much time goes by and you all stop checking in. :)

"I see you."