Baby's First NFL Game

Yep, it's true. We took our almost 3-week old baby to the Packers vs. Redskins game on Sunday. Once we learned the Packers would be playing in DC for their wildcard playoff game, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to go to the game. Jon procured tickets in the club level so we had an indoor climate controlled concourse for changing, feeding and any other baby-related needs. The plan was to hopefully take Charlie - I couldn't imagine not getting to go the game myself, and at this point in his life, Charlie and I pretty much go everywhere together.

It was either going to be the dumbest or coolest thing we've done as new parents.

We left the house early (we are quickly learning that you can never prepare to leave the house too early with a baby on board). Once we arrived at the stadium, we changed and fed Charlie in the car (btw, a cheesehead doubles as an excellent nursing pillow) before adding his warmer layers and noise-canceling headphones. The kickoff temperature was 60 degrees, but the temp dropped quite a bit throughout the game. He had on two cozy layers, two hats, one scarf and was bundled up against Dad in the Ergo carrier to stay nice and toasty.

Charlie was a total rockstar. He slept through the first half, went inside to eat at halftime, came back out midway through the third quarter and slept until the end of the game. He was a big hit with Packers and Redskins fans alike. We got a few judgmental glances, but most people thought it was awesome. Of course, the best part is that Charlie was good luck. The Packers won, and it was glorious to be there for the victory.

Definitely the coolest thing we've done as new parents.

the friday happy list: best of 2013

You know you're a subpar blogger when you steal most of your ideas from other blogs. I got this one from Kat's blog - you may remember her from yesterday's post: married to Jon's cousin, mother to the adorable Elliot, superior blogger to me.

Here are the top things that made me happy in 2013. If you were on our Christmas card list, you can probably already guess a few of these. :)

1. Jon started a new job. This was the scariest change of 2013. I'll spare you the details of how "Big Law" works, but it wasn't an easy decision and it wasn't without risk, but we felt it was the right decision. I'm happy to report that so far, so good. God is good all the time.

2. We bought a house...not that you would have noticed from my obsessive blogging about it.

3. We celebrated 5 years of marriage. You can read more about what it's really like to be married to Ginger here, but the condensed version is that it's been 5 really great years.

4. We learned how to cook lobsters and finally put those skills to use on Christmas day.

5. We started our ballparks of America tour. I have no idea how long it will take us to visit every MLB stadium in America, but I'm looking forward to the adventure. We had quite a few inspirations for this idea: 1) I've visited 48 states. Since that milestone is almost complete, we needed a new challenge. 2) My mom got Jon a map of all the MLB ballparks for his 30th birthday. It came with handy pins to mark visited ballparks - all the more reason to start crossing them off our list. 3) We love baseball. 4) We love to travel. 5) I love hot dogs.

6. Megan turned 30. I'm not sure she'd call it a highlight, but she's in my top 5 favorite people (along with the Ginger, Mom, Dad & both Aarons - Rodgers and Kendrick - they count as one since they have the same first name) and celebrating with her was the most fun. Also, Aaron (Kendrick, not Rodgers) was baptized that Sunday. It was really special to be there for both big events.

7. Turks & Caicos. Self-explanatory why this was a favorite of 2013.

8. Going to a Packers game in Baltimore. I relish any opportunity to wear my cheesehead in public, and we won. Success.

9. We caught the end of cherry blossom season when the slightest wind gently blows the blossoms off the trees. Snowing cherry blossoms is a new favorite - right up there with munchkin cats.

10. We went to see Show Boat at the Kennedy Center exactly 15 years after I saw it in with my family at the Kennedy Center during my first visit to D.C. One of those really weird moments where life comes full circle.

11. I learned how to arrange flowers. I was so proud of my first effort (and we all know that pride cometh before the fall) that I haven't dared a second attempt.

Wow. I didn't realize we had packed so many fun memories into one year until I finished writing this post. And the list could be so much longer. If that's not a great exercise in remembering God's blessings, I don't know what is!

The Friday Happy List

I love these Friday posts because they keep me honest as a blogger. Even if I don't have time to post anything all week, I try not to ignore this post because it makes me happy (hence the name), and it gets us all caught up. The theme for this week is rain and shut downs. I can't think of a more miserable time to visit D.C. For the first time ever, I've actually felt sympathy for all the tourists. Everything is closed and it's literally rained 24/7. Sorry 'bout that.

Fireplace. We went from sunny and 90+ on Saturday to 50s & rain. I love fall, but I don't love rain. On the bright side, this has been a great excuse to put our fireplace to work. It was one of the few things on our must-have list when we were house hunting. Sometime I'll write a whole post on that must-have list. It's fun to look book and see how things turned out.

Fall Decor. The squirrels may have eaten my pumpkins, but they can't eat my indoor decorations.

Yellow vest. I love puffy vests, but I kind of look like a marshmallow in them. I found this vest while I was supposed to be browsing, not buying. I had to have it. I'm wearing it today, and I really don't care if I look like a marshmallow because it's so cozy on this, you guessed it, cold and rainy day.

Gravity. I was a little skeptical, but also pretty curious about this movie. It's not something I would typically like, but it was breathtaking. We saw it in IMAX 3D, and I definitely flinched/ducked when space debris was flying toward us. I felt like I needed a massage after the movie because it was so tense and stressful.

Vintage maps. We went to the Art on the Avenue festival in our 'hood on Saturday. I had no idea it was such a big deal. Hundreds of vendors, thousands of people. It was so hot, and we almost didn't make it to the end of the line, but I'm glad we did because one of the last booths we visited was a vintage map collector. We found 3 awesome maps from the 1800s - one of the district, one of Arkansas, and one of Dakota. Can't wait to find a place to hang them.




Packers. This could go on the list every week, but especially this week because we are headed to an actual game! The Packers play the Ravens in Baltimore this Sunday. We couldn't pass up the opportunity to go to the game since Charm City is just around the corner. Go Pack Go!

The Friday Happy List

Orange is the New Black. What would happen if someone probably a lot like me (a WASP-y yuppie) got dropped in prison for 15 months for a 10-yr-old offense? It's a fascinating look into a world that is both humiliating and humbling, but also heartwarming. I was touched by the many stories of compassion the inmates showed for one another. We also really enjoyed the TV show (available on netflix only), but this is your official warning that it is crass and would probably offend some of you. (Mom, I'm talking to you. Don't watch it.)

Mumford & Sons. Have you ever given someone a gift that you secretly hoped you could keep? Yep, that's me right now. We gave Megan and Aaron tickets to go see Mumford & Sons (and friends) in Guthrie, OK for her birthday. It's part of their Gentleman of the Road tour. I'm insanely jealous, but also insanely excited for them. 

NBC Soccer commercial. There is only one kind of football in my book, but this commercial makes me laugh every time. 

Eating Pizza Out of the Box. Our kitchen is in boxes, and we've neglected to pick up paper plates. We ordered pizza at about 8:30 p.m. last night as we were driving from the new house back to our apartment. I brought the pizza box to bed with me, ate it right out of the box, and then fell asleep. I am not ashamed. It was glorious.