...Played Ball

Today marked a historic occasion in the Cottrell household - Cecilia went to her very first baseball practice. As you will see from my video, she had a good ol' time! Man, it brought back memories. Cecilia did all the classic kid things: got in trouble for playing in the dirt while she was suppose to be manning right field, put her glove over her face, and she even ran after the ball she just hit instead of running to first base. She will be playing Coach Pitch this summer [apparently Perry skips the whole T-Ball thing], practicing on Monday and Wednesday afternoons at 3:30 pm. For those interested in witnessing the world's cutest ball player in action, I plan to post a game schedule right here on our blog [stay tuned]. From what I hear, their "games" will be on Thursday and Sunday evenings.

I can hardly wait to sit at the ball park on warm summer evenings, eating sunflower seeds [Fisher's Only Please] and watching my little girl play the sport I was brought up with. Yeah, I played as a kid...but I enjoyed watching my brother and guy friends play way more. Do not tell Ceci, but I was totally afraid of softballs!

We walked to the park and Finnegan enjoyed riding in his stroller big boy style for the first time. After practice we could not resist a stop at the park on the way home. Finn and Wade tossed the pig skin around for a bit. So he would not be left out, I made a video of Finn as well. His cushy little KU football my Dad gave him is the current favorite toy. Finn uses its tag to toss it out in front of himself...and then he chases it. I am so proud.

Woohoo! I am so glad summer is here.

...Joined 100,000 Fellow Fans

I always tear up during the following situations: while singing the National Anthem at a sporting event, when the bride and groom exchange vows [duh, right? Who doesn't?], and at the very beginning of a parade when the marching band approaches. Today was no different. In fact, I am pretty sure I had tears in my eyes during the entire parade. Cecilia, Finn and I joined my mom, dad, family friends [Rodger and Jan Shannon] and 99,993 other KU fans to show our boys just how much we appreciate them. Poor Wadie Babe had to work [Here's to double time honey].

Finnie is asleep in his sling under the blue blanket.

It was a perfect day. We arrived on Mass. St around 10:00 am for the 3:00 pm parade [all of 30 minutes of it, but SO worth it]. We each bought our must-have 2008 National Champion tees [Yes, Jacob your mother had us get you a XXL locker room t-shirt soon to be delivered to you in Chi Town]. We had a fabulous lunch at Vermont St BBQ [yum... best sweet potato fries ever!] and then headed back to the chairs we had strategically placed between 8th and 9th Streets upon our arrival downtown. Yes, we are wicked smart. As you will see from our You Tube video, we had a great view of our Champs! Cecilia even got to give her favorite Jayhawk, Sasha Kaun, a high five!

Rock Chalk Jayhawk Forever.

...Witnessed Mario's Miracle

I think I said, "OH. MY. GOD!" like a billions times last night....like I am sure you did, dear reader. That was THE BEST basketball game EVER. Cecilia was a trooper and stayed up for the entire game and a bit of the post game news coverage. She was a great co-cheerer and I was glad to have her support because Wade was a mess and a Negative-Nelly [yes, that is a meganism]. He had an extremely upset [aka nervous] stomach before the game that he TRIED to blame on my meatloaf [okay, it was actually Stouffer's meatloaf but who is keeping track?] So it was up to Ceci and I to keep the positive vibe going in the Cottrell House. Here is a photo of her right after the game. I apologize for the quality, as it was taken with my phone.

Here is a shot of Finnie this morning after I told him about last nights amazing victory [as HE was a trooper and went to bed on time so Mommy could watch the game] . As you can see, he went into baby shock...

Wade is positive the Jayhawk's success in 2008 combined with the first year of his son's life is "a sign" that Finn is sure to one day play a sport in a Jayhawk jersey [whether it be football or basketball he cares not]. I am pretty sure my father would agree with Wade...I can remember the two of them having a conversation at the hospital the day after Finnie was born, "You know what would be so cool?" says my father to Wade, "What if Finnegan plays basketball for KU?!" They then commenced exuding extreme giddiness and glowing pride as if Finn had already accomplished this feet.

I love how we pass down our fanaticalness [another meganism]. Reminds me of that cool bumper sticker, "Kansan by birth, Jayhawk by the grace of God." So I guess the "grace of God" part could really mean "by the brainwashing of my parents." Either way, I am good with it. There was definitely some Divine intervention dealt out last night. Mario is a GOD.

...Helped Raise Awareness

Today, several of us in my office helped sweet little Sofia Miller celebrate the first annual Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Day by donating our blood and sporting turquoise shirts and ribbons! CDH is a rare and potentially life-threatening birth defect. Ms. Sofia's stomach, intestines, spleen, and part of her liver had herniated and were in her chest cavity. She endured a successful three hour repair surgery last Thursday - a major accomplishment! Go Super Sofie!

If you have not already visited Sofia's blog, DO IT! She has an amazing story that touched many hearts... and she is only 3 weeks old! Wade and I know her mommy and daddy, Kenny and Jennifer Miller. They have done an amazing job documenting their experience. Their strength is humbling.

Special thanks to my co-workers who jumped at the chance to donate blood and/or show their support by wearing turquoise in honor of little Sofia. None of them even know the Millers, but that did not stop them from helping support this family’s special cause. You guys are wicked nice! I would like to give a shout out to my "CREW": Karen Watson, Jenny Weissenbach, Barbara Ballentine, Nancy Chance, Elisabeth Sheridan, Jennifer Hsu, Erin Gingrich-Gaylord and Janice Hartsock.

...Married a Funny Man

For the record, I had no part in the previous post submitted by Mr. Funnyman Cottrell. [Yes, this is a CMA post - insuring that my mother-in-law will still like me.] First he gets my You Tube Channel suspended and now this? I think I regret setting Wade up on the Internet. He better watch it, or he might have more parental web restriction than our kids. I have already had to shut down Finnie. After seeing that Super Bowl commercial, he started buying all kinds of stocks online.

This is not Sparta honey, it is Megan's World!

[Photo courtesy of my cousin's husband, Aaron]

...Cheered for KSU [kind of]

well this was a great night of march madness. ksu sucks lost big and our #1 kansas jayhawks kicked some butt. we watched the games at mom's house and if you don't know her house is divided - ksu sucks and ku. when i go there i have to act like i give a crap about you know who. i loved that you know who lost but i had to pretend that i cared - but i don't, i wanted them to lose in the first round. any how rock chalk well you know the rest

...Drew a Self Portrait

Look what I drew yesterday - a self portrait of me and my hand! Don't worry Granny, this one was done on paper. I got in trouble for drawing on Granny's wall a few weeks ago. [Never gonna live THAT one down!]

I am getting really good at writing my own name dontcha think? My mommy and daddy think I'm wicked smart.

~Ceci

...Found a Boobie Trap

This morning I was in the bathroom going potty when I saw it - a boobie trap. I said, "Oh, my goodness! Mommy! Why is there a boobie trap in here?"
Mommy didn't believe me, so I took her by the hand and made her come into the bathroom to look.
"See it?...look in the trash can! There's a boobie trap in the trash can!"
My mommy looked and started laughing so hard tears start coming out of her eyes! Apparently my mommy doesn't call it a boobie trap, she calls it a bra.
This particular one was missing its underwire [whatever THAT is], so my mommy had to throw it away!

~ Ceci

...Anticipated the Madness

Ah, March and all the Madness... It is definitely one of the best months of the year. [stressful at times, yet very cathartic] This week in particular marks two big occasions for our family: on Monday, Finnegan turned 9 months old and this Thursday, the Big 12 Tournament will begin.

As you can tell from this photo, Finn is excited about the upcoming games. [Well, he will be some day - this I am sure of]

Today Finn passed yet another well baby check-up with flying colors. He is 21 lbs. 4 oz. and 29.5 in. long. If you are into the whole percentile business, he is in the 70 percentile for weight and the 90 percentile for length. [If you are into basketball - he has got the build of a power forward...and with his hairdoo, he is sure to make a name for himself just like Kirk and Sasha did.]

Rock Chalk Jayhawk, Go KU!

...Picked a Candidate

A couple of days ago while driving Cecila and Finnie to daycare I decided to strike up a political conversation with Ceci.
"Who would you like to see as President of the United States? Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama?"
She did not even hesitate and said, "Broccoli Obama!"

REMEMBER THIS? - President George H. W. Bush hates broccoli, having actually said so in an offhand remark during his presidency. In response, a powerful broccoli agriculture lobby sent several tons of it to the White House. [Good times]

Maybe Cecilia is onto something here.