It started innocently enough, Laura (now affectionately known as Roona) andNick bought Jack a baseball tee for Easter. Then he got a hat when we went for Opening Day (tradition still intact!). Then the weather turned nice and it was something we could play outside. It has culminated in true infatuation.

Conversations about baseball go something like this: Baseball game. My hat. My glove. My bat. Hit it. Run the bases. Home run Jack. Play baseball? Set it down, don’t throw it. (in reference to the bat). Go Redlegs. Joey Votto. Jay Bruce. Ryan. Play baseball?

At any given time in the day you can find him with his glove on and throwing a ball — which, because it is in the house, is either a ping-pong ball or a small soft soccer ball. At first we needed the proper gear but within the last couple of weeks anything can be made into a bat and ball. Wayward crayons, dinner napkins, play-doh and on and on.

I would try and convince him there are other sports, but it keeps him occupied, and, more importantly he truly does enjoy it. He actually sat through 9 innings of Reds baseball with his Grandpa and Dad one Saturday afternoon which is more than I can do. Granted, that particular game saw the Reds winning and with more than 10 runs scored.

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Now if only we could convince him to pitch left-handed.