You’re Getting Big, but Not So Big

Mom went out last night with her Torah study group. When I put you to bed and turned your light off, it may have been 10 seconds before you came down the stairs to tell me you had a nightmare. Me, being the smart dad, figured you really didn't have a nightmare. So when you asked if you could go sleep in our bed, I immediately told you to go ahead. Not having Mom around is a scary thing, agreed.

When Mom and I finally went upstairs to go to sleep, she tried to pick you up but you weren't making it easy. She asked me if we should just go with a "Joe Sandwich" which meant leaving you in the middle of our bed. But you know what, you're getting big and there really isn't room for you and Mom and me in our bed.

So Mom finally wrestled you to the edge and was barely able to pick you up to take you into your room. I asked her if I could do it, but she insisted she was okay. It looked like your feet were dragging on the floor on the way down the hall. You sack of potatoes!

Whenever you need to escape the nightmares, our room is there for you. But in a little while you may find yourself waking up in the morning there alone. Mom and I will have to find somewhere else to sleep 'cause there will be no room for us on our bed and you'll be too big to "relocate."

Paul... Don't Forget!

You told me this morning that when you have a son you'll name him Paul. I said I'd write it down and remind you when the time comes. I asked if you'd name your daughter Paula, and you said, "Sure."

Ravens Win!

Joe, you gotta put your belt on right and I need to be a better videographer. You were untouched on this run to the endzone, but your flag belt fell off so they brought the ball back.

I learned a bit about filming football games in the freezing cold. Hopefully, I will do a better job next week. I need to not get excited when you catch a pass because then the camera goes all over the place.

Today I bought you a Under Armour balaclava today 'cause you said your nose and mouth were freezing. Interestingly, you tossed off your hat during the game since you said you were otherwise warm. Me, I'm pretty cold. You, nothing seems to bother you. As long as you don't get frostbite I am fine with what you want to wear or not wear though I draw the line at bare feet.

Your Ravens team eked out another win by one touchdown, so next week is the conference championship followed by the Super Bowl later in the day. Hopefully, you guys will win the first game and make it to the show.

Whatever happens, it has been a really fun season.


Joe's Raven's Playoff Game from Allen Goldberg on Vimeo.

Arty Farty

Here are some pictures from your field trip last week to the National Gallery of Art. We are so lucky to live where we do. Jack went to the redone National Museum of American History and the Air & Space Museum yesterday with Debbie and Aaron.









Thanks for wearing a white shirt so you'd stick out of the crowd.

Yummy

You dissected a fish in class. You told me how you touched the eyeball. You said none of the girls did that.

Let's Go Caps!

Hugh gave us tickets to go see the Caps last night. We had such a great time. It didn't hurt that they won 5-2.

You were seriously jonesing for an Ovechkin jersey. We settled on an Ovechkin t-shirt that was a mere $100 less than the kids jersey. I love that you danced all the way down 19th Street when we got off the Metro, slept in your new t-shirt and wore it to school the next day.

A few of my friends emailed me today to say they saw us on the Jumbotron. One of the cameras in the Verizon Center focused on you during the "Smilecam" promotion. Unfortunately, when I told you to smile you did just the opposite.



You also frowned when I explained that the person with the "winning smile" takes home a nice prize. I seriously doubt that experience will teach you to (1) listen to me sometimes, or (2) not be so cool all the time that you can't flash your beautiful smile.

Thanks for going with me anyway!

I am going to suspend all parental modesty. In a period of less than 2 weeks, your baseball coach said you were the best player on the team, you scored 6 touchdowns for your football team and your teachers said you were a "joy" to have in class.

You've added a sport!



Not that your incredible focus on baseball isn't a good thing, but this is fun.

You and your buddies are loving those mouth guards. I like the photo of Andrew with his. It looks like he has black teeth.

It is so beautiful outside right now as you can see in the photos. You are playing on a field not too far from where I grew up. Even though it is about a mile away from my old house, I have never seen this park before.

I know Mom wants to come to your next game.

We are still celebrating your birthday. They are never one-day affairs anymore. Birthday cake in London, presents in Washington, DC, celebration at school and sleepover party next week at home.

How can you be so young when Henry was so old when he turned 7.

We started your birthday celebration last night while we are in London.

Aunt Abby baked a cake, Rachel decorated it (with chocolate icing and edible Simpsons figures) and Noah poked it with his finger.

You and Noah are at loggerheads. He is just a little rascal and it is tough for you to "walk away" or be the "bigger man" every time he grabs your things or aggravates you.

I know it is asking a lot of a kid who is 6 years and 361 days old. I know you're doing the best you can.

We'll keep the party rolling when we are back on our shores. I told Papa Teddy that you want Mario Super Slugger for the Wii as your birthday present. He thought it was tough thinking of a present for you, saying how easy it is to buy something for Jack - books, books and computer stuff.

But you are the easiest of them all. Baseball, baseball and baseball.

Happy almost birthday.

Joe Tires of Walking, Learns to Ride a Bike - Finally! from Allen Goldberg on Vimeo.

I'd love to find something like this in the Washington area for you to participate in. I think it will teach you humility and sensitivity for others.

http://www.keshet.org/buddybaseball.asp#times

Buddy Baseball

Keshet's Buddy Baseball allows children with physical and developmental disabilities to participate in the all-American sport of baseball and with the help of typical teenagers, it allows friendships to form and substantial barriers to be dissolved.

This year hundreds of players, fans and buddies joined Keshet at Wrigley Field for the 5th annual all-star game. We were joined by our friends from Chicago Youth Programs, an organization which serves at-risk youths from the Cabrini Green, Washington Park, and Uptown Community.

Keshet's Buddy baseball is an opportunity like no other for children with disabilities.

I've looked all over the Internet but haven't found anything like this in Washington, DC. I wonder if this is something we can start here. I will lob an email into the Chicago organizers to see what they say. 

Here are some photos from your Pirates and Yankees games this week. I will keep adding photos to this as the season wears on.

Love you.

This is your best rainbow ever. Thanks for bringing it home from school for me and Mom.

Love,

Dad

First Week of School Photos!

I need to get rid of the borders around everything on here. I am just getting started with this so there will be a few hiccups.

I am very excited because your teacher, Mrs. Schuman (who happens to by my doctor's daughter), is posting pictures of you and your classmates to the web.

I will keep putting more and more of these photos on here as the school year progresses.

Learning to Read through Comics?

As you are now really learning to read, I thought that maybe a baseball comic book might be a fun way to go. It reminds me of the movie "Big" where Josh Baskin helps a kid (a fellow kid, really) with his algebra math homework by making him think in terms of sports. 

You love all baseball books. I'll try to find this - it is out of print - and we can give it a try. Might be a good step up from the Bob and Dr. Suess books. 

New School Year, New Backpack

Nice new Yankees backpack. I am sorry I got bummed out at you when you ran away as I tried to take your picture. I have a lot of "issues" with wanting to record your growing up as much as possible. It comes from Henry and me feeling like I didn't take enough photos, shoot enough video or write down how I felt.

I like that you are going to JPDS and not a sports-oriented school, like Landon. I think it gives you a good grounding.

Are You Too Good Too?

This photo says you are throwing 38 mph

August 26, 2008

Too Good to Pitch? 9-Year-Old Is Barred

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW HAVEN (AP) — Nine-year-old Jericho Scott is a good baseball player — too good, it turns out.

The right-handed Scott has a fastball that travels about 40 miles an hour. He throws so hard that the Youth Baseball League of New Haven told his coach that Scott could no longer pitch in the league. When Jericho took the mound anyway last week, the opposing team forfeited the game, packed its gear and left, Scott’s coach, Wilfred Vidro said.

Officials for the three-year-old league, which has eight teams and about 100 players, said they would disband Jericho’s team, redistributing its players among other teams, and offered to refund the $50 sign-up fees. Officials also said that Vidro had resigned.

But Vidro said he did not quit and the team refused to disband. Players and parents protested at the league’s field Saturday, urging the league to let Jericho pitch.

“He’s never hurt any one,” Vidro said. “He’s on target all the time. How can you punish a kid for being too good?”

The controversy bothers Jericho, who said he missed pitching.

“I feel sad,” he said. “I feel like it’s all my fault nobody could play.”

Vidro and Jericho’s parents said he was being unfairly targeted because he turned down an invitation to join the defending league champion, which is sponsored by an employer of one of the league’s administrators.

He instead joined a team that was 8-0 and on its way to the playoffs when he was barred from pitching.

“I think it’s discouraging when you’re telling a 9-year-old you’re too good at something,” his mother, Nicole Scott, said. “The whole objective in life is to find something you’re good at and stick with it.

“I’d rather he spend all his time on the baseball field than idolizing someone standing on the street corner.”

Peter Noble, a lawyer for the league, said the only factor in banning Jericho from pitching was that his pitches were too fast.

“He is a very skilled player, a very hard thrower,” Noble said. “There are a lot of beginners. This is not a high-powered league. This is a developmental league whose main purpose is to promote the sport.”

Noble acknowledged that Jericho had not hit any batters in the coed league of 8- to 10-year-olds, but he said that parents expressed safety concerns.

“Facing that kind of speed” is frightening for beginning players, Noble said.

League officials said they first told Vidro that Jericho could not pitch after a game Aug. 13. He played second base in the next game, Aug. 16. But when he took the mound Wednesday, the other team walked off and a forfeit was called.

League officials suggested that Jericho play other positions, or pitch against older players or in a different league.