THE #1 WASHINGTON NATIONALS' FAN

Tuesday night, we took Dylan to the Nats game against the Mets. To say that he is a rabid Nationals fan would be an understatement...He can name most of the players, do 'Dina's (as in Roger Bernadina) shark arm movements and sing a rousing rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"...of course, I haven't been able to convince him that it is "peanuts and crackerjack", not "penis and crackerjack" (another new --rather unfortunate -- favorite word...) He'll tell you his favorite player is "Bryce Harper" and he routinely requests to watch MASN each night while he is eating dinner. He WILL NOT LEAVE THE HOUSE WITHOUT HIS NAT'S HAT. Did I mention he just turned two?

Note the Excavator; he never misses a game either

The ever-present hat

We have had season tickets since the Nationals arrived in D.C. in 2005.  I have sat through more lousy games than I can count (that is, until last season). I was never a huge baseball fan before their arrival, but soon I was hooked. My husband would come home to find me watching the game on TV and I would enthusiastically grab the Post's Sports Section like a seasoned veteran.

It only made sense that we would indoctrinate Dylan to baseball early. Dylan went to his first game three seasons ago. 

Dreaming of a Nats win...

I think it was about 21 days old after leaving the womb.  He attended about 15 games that year as an infant and about 12 last year, including a play-off game or two.  He would sit mesmerized with he players, the scoreboard, the lights and sounds. He knew only a few words but "Nats" became his tenth, or so.

Dyl already showing an interest in the Silver Bullet

Goldfish: Snack of Champions

Fired Up

World Series Tickets that never came to be...

During the off-season, we make multiple weekly trips to Nats Stadium where Dylan would stand outside the gates, shaking them, pleading for entry...




During our Winter visits, I would often let him go to the team store and look around.  He would bring his ball and loved to throw it around outside the fence...

The day before this year's exhibition game with the Yankees, Dyl charmed the management into getting into the Stadium to check things out...

Thus far, this season, Dyl has gone to about six.  He can sit through the entire game.  I figured this year we were rolling the dice, as he had been so good last year and now, at two, refuses to sit still for anything--anything that is but when watching the Nats.  Alex and I are so pleased to have raised a baseball fan, someone who loves this Nationals team as much as we do.

 

Tuesday night marked a new Nats milestone for Dyl: the elusive first game ball. To say that he was excited was an understatement. He refused to remove it from his grip last night and it slumbered with him in his crib. No doubt, there are many stellar Nats fans in D.C. and many toddlers who come to games, but I doubt that there are many at his age who would choose the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network over Dora, Nemo or Lightning McQueen any day of the week! 

xoxo

Dyl's First Game Ball