Watching Mom Play Hockey

First Time Watching Hockey

Got toys and blankets?

November 8th marked the first time MJ first saw momma play hockey. MJ was buttoned up tight with warm clothes, a warm hat, and more toys than any 7 month old would need for a hockey game. But it was all to make sure there was no complaining about the cold. MJ can't speak yet, so I'd have been hard pressed to help her fix the situation if she were too cold. 

It wasn't my goal to freeze MJ into sprouting a tooth. My goal with bringing MJ and Jackie to the game in the first place was to get them interested in playing hockey. Right now, Jackie could care less about a hockey puck. He's more interested in hitting a soccer ball with a shovel and say that he's playing hockey. There is something about the ball (puck) being able to move. But pucks don't move so well when they aren't on ice. And 2 year old baby boys don't move so well on ice. So, hockey in this moment in time isn't the best sport for the little ones to play. 

But that should stop them from getting to know the game. And it isn't my fault that I coach basketball right now, or that Kimmy brings them to games and the kids develop a love for basketball which brought me such wonderful good fortune. I've tried to tip the scales back to being fair and equal by bringing the kiddos to seeing their mother play. Maybe seeing mom would get them thinking they need to be on skates.


The Happy Cows vs The Renegades

At the beginning of most game the trash talk and hype seems to be most important to the media. Luckily there were no reporters or trash talk. The Happy Cows and the Renegades were between two women's teams over 21. Most of the women played some form of collegiate women's hockey and that can lead to some boasting. But the way some of the ladies were skating around the ice during warm ups, it looked like they may have played competitive hockey decades ago while others looked like they stepped off the pro circuit last weekend.

Cows getting loose before the puck drop.

To be fair, women who move forward with their lives once they hang up their uniforms may have had children. And it's not like they are expected to bounce back 7-9 months after birth and be back to playing shape like NFL players who tear their ACLs. Whether either team had mothers playing is irrelevant to the outcome of the game, but it is worth noting that some of the players may be in different places of physical prowess. 

No matter ones expertise, every game starts even with the score at 0-0. And the Happy Cows came out the gates swinging to make a change in the score board. Number 21 got by a defender with a self pass up the boards on the right side and scored on a wrist shot below the goalies glove just 2 minutes into the game. 

The first period score board check.

I truly thought the Cows were going to make quick work of the Renegades. They scored within minutes of the first shift. The Renegades looked to have no players who could catch a pass until...the Cows celebrated by "mooing."

Whether they took it as an insult or locker room poster board material or just a slap in the face, the Renegades woke up and turned the tide by the end of the first period. 

Second period score board check.

At this point, I thought the Cows just needed to figure a couple of things out. Should they switch up the lines? Should they give Kim Mac Bruff the puck more since she had to impress her kids with her stick handling ability? Should the Cows put some of the cows out to pasture and roll with the players who wanted to be on the ice? I knew for sure they'd come out firing on all cylinders to start the second period. 

2 year old temper tantrum.

And for the most part, they did. Unfortunately the Cows didn't get many shots on net so the score didn't truly reflect the changes they made in the second period. Nonetheless, they had dug themselves into a whole, but would the Cows claw their way out even though cows have hooves?   

During the third period Jackie was screaming. "Dada, shoes off."  I had no idea why he would want to take his shoes off in the midst of a rink that was freezing cold. But he kept at it, "Shoes off, shoes off!" Eventually he explained why he needed his shoes off. "Skates on dada."

"Skates on dada!"

Why would he want his skates on? Did he see mama skating around and feel the need to join her? Was Jackie thinking to himself that hockey was the best thing since sliced bread? I sure hoped so. Then maybe he'd be off his Thomas the Train Engine infatuation and move onto something else. Or maybe Jackie just thought he'd get in the way of the competition and give the Cows the best chance to win. 

A few goals went in and the score keeper couldn't figure out how to add points for the other team. Then I realized who was sitting next to me. The score keeper must have realized that Jackie and his sister MJ were there to see their mother play. The score keeper didn't want to scar the kids into thinking hockey just wasn't the sport for them. By the middle of the third period, I knew what was really happening. The Happy Cows had been mercy ruled. 

MJ dreaming of future retribution.

At the end of the game, the score was 6-1. Jackie was very impressed. So was MJ. They both wanted to get out onto the ice and seek retribution for the major butt kicking that was dealt to the Happy Cows. Jackie vowed he would bring it to the children of the Renegades when given the opportunities. MJ leaned back and dreamt up the many different ways she would pound the team into smithereens in the future. 

Happy Cows

First Tooth

November 11, 2015

MJ had her first tooth poke through. This is obviously cause for celebration. How about with a piece of cake, some ice cream, or even both. But if  MJ could let us celebrate by allowing us to sleep through the night, I'd be happy with that.

I've Got a Tooth!

Most nights for the past week and a half have consisted of her waking up through the night demanding attention. It isn't like her so it has been quite the change. Although she's easy to be soothed, it was hard for us to figure out what was going on. Sucking down bottles and being rocked easily back to sleep with her pink zebra has cause some confusion and delay.

Confusion for us because she'll only stay asleep for about five minutes before she's back to crying again. Then the process can begin at square one where we try to figure out if she needs to be fed or rocked to sleep. 

The delay to our sleep usually is felt first thing in the morning and then at the end of the work day. I'll say that I enjoy the delay, at times. MJ and I have bonded with each other. My precious MJ has spent so many hours listening to the blues greats like B.B. King and Luther Allison while being fed and rocked. We have even switched things over to listen to reggae greats like Bob Marley, Beres Hammond and Toots Hibbert.  

Nonetheless, her tooth is through. Yes, that's right, out and in the open for others to stare at in wonder. To see a tooth, start singing Lively Up Yourself or All The Kings Horses. Before you know it she'll squeal, stick her tongue out and reveal her budding tooth. 

Quick Trip

MJ went to visit Grandma and Grandpa's house for a manic Monday. Although we were only gone for a couple of hours, it still made for a good time down in Connecticut. The drive down took a little longer than we thought. After all, we left during the tail end of rush hour and hit no traffic. We ended up getting to Bloomfield before anyone would have expected.

Grandpa left work early and came with hugs, kisses and lots of bouncing to keep MJ happy & pleased. Grandma put together a wonderful summer dinner of veggies straight from her garden. Because MJ couldn't eat the squash, so I decided I wouldn't eat the squash either. I didn't want her to feel left out.

With all the fun we had with playing with kids at the daycare, hanging with Grandpa and Grandma, and having a great time at dinner, we eventually made our way home an hour after we planned.