Baby Bulldog

When James was just a little bean and I was 6 weeks pregnant, Justin and I made a trip to Charleston to tell my parents the news.  James caused quite the nausea, which kept us in bed for most of the trip.  Aside from that excursion, this weekend was James Wallace’s first trip to Charleston!  And more importantly, his first Citadel Football Game.

Our cousins, Jason and Katie, were more than accommodating as we bombarded their house with baby gear, while Lynyrd immediately started playing with his best friend, Baxter.

We took it easy Friday afternoon in preparation for the big game day, and spent some quality time together.

Even Baxter got acquainted with James.

It was the first time we’ve seen Lynyrd be protective of his little brother, as he made sure Baxter knew to keep it friendly.

Knowing that my son is a handful, and more of a handful when traveling, I could only assume he’d be even more of a handful at a football game. 

So along came Papa and Grammy ready to help and have fun all at the same time.

James was ready to roll to his first football game!

We started the day with watching the Cadets march in.  This is when we first realized that James (who has been jumpy since the day he was born) may not enjoy the volume of a football game as much as we had hoped.

After a week of cool weather we were unpleasantly surprised by the hot day. 

But it was nothing a couple of cool beverages couldn’t handle.

These Citadel graduates were ready to watch some football.

Taking James into his first football game, especially his first Citadel football game, Justin could not have been more proud. 

And James, well, he could not have been more… tired.

They watched the game.  Father and son.  (While I took 50 pictures)

And then something really bad happened.  The Bulldogs scored a touchdown.  And as tradition goes, everyone cheers and a cannon is then fired.

This could be very scary when trying to understand all the new sights and sounds.

And we took a turn for the worst {even while surrounded by blondes}.

We cried during the family photo.

We cried when we got a first down.

And we cried when we got another first down.

We cried when Grammy didn’t let us chew on metal.

We cried when we tried to watch The Fighting Gamecocks beat the you know what out of Alabama.  (I did not get a picture.)

And we cried with Papa.

Then Mommy and Daddy finally let you leave this horrible, torturing thing called a football game.  And James, while we can promise you won’t have to go back this year…

We have to also promise you a lifetime of football games.

But we can assure you, they will get better.