Some Things Change

Going to a Seattle Mariners game before kids

VS.

Going to a Seattle Mariners game after kids

1. First let's start with the obvious. My clothing choice.

Before kids (BK) my outfit would have been planned a day in advance, probably including heels, cute jeans, and a kids Mariners t-shirt I found in size L. I can't cover up my cute Mariners t-shirt with a coat, so I will freeze for the sake of the outfit.

After kids (AK) I have five minutes to get ready because I spent all my time getting my two kids dressed in their cute jeans and Mariners t-shirts. I throw on any old shirt because who will see it under my Northface anyway, and lace up my blue cons.

2. Getting there.

BK: The car ride to Seattle is enjoyable. We take in the sights, have a great conversation, and listen to some John Mayer or Michael Buble while sipping our Starbucks we stopped for on the way.

AK: We scramble into the car, double checking that the baby's car seat is installed correctly, bottles have been packed and everyone has a blankie. I start out in the front seat but after five minutes of Hudson's cries I climb through the car to sit between Ally and Hudson so I can feed him his bottle. I argue with Dan from the backseat over who got the most sleep the night before as Once upon a Dream plays for the tenth time from the car's speakers.

3. Parking

BK: Most of the time Dan and I have gone to the game our tickets have come with a parking pass for the stadium garage, but if not we just park a mile away and walk. Who cares right, we have legs?

AK: It took us so long to get the family ready to go that we are late for the game and every available space is now taken. We drive around aimlessly for an entire hour searching for an open parking spot. After Dan has rounded the Stadium for the fifth time thinking a spot will magically appear he decides to park in a garage a mile away. Sweet. Can't wait to haul two kids, coats, blankets and a 30 lb. diaper bag ten blocks. And run, we're late.

4. Concessions

BK: I cannot wait to get to the concession stand to eat my footlong Major League hot dog. We find our seats and then go grab hot dogs, drinks and make our way back to our seats in five or ten minutes. We enjoy our delicious hot dogs drenched in mustard, ketchup and relish while watching the game.

AK: We find our seats by the 3rd inning and have a kid in each lap. Ally is hungry and wants a hot dog. (Like mother like daughter) We listen to her ask for a hotdog throughout the entire 3rd inning and into the 4th. So we go get hotdogs. We stand in line for the rest of the 4th inning as the entire stadium cheers and hollers for reasons we are clueless. I plop Ally onto the side of a popcorn vendors cart so she can eat her $5 hot dog. She picks off all of the bun and eats just the dog.

5. The Game

BK: We enjoy our hotdogs, cheer for the team, people watch from our chairs (well I do that anyway) and stand up and sing Take Me Out to the Ballgame during the 7th inning stretch. We stay the remainder of the game, ask some random person to get a photo of us in front of the Safeco sign, and exit the stadium.

AK: By bottom of the 5th Ally is now cold and Hudson is getting fussy. Dan is totally annoyed because he just wants to watch the game. The kids squirm and wiggle on our laps and I start feeing very sympathetic to the people trying to enjoy the game around us. As we hear "I don't care if I ever get back" I think, actually, I'd really like to get back right about now. Plus I don't want to get stuck in the herds of people who actually stay for the whole game. So I pack all of our stuff and grab the kids right as the guy sitting next to me asks if we want a family picture. Sure, I'd love that. Ally won't smile but the guy taking our photo thinks he can get her to. Our seats are in the 2nd row, so the whole 100 level of the stadium watches as we try again to get a 3 year old to smile. Just take it already. We exit Safeco ready for our mile long walk with the 30 lb diaper bag, both blankies, and now two very tired kids.

But then some things never change. On the way out I remember to check the score board. Just so I'd know if we won or not.