Opening Day!

I was given strict instructions Friday morning before Matthew left for work that our son HAD to be dressed in as much Texas Rangers garb as humanly possible in honor of Friday, April 1st being Opening Day for the Texas Rangers.  Gavin comes from a rich heritage of die-hard Texas Rangers fans, so I knew that to not comply was not an option.  Gavin spent his Friday proudly sporting his Texas Rangers "T" shirt, his very first ball cap, and he even had a few short minutes to play bat and ball before his mother rushed him out the door.  Gavin's game day attire looked a little something like this:

 

 

 

You can practically hear tiny little baby cheers as Gavin realizes the excitement of this day!

As I said before, Gavin has a rich Texas Ranger heritage and he was destined to be a fan long before he was ever born.  Gavin's due date was October 17th.  I remember the day when Matthew asked if we could watch the world series in the delivery room if the Rangers happened to be playing.  Since it was only June at the time I told him that we'd have to wait and see, but he actually wasn't too far off.  I started having my first round of contractions on Friday, October 22nd while we were watching the division championship that the Rangers won.  As the Rangers ran through celebratory showers of sparkling cider, Matthew knew that his son would be born into a world where the Texas Rangers were World Series contenders.  Gavin was born two days later into a sea of blue and red and claws and antlers.  If there was any doubt at the hospital if Gavin Cox's family was Ranger fans, they had to have been completely oblivious. 

One of Gavin's first sights in this world was his proud daddy standing over him wearing a Texas Ranger's t-shirt.

Matthew calls that picture the "ugly cry" but I happen to love it!  Gavin was so enthralled by the sight of the Rangers logo that he expressed his enthusiasm the only way he knew how: he pee'd on Matthew's shirt. 

He was then welcomed by a host of visitors who paraded their team apparel like a badge of honor.  This is Matthew's family who sported various Texas Rangers attire throughout the next week.

 

(I think it's worth mentioning that it's hours later and Matthew is STILL wearing the shirt that Gavin pee'd on earlier in the day- our apologies to the many people he hugged that day.)

 The Pelley family also made sure that Gavin knew who to love by wearing their Ranger garb and even giving Matthew...er, Benjamin...I mean Matthew- a shirt when Gavin was born. 

Gavin was brought home from the hospital by Daddy sporting his Texas Rangers pride, just in red this time.

 On Gavin's first full day home from the hospital, the world celebrated the Rangers first appearance on the world series stage.  Gavin and his Daddy were there with great anticipation. 

Gavin probably thought that Texas Ranger apparel was the official uniform of the Cox family...and uniform gifts were lavished upon Gavin with much generosity at his one week birthday.  If you can find Gavin among the host of Rangers tee's, then you win $5!

Mom even got in on the action and was in full support as we cheered the Rangers on.

Among the blur of Gavin's first few days of life, it's fun to see it scattered with Rangerful memories.  It was a surreal moment for Matthew, a lifelong Ranger fan himself, to hold his own son as he watched his team at the pinnacle of baseball accomplishment for the first time.  Definitely two dreams from two opposite ends of the spectrum coming true at the same time.

So Gavin is destined to love the Rangers.  Names like "Boo"shele, Ryan, Palmero and Hamilton will ring throughout our home with heroic esteem along with Batman, Superman and Andy Rooney.   

And while this tiniest of little Ranger fans isn't quite the tiniest any more...  

I definitely think he's still the cutest!