While we were visiting Pittsburgh we made it to 2 games. The 2nd one we were in club level and it was a day game. It was surprisingly crowded for being a day game during the week while school was still in session. We were glad to be in the club level; it was pretty warm out, and especially Nathan wasn't ready for being out in the sun very long. We can't use sunscreen on him and trying to cover him up just made him hot. So I ended up inside with him a lot of the game. We also of course made an effort to see the Pirate Parrot and the Perogies, for Neil.
Eating lunch in the club lounge
View from our seats
Chilling in the a/c
The whole family with the Pirate Parrot
Giving the perogies high 5's
Walking the club hall
With my friend who sat with us
The babywearing family! Dave using the tula with Neil and I'm using the ring sling with Nathan
We went to two Pirates games while we were in Pittsburgh- one on a Saturday and the other a day game during the week, which will be a separate post because I took so many pictures.
The Saturday game was Nathan's first time at a Pirates game (or at a professional sporting event).
It was a bobblehead night.
Now that Neil is 2 he has to have his own ticket and he got his own bobblehead too.
This kid really wants his head to the side when he sleeps
Neil loves the Pirate Parrot but now he won't go up to him by himself anymore.
Our view from our seats, which were really nice!
More family selfie attempts
That's a perogie in Neil's hand.
A little blurry but he loves to stick his tongue out
Babywearing one and carrying the other (didn't last for long)
My picture taking has just plummeted but don't worry that's already improving again. Most of my pictures from this week were from the last regular season Pirates game. I was going to make that a separate post until I went through both Dave and my phones and realized we didn't really take much else.
We went to the last regular season home game at PNC Park. This is the last time we'll be able to take Neil in for free. Although it turns out he might not have been ok to bring in for free even though we've had him sitting on our laps. We thought it was based on age (under 2) but just recently I read somewhere that it's actually a height policy and only for kids under 30". Oops. So that's information for anyone who might want to bring a kid to a game- check the rules. Luckily we didn't get turned away but I guess we could have! And this game was sold out. My recommendation would be to buy a standing room only ticket if that ends up happening, although we are getting to the point anyways that Neil kinda wants to sit in his own seat instead of on our laps. (When nobody is sitting next to us we have been letting him sit in his own seat.)
Playing at the kids area. The kids were playing a game and are looking for the ball that one of them hit over the fence into the river.
The perogies always run a race in between innings and we were walking around when it happened so we stopped at the top of a section to watch the race. The usher there told us if we walked down to the bottom of the section the perogies walk through there and we could get pictures with all of them. This is something to remember for next year!
Sunday games are nice but they are right in the middle of Neil's naptime which can make things interesting. About halfway through the game, even though Neil slept in the car on the way, we realized he was really tired. So I walked a rotunda with him until he fell asleep. It was also pretty hot out so I ended up sitting in guest relations with him (where it's air conditioned and there isn't crowd noise as much) and just sat in one of the chairs to let him sleep for awhile. I do enjoy this cuddle time still. :) And I watched the game on the television in guest relations.
Neil woke up just before the end of the game and we walked back to our seats/section just in time to watch the top of the 9th inning for an exciting Pirates win! Dave joined us at the top of the section. At that point it wasn't worth walking down to the seats.
Definite resemblance with the faces here. (Pointing at the Pirate Parrot)
And a video from the Pirates game (including after the game at Steak and Shake and then our house)
This is the only other picture I have worth posting from the rest of the week. Neil's first time eating a sandwich without it being cut up in little bites.
Neil has been to quite a few professional sporting events in the Pittsburgh area already. Friends and family have told us he's not even a year old and he's already been to more events than they have. Those are the perks though when it's free to go under the age of 2 (Pirates and Penguins).
On our way into the game, on the Roberto Clemente bridge
I wanted to make sure he got to a playoff game, and we got tickets to the 2nd home game (4th game) of the divisional series where we played the St. Louis Cardinals. This game also happened to be scheduled for a 3:07pm start which is great for taking Neil with us! So we both took vacation from work (I took a partial day) and headed to the game.
At our seats before the game started
The forecast originally called for lots of rain so we bought ponchos and of course that means by Murphy's Law that it isn't going to rain, which was just fine with me. It did rain the night before and that morning though and the clouds were just beautiful.
Neil is actually making this face for the camera.
Sometimes I really wonder what's going on in his mind.
It also cooled down so Neil had a Pirates onesie on but it was covered up by his sweatshirt.
The Pirates lost the game, 2-1. It was a pitcher's duel and there were only 3 hits total (1 Pirates hit by Pedro Alvarez, a home run). I really thought in the bottom of the 9th they could pull it out but it didn't end up happening. It was still a fun game and a great day.
Sitting in one of the seats
Neil fell asleep in my ring sling the whole walk to the car. He didn't sleep at all at the game although he seemed pretty tired. It was too noisy.
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