Let me start by saying this: I am a Cubbie. I have always been a Cubbie. I will always be a Cubbie. When I go to Great American Ballpark this weekend I will be decked out in Cubbie blue. I will have on my hat, my much loved sweatshirt and my Derrek Lee t-shirt. When "Take me out to the Ballgame" is played I will root, root, root for the Cubbies.

Addie is a Cubbie as well. Not because of her name or because of the city of her birth - simply because I say so. She's never worn a stitch of Reds clothing. My family knows that it would be a waste of their money to purchase anything related to the Reds.

But I may be weakening the rules.

It's important to have hometown pride. One of the reasons that I have always loved the Cubs so much is that my hometown once hosted the minor league Cubs. We went to Wahconah Park several times to eat popcorn and cheer on the club (oh my goodness, did I see my boyfriend Greg Maddux there in '86?? Oh how I wish I could remember). And then, in grade school, my father, who lived in the suburbs of Chicago, brought us our first major league ball game - The Cubs at Wrigley. The deal was sealed. I was a Cubbie.

It's with that memory that I realize that Addie will make her own choice. The first game she ever saw? The Cubs vs. The Reds - at Great American Ballpark. Her second game? The Reds for GG's 75th birthday.

And yesterday, we took part in a hometown tradition - The Opening Day Parade. It was loud and entertaining and crowded. It celebrated the opening of the Reds season. The streets were lined and sitting by us were children of all ages, parents, grandparents. There were people on balconies, in folding chairs, in office chairs, in wheelchairs.

And Addie sat and clapped and waved and cheered. Later she told me her favorite parts were the princesses (Miss Ohio) and the kitties (the SPCA float). But as an eyewitness I can attest that she also loved the floats, the horses, the dancers and the marching bands.

And it will be her choice if she decides that she loves the Reds a little bit too.

Rah Rah for a GG

I adored my grandparents. My Dad's parents were loud and loving. They spoiled me, as the only granddaughter, with toys and dolls and attention. Gramma always had jell-o pudding pops in the freezer and Grampa gave out huge bear hugs.

My Mom's parents were kind and caring. They loved having us come for visits and would travel 12 hours to come see us, even though my grandfather never shared in the driving. Boo never skimped on cookies or love and Pop Pop always had a pocket full of change for us to visit the corner store with.

My grandparents were nothing short of wonderful in my eyes. I know that they had flaws, and that there were hard times - I've heard the stories. But for me, they were warm and affectionate and made me feel special.

Addison is blessed with amazing grandparents as well. She has grandmothers and a grandfather who think that she is the most precious, smartest, sweetest, sassiest little girl in the world. In their eyes she can run faster, jump higher, hug harder and smile more than any other girl around. It's the right of all grandparents to think their grandchild is the most amazing and it is the right of every grandchild to bask in that kind of adoration.

But Addie has someone that I never had, and I am a bit jealous.

Addie has a great grandma - her GG.

And GG showers her in love and kisses and hugs just as much as her grandparents. GG spoils her rotten with ice cream, and clothes, and purses and toys and books, and lip gloss. And as much as GG loves Addie, Addie loves her GG.

Yesterday, after a delay or two, we finally celebrated GG's 75th birthday. The whole fam damily sloshed on to a yellow school bus and headed down to Great American Ball Park on a rainy Sunday to cheer on the Reds. Addie even wore red shoes to support the team (no worries, she is first and foremost a Cubbie, but she always has her GG's back). The rain came and went and came again.

We cheered. Fireworks went off for a home run or two. Rosie Red came to hangout in our cheering section and most importantly for GG, the Reds won. Addie loved the ballgame, and GG seemed to love having her family at her side.

Not everyone gets to have a GG and I feel blessed not only that Addie has GG, but that we do. She is patient and insightful. She is steady and calm. She is generous and supportive. She makes our lives a little better and she makes Addie's world that much richer.