I am a Rangers fan...

Fact #1: I grew up in Arlington - home of the Texas Rangers. Fact #2: I remember going to games at the old stadium. Fact #3: I collected baseball cards as a little girl. My mom just cleaned out my closet and brought them to me. I kept them all in a Rangers notebook. The notebook is also filled with Rangers autographs. Fact #4: I used to celebrate my birthday by staying at the hotel by the ballpark and then going to the games...a Carlson and Smith family tradition. Such great memories! Fact #5: The highlight of my 5th grade year was being on a plane with "Pudge" Rodriguez and Julio Franco as we all traveled out to San Diego. The All-Star was in San Diego that year and the players were traveling to play in the game. Fact #6: I was #7 in softball because Pudge was #7. I was also a catcher - just like Pudge. Fact #7: Brooks was named after a baseball player. Okay, that doesn't really justify me being a Rangers fan - but it is a reminder that I'm a baseball fan in general. Fact #8: I delayed the birth of my daughter to watch the last out of the ALCS in 2010. That's right - after being in the hospital for 5 days, the doctor came in and told me that my blood pressure was too high and that they were going to have to do an emergency c-section to take the baby (remember my preeclampsia and the only cure is birth?). I told her she would have to wait. There was only one more out in Game 6 versus the Yankees. I wanted to see to Rangers win their first franchise pennant. So, the doctor sat on the edge of my bed as we watched the last out together, and then Delaney was born about an hour later. I've got to find some World Series tickets!