Sydney played baseball this year. Really, she did.

It's tough being the second child. You work hard and accomplish a lot. But just because your mom's already been blogging about your big brother's baseball games for three or four years, she's just not watching as closely, taking as many pictures, or writing about it.

And then, just like that, the season is over and you're waving goodbye to your rookie year.

Sydney played quite well this year. She's better at baseball than she is at soccer or hockey. Probably because she actually tried to play baseball, as opposed to simply being in the middle of the action and cheering on her team mates, which is what she tended to do in those other sports.

She seems to like playing baseball. She went into the season full of self confidence, proclaiming - after practicing a lot with her dad and brother - that she just might be the best one on her team.

One evening in particular made me proud. When it's Sydney's team's turn to take the field, the kids are split into two groups. Half the kids play in the game, while the rest go to a side field and practice. It's safer that way, because too many kids in the infield all diving for the ball at the same time can result in injury. But at this particular game, there was no danger of that happening, because Sydney was the only one chasing the ball. No matter where it was hit. All the other kids stood on their assigned bases while Sydney chased down ball after ball, running with it a bit before lobbing it the best she could toward first base.

Meanwhile, tonight, her bat was on fire. She hit the coach's pitch every time. No T needed for her!

When the game ended, I reminded her to tell her coaches thanks for a great year. And she did exactly that. She walked up to the main coach and repeated exactly what I'd said, "Coach, thanks for a great year!" She then approached the assistant coach, modifying her line just a bit, "Coach, thank you for letting me have a great year."

The assistant coach responded by confirming that indeed she'd had a great year. He then asked if she was going to play again next year.

With a coy grin and a sing-song voice she answered, "We'll see."