**Chapter 2: "Jamie's First Shot"**

As they continued to play catch, Nathan and Emily took turns tossing the ball to Jamie, who was getting more confident with each attempt. The little boy's giggles and shouts of excitement filled the air, and Nathan couldn't help but smile at the sight of his son having so much fun. Emily joined in, and they started to play a game of catch, taking turns throwing and catching the ball. Jamie stumbled and staggered, but with each try, he got a little bit better. Nathan and Emily cheered him on, offering words of encouragement and praise. "You're doing it, Jamie! Keep going!" Nathan exclaimed, as Jamie managed to catch the ball on his own for the first time. Emily swooped in, giving Jamie a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. As they played, Nathan started to envision a future where Jamie became a skilled basketball player. He remembered his own childhood days of playing on the court, the thrill of sinking a shot, and the camaraderie with his teammates. He glanced over at Emily, who was laughing and cheering Jamie on, and felt grateful to have her by his side. The afternoon air was filled with the sound of their laughter and the occasional swoosh of the ball going through the hoop. Nathan and Emily were making memories with their little boy, and he was soaking up every moment of it. As they played, Nathan wrapped his arms around Emily, pulling her close as they watched Jamie take a few tentative steps towards the hoop. "I'm so glad we did this," Emily said, her voice barely above a whisper. Nathan nodded in agreement, his eyes locked on their little boy's beaming face. Jamie, sensing that it was time to try something new, looked up at Nathan with a determined glint in his eye. "Daddy, I wanna shoot!" he exclaimed, bouncing up and down with excitement. Nathan smiled, setting the ball in Jamie's tiny hands. "Okay, buddy, let's give it a try," Nathan said, positioning himself under the hoop. Emily stood beside him, ready to offer support and encouragement. Jamie took a deep breath, cocked his arm back, and let the ball fly. It was a bit of a wobbly shot, but Nathan and Emily cheered as the ball arced through the air, heading straight for the hoop. Unfortunately, it clunked off the rim and bounced away, but Jamie didn't let that deter him. He picked up the ball and tried again, and again, each attempt getting a little bit better. Nathan and Emily exchanged loving glances, happy to see their little one persisting and having so much fun. As they played, Nathan felt his heart overflow with joy and gratitude for this perfect family afternoon. Little did they know, this was just the beginning of many more adventures to come. As they continued to play, the sun began to shine down on them, casting a warm glow over the backyard. Nathan and Emily laughed and cheered, enjoying the simple pleasure of watching their little boy learn and grow. And Jamie, well, he was just happy to be playing ball with his favorite people in the world.