Lady Kaitlyn's world at 6 weeks...

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  6 weeks (today!)

Family,

And a good Monday morning to you from the Queen City, where it's actually chilly in late April for the first time in recent memory.  Apparently Kaitlyn was born in the "6th coldest March in the past 44 years" - not sure how they score that or why being 6th place was worth a mention, but all the same I'll say that the weather's been amazing so far this month. We've only touched 80 once, and this week looks to be in the 60's and 70's.  That's terrific news for the little dogwood we planted in her honor, as we need some cooler weather to ensure her roots take a firm hold and get plenty of water (such a parable when you think about it really).  Selfishly it's been great for the Bull as well, as I've been able to get some runs in without 90 degree temps or wicked humidity oppressing my already slow times.  That being said I did 5 yesterday and turned in a 7:59 last mile, which felt amazing.  It's funny, in January I was really, REALLY over running.  I didn't look forward to it, I dreaded any time on the treadmill, and I just wasn't interested in exercise.  But as with so many other things, of course, "having a baby changes everything," as I have now rededicated myself to my running (as well as other things).  Simply put, I WANT to be in great shape not only for me, but also for Jenny (so I don't look like a slob of a husband) and also for Kaitlyn (so I can be healthy and active to chase her now and then hopefully less of a burden on her later in life).  And just as with a desire to be more physically capable, I've now found a resurgence to be more mentally capable as well.  In fact, when I walk K to the map and start talking about countries (I'm trying to do a country a day :-)), I am finding myself reviewing capitals in Africa and throughout Central Asia to ensure I'm learning as well.  Similarly, I've set myself a goal to "finish all the books on my shelf by EOY."  I've had several books (both fiction and non-fiction) on that shelf for what feels like an age, and I've decided that some of them (which have sat unread for upwards of 7+ years) just need to be crossed off.  I'm reading 3 books at the same time right now, trying to balance fiction, non-fiction, and DIY (DIY for baby - not the home, as we know I'm HOPELESS in that category).

I mean, the kid is 6 weeks old and already had 4x the clothes
I do (insert Old School Cool or T-Rowe Price saying "Dude,
homeless people have 4x more clothes than you do" here.
Side note - can't wait to put her in that Vol onesie this fall!!!

For Kaitlyn, it's just AMAZING how quickly she's growing and learning about the world around her.  She's finally fitting into most of her clothes, and we're actually having to change her twice a day now due to the volume she usually spits up during feedings (the kid's taking 120 ml's a shot!).  I don't mind this, as folks have bought us the CUTEST clothes on the planet lately. Every day we crack open that wardrobe is an adventure!  She's much more alert now (most days, anyway), and wake time has become much more of a voyage of discovery for her vs. an exercise in futility for her parents (aka - trying to keep her awake for 30 minutes without going into meltdown).  She can focus on things 12-14 inches from her face, and her (ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL) blue eyes will track images and movement all over the place.  Apparently babies can still only see in 3 dimensions at present (CRAZY when you think about it), but I do think she's doing a nice job of discovering the world around her.  Just  2 days ago she made another leap when she realized that she could touch and manipulate the hanging plush horse on her play mat.  It was AWESOME to watch her realize it was there, reach out to touch it, and then POUND IT INTO OBLIVION.  I'm telling you - this child will have the strength of a bull moose before it's all said and done.

She's starting to figure out that her hands are her own now, and more and more they are finding their way closer in proximity to her mouth.  Her arms are still flailing WILDLY at night, and at present I'm not sure if she fully realizes she has the capability to control those puppies.  Likewise with her legs (which we're still swaddling at present) - she executes about 417,000 leg lifts over the course of a 90 minute sleeping session, to say nothing of the 14,897 grunts which she'll also utter.  Honestly, I don't know when the kid actually gets into "restful sleep," as she looks like one big "active sleep cycle" to me.  But in all seriousness, my favorite activity now is to watch her when she's peacefully asleep - there are fewer things more beautiful or perfect in this world than our sweet daughter passed out with her arms flung wide, making her little cooing noise and breathing softly.

For daddy, the last couple of weeks have been simply amazing, and I couldn't be happier.  I have had to focus on slowing down and truly taking in the moment, as for the past 3.5 decades I've been wired to just "knock out the task and move on," and so slowing down to take stock is something that doesn't come natural (nor is it comfortable).  That being said, I do think the last 48 hours have been better, thanks largely in part to a little message from God on Saturday morning (funny how he gives you what you need when you need it).  I was on the screened porch, watching the leaves from the shag bark hickory and the hickory trees swaying in the breeze.  The image was something from a Norman Rockwell painting - absolutely beautiful, simple, and timeless.  It was one of the images I'd had in my mind when we bought the house - me sipping my coffee, watching springtime envelop the backyard, content in the perfectness of new life, amazing weather, good coffee, and blue skies.  However, looking at it, it occurred to me how infrequently I do take the time to just absorb these beautiful, simple moments, storing them in my memory bank (after all, one of the reasons we bought the house was to "slow down" and just enjoy life).  Watching those leaves, thinking about the unstoppable flow of time and the miracle of spring's rebirth, a lot clicked in to focus.  For starters, slow it down, Sam.  Enjoy the day, enjoy the moment, enjoy this time that you will NEVER get again.  Find a way to slow down the to-do lists, the incessant push to hit benchmarks and goals, and everything in between.  Set goals that you'll enjoy actually meeting and that you can meet without in any way impacting your family, which is the most important thing on earth.  The good news is that, after a nice, head clearing 5 mile run in the rain, I think mentally and spiritually I'm in a much better spot now, and I am seeing the dividends of this renewed focus (no pun intended).  Let's just hope I can continue unabated down that path (which won't be without its challenges, I'm sure, especially when I start back to work and when 1/2 marathon season resumes in the fall).

But enough of all that, as I really just started this blog to show you some images from K's world at 6 weeks.  This was meant to be a photo-montage!  And so, let's get to the subject at hand, shall we?  K's world at 6 weeks:

The featured activity for "wake time" at present - Tummy Time!  Of course, more often than not, K just PASSES OUT,
leaving Muffin Puffin and I to do the Riverdance around her in an effort to wake her up - too cute!

Seriously - WHO KNEW how many different types of pastes there are for a baby's bum?  Granted, not all of those are
for K's bum, but still - how did I miss the marketing meeting where someone said "Let's call our product BUTT PASTE" - you gotta love that (and K does, for the record).

I love this photo because it's sums up my parents perfectly - dad bought the tractor toy to ensure Kaitlyn doesn't forget her roots - she has Tennessee blood in those veins and a bi-centennial farm in her family.  Mom bought the piggy bank because it's never too early to start saving money for a huge purchase that currently I know nothing about...AND it is just TOO adorably cute (and pink) for words.  Love you guys!!!

The sterilization process - 5 minutes in the microwave with 6 oz of water - AMAZING for lazy people like me who don't want to wash bottles.

My favorite Christmas gift from mom this year for little K - MUSLIM MONKEYS!!!!!   I mean seriously - look at them and tell me that I'm wrong...

Lady Kaitlyn getting a burp and feed from Grandma Tacy - K's finally fitting into her clothes these days!

Okay, I reckon it's 10 minutes until the next feed, so I'd better start prepping some bottles.  We've officially hit the halfway point of my Paternity Leave - gotta make these next 42 days count!

Love,

Sam and Jenny

Things I NEVER want to forget...

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  5 weeks and 4 days

Family,

And a good morning to you from the Queen City, where Sammy the Bull is in between Lady Kaitlyn feeding sessions.  The kid just took 205 ml's of milk - INSANE!  I put her down just over an hour ago, which means best case I've got 25 minutes to knock out this blog (but I'm not complaining if it gets delayed, as I am LOVING "Daddy Day Care").  Truth be told it should be a quick one, as I just wanted to ensure I typed up the memories currently most vivid in my mind to ensure I never forget the

following aspects of this time with our wee one.  In no particular order:

Tummy Time!!!  Full marks to JT for finding this play mat at consignment for $15!!!!  Especially since Kaitlyn's already covered it with three spit-up pools each the size of the Sea of Tranquility.  Good times...and cheap fabric.

1.  How noisy this child is whilst sleeping - seriously, it is an INCESSANT stream of grunts, gurgles, and rapid breaths.  The rapid breaths (huh, huh, huh) are my favorite - sweetest little sound ever.  The gurgling and screaming as though she's possessed by a demon...not so much.

2.  How ACTIVE this child is whilst sleeping - okay, I know there are "restful cycles" and "active cycles," but I don't think anybody told K about the former.  Her legs are CONSTANTLY in motion - her abs have to be sheets of metal.  I WISH I could do leg lifts like this.

(pause in blog for 90 minutes due to numbers 1 and 2 above being so out of control on the monitor that Sammy the Bull has no choice but to attend to his daughter)

We now return you to your regularly scheduled reading, 53 minutes and 115 ml's later...

3.  Those BEAUTIFUL deep blue eyes staring at daddy whilst he feeds her on the couch (which has been covered in spit up on 2 separate occasions, with about another 900 probable recurrences on the horizon)

This pretty much sums up the 50-50 coin toss you get post-
feeding.  She's either sporting wider eyes than a deer in
headlights, or she is PASSED OUT without possibility of
movement, motion, or consciousness.  But she's still pretty
darn cute (and in the jumper and blanket from Grammie).

4.  The expressions she makes when she wakes up (peacefully, that is - meaning these are the expressions when we rouse her from slumber) - first is the big stretch with the arched back, then the arms flail a bit.  Then she purses her lips and lets out a big "uuuuuuuuuuuuuuu" (which normally follows with a load of flatulence that registers on the Richter scale)

5.  The look on her face during Tummy Time when she gets her head up (it's one of utter wonder that asks 2 questions - why has my vantage point changed, and how long can I keep this position) - the mixture of poise, concentration, and wonder at the change of scenery is just incredible

6.  That "passed out" arm draped across my chest or hanging down my side when she's passed out in kanga care

7.  That "social smile" - I'm not sure she knows that she's actually smiling, but it's just about the cutest thing EVER when she does it

8.  Watching her on the monitor with both her arms up above her head (we're no longer swaddling her with her arms bound as of yesterday, and it's made ALL the difference with her sleeping - good call, Muffin Puffin!), looking like an official confirming a field goal is good

9.  Back when she was breastfeeding, the way her head would swing all over the place and her face would look INSANE before she found the breast and then attacked it like a starving piranha in the Amazon who hasn't seen meat in 14 weeks

10.  Singing to her - and watching her reaction

11.  The first time she realized Jenny's voice matched her face and heartbeat - one of my favorite images from this time will ALWAYS be anytime Kaitlyn goes "skin-to-skin" with Jenny, as she instantly calms, nestles right above Jenny's heart with her ear, and then just goes to sleep - it is nothing shy of a miracle from God

12.  Endless laughter from the faces and the spit-ups...oh, and the peeing - ALWAYS with the peeing!  This is definitely my child...

There are a million more, I'm sure - but these were those top of mind that I wanted to ensure were recorded for the ages.

Okay, I told you it would be a quick one, but there you have it.  Chat soon!

Love,

Sam and Jenny

48 hours of firsts!!!!

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  5 weeks and 2 days

Family,

And a good afternoon to you from the Queen City, where the Bull and Striker have been slow to rise today.  Lady Kaitlyn has been a wee bit of a challenge over the last 2-3 days, largely due to the fact that we can't get her wake/sleep schedules coordinated and also due to the fact that, rather than eating her normal 120 ml's in a feeding, she's now taking only 50-60 ml's and then sleeping for less time.  She's currently passed out as I type this, and her first 2 "wake cycles" today have been the absolute ANTITHESIS of that - she's basically slept through tummy time during her first 2 feedings despite our best efforts.  The good news, however, is that she did sleep 4+ hours for only the second time ever last night, which was a HUGE win.  Now the trick is getting her to a) elongate that whilst b) starting the first feed consistently at 6:30 AM every morning.  Oh, and in other news, we had an unannounced hydrant flush last night, meaning everything we'd sterilized was sitting in 150 degree sediment-filled water.  Our cold water is better today, but the hot water still has a bit of a tinge (largely due to the fact that it's in our hot water heater).  I am in the process of flushing the hot water, but I expect we'll have "foggy water" through most of today.

But on to the good news - the last 48 hours have seen some AMAZING first accomplishments from the rug rat.  For starters, on her 5 week birthday, K did what I wasn't expecting for at LEAST another month - she ROLLED OVER!!!!  That's right, sports fans - this little girl started on her tummy and, after about 10 minutes, plopped over onto her back.  AMAZING!  It really was SO COOL to watch, especially the shock on her face once she rolled over and realized that her whole field of vision was looking at something different.  She just couldn't stop staring out the window - too cute.

And then, yesterday we were treated to another big moment - K was on Jenny's chest, and as per usual she was arching her back and raising her head.  To date we've been amazing at how high she can raise her head (looking at the ghosts or angels in the ceiling - we're not sure which), and even more impressed with how she can sustain it and hold it in place.  However, until yesterday her head always plummeted like a stone when she went to lower it.  Yesterday, however, she was able to CONTROL THE LOWERING!!!  It was AWESOME, as she really did lower it, stop her head midway down, and then lower it onto her arm or Jenny's chest.  Again, I have no idea when that's supposed to happen, but it feels 3+ weeks early, which is SPECTACULAR!  Baby Bjorn here we come - look out Crowder Mountain!  Okay, maybe we'll start with the Greenway, but still...it's good stuff.

This child is growing and learning daily.  Her favorite book remains "Look, Look!" - in fact she won't even entertain daddy reading anything else.  That being said, she can now focus on the images from farther away (at least a foot), her eyes are definitely tracking better, and she absolutely recognizes mommy and daddy's voice.  Her favorite image from the book would be that of fish swimming - it mesmerizes her.

She's also filling out her outfits (FINALLY).  In fact, she's growing so fast that I fear she won't be able to try on all the newborn clothes before she hits the 3 month window.  We tried her second "sleep sack" last night - she absolutely HATES those things.  If she can't feel her hands on her face, she goes ballistic.  And since these sleeves were too long for her, well...you can imagine the screaming (picture something out of an 80's horror film - and then triple it).

Last thing from me - I've started teaching her about countries.  Yes, yes, I know that most people of all ages find it exceptionally boring, but if she's going to be part of Team Taylor, travel is in the DNA and she has to jump on-board.  Yesterday I taught her about the US and Canada (she wasn't impressed by either), and today I think we're going to focus on Siberia.  We've got the map in our living room, and it doubles as a nice alternative to books and tummy time when K's getting a bit out of control and the swing just isn't cutting it.  My motivation on this isn't purely for her, however, as I am finding that I want to ensure all the neurons and pistons are firing for myself as well.  In that way I can ensure I keep all my faculties sharp and can be a good teacher, mentor, and parent for Kaitlyn as she gets older and starts to learn about various subjects (not to mention her environment and world around her in general!).  Basically, when she gets to the "why" phase, I want to always (or at least almost always) have an answer. :-)

Okay, that's it from here.  JT's off to visit a consignment shop, and this guy's gonna head back into the nursery for another feeding.  Chat soon!

Love,

Sam and Jenny

Life at 5 weeks...

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  1 month and 1 week

Family,

And a good afternoon to you from the Queen City, where Muffin Puffin is currently feeding the Munchkin and Sammy the Bull is organizing some photos of the rug rat.  This is a big week for Team Taylor, as the Bull has proclaimed this week to be the "deadline for one-time birth activities."  In other words, birth announcements, the first batch of thank you notes, the first order of photos, and the baby

A few things here:  1.  Yes, my hair is AWESOME.
2.  Yes, I am wearing a beer shirt from Cambodia.
3.  Yes, the bib is larger than her torso.  With the
way she vomits, it's necessary (and STILL doesn't
always catch everything.  4.  YES, that is a "boy"
outfit (Daddy's Little Helper with trucks).  It
was ONE DOLLAR at Target - enough said.

book will all be send/up to date by the time the sun sets on Sunday.  Check in with me in 168 hours time to see whether or not that actually transpires... :-)

5 weeks in, and things continue to get a bit easier.  Now that Jenny's pumping full-time, we as a couple definitely feel more relaxed and are happy with the increased flexibility permitted with that type of schedule.  As a father, I'm thrilled that I can help out more, and Perfect Pumpkin and I are getting into the rhythm of alternating feeds throughout the course of the day (which is still on more or less a 3 hour schedule).

For the rug rat, she's growing like a WEED.  Seriously - outfits that swallowed her whole 2 weeks ago now fit, and a few outfits are even snug.  How is that POSSIBLE?!?!?!  As her body develops, she's definitely becoming more efficient at eating (she's taking anywhere from 110 to 150 ml's in a shot, which is anywhere from 30%-100% more than the targets were during out last visit to the lactation consultant).  She's becoming a better burper, and Jenny and I are getting more comfortable about placing her over our shoulder (which is accelerating the speed at which she burps, as well as the volume that comes out).  In fact, Jenny and I have "seen the light" and started putting a bib on her during feedings, which is DEFINITELY making clean-up easier.  However, just to prove that parents are never really in control, Kaitlyn has developed the ability to PROJECTILE VOMIT AN OCEAN OF MILK after a feed, and this deluge can occur anytime between 30 seconds after feeding and 90 minutes after the last drop is consumed.  2 days ago I'm pretty sure she puked up enough milk to fill Lake Superior (which SATURATED the changing table, the waterproof liner, and her outfit, for the record - good times.  Oh, and then she PEED A RIVER to add to the bevy of fluids floating around the table.  Talk about creating a new "bag of waters..." - nice.

K doing the Beyonce dance - "If you liked it
then you should have put a ring on it..."

As for wake time, we are DEFINITELY seeing strides in the right direction.  This morning she had 1 hour of wake time after 30 minutes of feeding, which is exactly what Babywise (also known as our parenting Gospel at present) says we should be going for.  It is a big tricky to keep her up and active during the day (especially when you have to wake her), but the good news is that she is sleeping more in the evening (up to 4.5 hours at a time - it is AMAZING what another 30-60 minutes of sleep will do to make you feel human).  We're still experimenting with how best to "cluster feed" her at night, but I do think progress is being made (and will continue to be made over the coming weeks).   Wake time this morning consisted of a diaper change (ALWAYS a necessity with this one, as she is a NON-STOP  pooping and peeing machine.  Seriously, her diaper weighs about 47 pounds when you haul it to the genie), reading the book from Chuck and Cat (in black and white since baby's can't see color at this age), an attempt to read Peppa Pig (K has ZERO interest in that book at present, and when I start doing my horrendous British accents she looks at me as though I'm a total stranger before spacing out to just stare at the ceiling), tummy time (she was NOT interested today, but recently she's done TERRIFIC work at raising her head and keeping it elevated - she's even lowering it with some control), and then time on the swing looking at the little critters dangling down.  I then picked her up and showed her our world map, rattling off some information about the US and Canada (I'm trying to keep it to 2 countries a day, but I expect her to have all countries memories - WITH capitols - by age 1, of course...) before taking her back to the couch for another read of "Look, Look!", at which point she vomited a river onto the couch and my UCI Fightin' Anteaters shirt.  Good thing it already has so many stains that this one isn't even distinguishable.

Okay, back to thank you notes and photo folder organization for this guy.  Progress continues to be made - ever forward!

Love,

Sam and Jenny

Happy One Month on the Planet, Kaitlyn!!!

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  1 month (and 2 days)

Family,

Possum Kingdom shirt, courtesy of the Wild
Wallaby and the Pool Shark...who's never
shot a game before in his life.  Thanks, guys!

And a great Saturday morning to you from the Queen City, where the elder members of Team Taylor are busy writing thank you notes, washing clothes, and having their coffee amidst perfect weather.  Apologies for this being 2 days late (and really one day, as I wanted her checkup to be complete before writing), but it's time to say Happy One Month Birthday to Kaitlyn Elaine!  That's right, sports fans, Thursday marked her official "one month of breathing oxygen" moment, and yesterday was another big milestone - the one month checkup.  I am happy to report that she's now 8 pounds and 7 ounces, moving her into the 25th percentile for both height and weight (GREAT NEWS, considering that just 3 weeks ago she was in the 5th percentile).  It's a testament to Jenny's commitment to feeding that has brought little K to this point, and coupled with the schedule/routine she's now on, I really feel that she's thriving and growing.  After all, she's now taking 100-150 ml's per feed!

Ok, so I realize this isn't much of an action
shot, but TRUST ME - that gal is DAYS
away from rolling over.  Her days in
the swaddle are most definitely numbered.

Looking back on her first month of life, it's amazing to record all the changes and milestones that have already occurred.  For starters, she's gone from the cutest little sleepyhead on the planet to being very alert during periods of the day.  And whilst she doesn't totally have her nights and days figured out just yet, she is absolutely showing 2 huge wake time periods between the hours of 6 am and 6 pm, and during that time we've managed to go from her just laying on our chest for kanga care to actual Tummy time!  In fact, yesterday (after the all clear from the Peds) was the first real attempt at Tummy Time, and she was AMAZING!  Seriously - this kid is already exhibiting SO MUCH STRENGTH.  Not only can she raise her head - she can also sustain it (and yesterday was even able to lower it slowly!).  I'm not sure at what point head control should occur, but as a proud papa, our wee one feels way ahead of the curve. :-)

Let's be REAL clear - this is NOT the face of happiness.  But
the screams and obvious expressions of discomfort came
about 2 minutes later when Jenny and I were both scrubbing
her from head to toe.  Sorry, sweetheart!

The notable milestones for me - her first bath (occurred on Thursday, her actual 1 month birthday), the start of Tummy Time (yesterday, a Friday), and the move into the 25th percentile for height and weight (for the record, her perfectly shaped little head is in the 10th percentile - too cute).  It should be noted that Kaitlyn did NOT like her first bath, but considering that she's still not submerged into the water, that isn't a big surprise.  After all, warm water only stays warm for so long, and by the time her little bird bath is over, she's quite cold.  But that's when Dilly the Duck (her towel) comes to the rescue!

Another big change that's just occurred - we are moving from feeding on the breast to exclusively the bottle.  Jenny is still pumping and we're still exclusively breast milk at this point, but yesterday (with the Peds' approval) we made the decision to move from the breast to the bottle.  Both Jenny and I feel SO much better about the decision, as it has so many benefits (whilst still giving K the benefits of breast milk).  We now have a lot more flexibility in the schedule, the feedings (and, by extension, pumpings) are quicker, we now (finally!) have time in the 3 hour routine for tummy time, and I can actually help more (I can handle more of the feedings other than just the 3 AM feed and the feedings out and about). Personally, I'm THRILLED about this,

as a) I feel more useful and engaged as a parent, b) Kaitlyn seems to be responding really well to the change (loves the bottle, enjoys the awake time, has slept like a ROCK without crying for the last 24 hours), and c) Jenny definitely seems a lot happier now that she's got some flexibility back into her schedule.  This is the best of all worlds, as we can still provide for our beautiful little girl whilst at the same time maintain some semblance of an "adult" schedule.  Incidentally, that schedule is now manifesting itself in the form of evening cocktails on the screened porch!

All in all, one month in, I can say with 100% confidence and certainly that life could not be and has never been better.  The laughter in this house is rich and real, the love is deep and steady, the challenges are numerous and rewarding, and the joy is constant and immeasurable.  As I always tell people about marriage, "Life is better on the other side."  The same is absolutely true of having kids.  Once again I find myself speechless except to say my cup once again runneth over.

I love my girls.  I love my life.  And now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to go enjoy a little more of both.

Love,

Sam and Jenny

Happy Due Date, Kaitlyn!!!

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  30 days

Family,

And a good afternoon to you from the Queen City, where Sammy the Bull is currently on the screened porch (which appears to be suffering from a wasp infestation, for the record - we've only found 2 so far, but those jokers are getting in somewhere) enjoying this simply FANTASTIC streak of weather.  It seems as though Charlotte may have skipped spring entirely, as we went from 40 and rainy to 80 and sunny almost overnight.  This guy is NOT complaining, as I was DESPERATE for some warmer weather.  It just means I'll have to work a little harder while jogging.

Team Taylor - party of 3.  We weren't expecting this photo
a month ago!

Physically I can tell I've gained a few pounds over the last month, which truth be told was inevitable given the lack of exercise and the quantity of food consumed.  These last few days, however, I've definitely felt a bit off.  I'm not sure if it's the "night shift" - waking up between 2-3 to give her a bottle, what we're eating or a combination of both, but the waking period between 10-12 for me has been rough lately.  It's tough to get out of bed much before 10, but I feel like the day is wasted if I don't (and my eating habits are certainly off kilter).  I've not had much fruit lately, either, which is probably contributing.  Regardless, with visitors and appointments dropping to nil over the next 4-5 weeks, this guy is DEFINITELY gonna start getting back in shape.  Jenny and I have a goal of at least 1 half marathon come this fall.  My next one will be my 25th, a milestone I am very proud of.  That being said, my times have certainly slipped over the last couple of years, and I want to get back into the 1:40's.  My last 1:40 race was Racefest in April of 2012, and my goal is that, beginning this fall, I'll be sub 1:45-1:47 for the next decade.  Kaitlyn - when you read this in 20 years' time, you can tell me how I fared. :-)

So today - April 10th - is a BIG day.  Today is the date that Kaitlyn was actually supposed to greet the world.  Now I'm conscious that only 1% or 5% or something like that of babies actually arrive on their due dates, but EVERYONE had told us that Kaitlyn would either be on time or late (as apparently your first one always is).  Obviously that wasn't the case for us, but you won't hear this guy complaining, as my life COULD NOT be any better than it is right now.  This past month has been such a journey, filled with so many new emotions I didn't know existed, filled with new levels of exhaustion I never thought attainable, filled with new discoveries, experiences, and life lessons about uber-critical things like:

1.  You'll never watch a sporting event in real-time ever again

2.  Having your wife topless around the house for hours at a time is a completely normal experience

3.  Regardless of lung size, children can generate some SERIOUS volume when they are hungry

4.  The best, most personal, sweetest photos you'll ever take will most likely never been seen by the outside world because your wife and your child are showing parts you don't want anyone else to see :-)

5.  It really isn't "about me" any more - I know that's often said, but there's a truth to that which cannot be ignored.  I am still learning on this one, and I have a 2013 goal to be a better husband as well as a very engaged, active father.  I need to constantly remember that the books I want to read, the shows I want to watch, and the miles I want to log are distant priorities compared to ensuring my child is eating right, sleeping right, has plenty of stimulation during "wake time," and feels secure.  Equally as important, I want to ensure wife muffin is happy, healthy, feels supported and loved (which she is more than anything), gets time for herself, and has a shoulder to lean on/cry on in the event things get tough.  Jenny has been SO AMAZING so far, rallying anytime to feed and comfort K, regardless of the hour or lack of sleep.  Again, I am humbled by her efforts and maternal instinct - just an amazing thing to watch.

Another milestone - the first successful usage of the pacifier in the crib.  Mobile, sleep sheep (making womb noises),
swaddle, pacifier, waterproof crib sheet, breathable bumpers, burp cloth, night light...whatever it takes, baby...

It's funny to think about life pre-baby, and it's funny to imagine what this past month would have been like had it just been the 2 of us.   Truth be told, we had nothing on the travel schedule, so I imagine a lot of things would have been the same - trips to VBGB, watching the NCAA tournament, walking around the neighborhood, etc.  That's why I think this past month has been a fairly seamless transition (well, as seamless as it can be to introduce a new carbon-based life form into your house for whom you are now COMPLETELY responsible), as we had some very low-key activities into which we were easily able to integrate K.  This was important for all parties involved, as I think it's critical that we as parents maintain as much of our contacts, schedule, and lifestyle as possible whilst at the same time looking out for the best interests of the Munchkin.  I definitely feel comfortable taking her out in public, walking her on the greenway, having her in a store, keeping her in the infant carrier, and all of those other things which a month ago seemed impossible.  It helps that she is an ANGEL baby (knock on wood!), and I hope that continues.

The cutest part of this whole experience?
The look of hope on Muffin Puffin's face
when she asked me, "Can we get it in white?"
Cutest.  Thing.  EVER.  I love you, angel bear!

Lastly, there was one big change that wouldn't have come about had we not had K so early - Muffin Puffin is now the proud owner of an i-Pad!  That's right, sports fans, it was time to introduce the iPad with retina display to the Taylor household.  K - by the time you read this, I'm sure the world will have moved WAY past tablets.  Just remember that mommy and daddy were cool and part of the "in" crowd once upon a time, ok? :-)

Ok, it's now time to sign off here and get back to thank you notes (which are almost done) and working on the Baby Book (so there will be another hard copy record of this amazing time).  Happy Due Date, Kaitlyn!  We're so, so, so glad that you decided to come early, as you've enriched our lives in more ways than you can possibly imagine.  Now let's work on getting you to focus your eyes and sleep with your head facing over your right shoulder so you don't have a flat spot on that cute little cranium.

Love,

Sam and Jenny

A shot for the ages - 4 generations of the Wilson clan...

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  28 days (born 4 weeks ago today!)

Family,

And a good evening to you from the Queen City, where Team Taylor has discovered a new level of exhaustion despite a FANTASTIC weekend with the family.  Before I complain about the exhaustion, however, let me recap one of the best weekends I've had in 2013 - complete with a visit from Grammie and Nanny!

Baby, Bride, Beer - all the essentials for a PERFECT DAY!!!

The weekend started with a bang at the ONLY place to be when the weather is perfect - VBGB!  That's right - Team Taylor is responsible for scheduling the monthly happy hour at our favorite German Beer Hall, and we weren't going to let a little thing like childbirth get in the way, right?  Plus we wanted Kaitlyn to meet her work family, and normally this monthly installment is the only time we can get the entire group together (Old School Cool, the Whale, Eagle One, Hitman etc.  Kaitlyn - if you're reading this, these are all the people who came to your shower and gave you tons of AMAZING presents, and chances are you know them now by their real names - Ray, John, Mark, Sean, etc).  We got there about 4:30 and spent 3 hours outside in PERFECT weather.  The best part?  K slept like an ANGEL the entire time save the 20 minutes I fed her (and she took that bottle down like a CHAMP, for the record - atta girl!).

A photo for the ages - 4 generation of the Wilson clan.
Gran - you were here in spirit.  I miss you.  I love you.

We then rolled home, arriving at almost the same time as....GRAMMIE!!!!  That's right, folks - it was mom's first trip since the marathon drive from Port of Everglades after docking from the Panama cruise.  Nanny made the trip as well, which meant not only did I have some amazing, much needed bonding time with my family, but we also got to take the 4 generation photo!  The photo shoot (which actually took place yesterday - Sunday) was amazing, as we used the SLR and got some great shots.

Friday we just hung out for a bit (Jenny and I had Hawthorne's) before passing out.  K was pretty good that night, meaning I was able to rise and shine about 10 AM on Saturday morning for a GREAT brekkie (courtesy of Mum).  We then made the drive to Lowe's where we got a truly unexpected and absolutely FANTASTIC present - mom and Nanny bought us a pink dogwood to commemorate Kaitlyn's birth!  It was such a GREAT idea, and I was thrilled about the suggestion.  So we picked up a few plants, a spade, a nice looking dogwood sapling, and then rolled back to the case, where we found a great spot and started digging.

 I hit some roots first, but soon enough the little Dogwood was in its place!  I don't think it will flower this year, but I'm THRILLED about having it here and so excited to watch it grow with Kaitlyn over the coming years (and provide shade to the hammocks, of course :-)).

Absolutely LOVE this photo - the map in the background, K
in the foreground, Grammie holding her.  For me it sums up
my life nicely - the background represents the travel and
experiences who've made me what I am, the child sits in
the center of the foreground because she's such a key focus
of my life now, and Grammie is holding her just like she
once held me, showing that her love and support is constant.

In fact, we got so "gardening gung ho" after the dogwood that we planted our gerber daisies (which mom had brought) and even broke out the blower for the first time.  Dude, that thing is AWESOME!!!!  Hurricane force wind speeds (230 mph) as leaves went all over creation, which Muffin Puffin then mowed (her first time buzzing our yard - she LOVED it).




Saturday night was ROUGH, however, as K turned some type of Exorcist corner and spent more than 2.5 hours SCREAMING LIKE A RABID BANSHEE.  Seriously - we'd NEVER seen her like that, and nothing we did seemed to work.  Honestly, I now think it was a combination of gas meets overtired, but no matter what it was BRUTAL.  We took shifts sitting with her, but it didn't really matter where you were - if you were in this ZIP code, YOU HEARD THIS CHILD.  Finally she passed out and then work up right back on schedule for a feeding - kids are amazing.

Nanny trying to soothe an out of control
4 week old.  I simply LOVE this picture.

Sunday started with an AMAZING quiche from mum, followed by something that had been bothering me for WEEKS - the bolting of the IKEA dresser to the wall.  Now let me set the stage - Team Taylor had a couple of options pre-child.  We either drop MAD CASH for furniture, or we buy the cheapest stuff we can find, knowing that we'd be replacing it when K was a bit older AND knowing that, well, kids break stuff.  The other driving factor for me was that I am of the opinion no one in the house should have nicer furniture than the people paying the mortgage for the house, and so we opted for IKEA vs. Pottery Barn.  Despite the 3 hour assembly (which I've spoken about in previous blogs), all was well save one teeny weensy detail - YOU HAVE TO BOLT THE DAMN THING INTO THE WALL SO IT DOESN'T TOPPLE.  I was not over excited about this prospect, but it excited me a whole lot more than the idea of 5 feet of plastic crashing onto my child's head.  And so, with that in mind, mom and I went upstairs to a) put up some valances, and b) bolt in the dresser.  Item a) went VERY fast.  Item b) was, well, A NIGHTMARE OF GALCIAN PROPORTIONS.

Good luck getting that piece of furniture out of this room!
In 30 years time, that dresser will "be negotiable and included
with the sale...if it hasn't already been used as firewood.

For starters, we DID NOT have the proper bolts.  For that matter, we didn't even have the proper tools. Add in the fact that the base board had the dresser almost an inch off the wall, and you have a recipe for 20 minutes of angry Sammy cussing in his child's nursery in front of his mother.  However, there was one silver lining - we accidentally found a stud behind one side of the wall.  We tried to screw in a bracket and bolt for about 30 minutes before my mom came up with the best idea EVER - why not just hammer it into the wall?  BINGO, BABY!!!!  2 4 inch nails later, that puppy wasn't moving if you showed up with a crow bar and a stick of dynamite.  Good times.

Ready for action...and clean for one day.  

After stocking the bookshelf and moving the changing table and glider into the room, all was complete save one thing - the hanging of the pictures.  This was important to me, as I got the chance to hang a picture that was in my nursery as well.  Hand-stitched by mum, it reads:  "Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a daddy."  It felt pretty fantastic to place that on the wall.

The bug in the rug in her crib for the
first time - she loved the mobile and the
Sleep Sheep!

After the photo shoot, mom and Nanny left, and we crossed off another first - we put Kaitlyn in her crib for the first time!  I am happy to report that it was a success (minus the 45 minutes of SCREAMING that just took place), and she's now 100% in her room.  The monitor has been AMAZING so far - and it's give both Jenny and I a bit of a breather to have our own space.

Mom, Nanny - thank you both SO MUCH for coming, for all of the food, for all of the cleaning help, for the dogwood - you name it.  I just can't thank you enough for making the drive - it was great to see you, and I really, really hope the next visit comes soon.  Love you guys!!!!

Love,

Sam and Jenny

Big milestones...and bigger screams...

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  23 days

Family,

Team Taylor out for a family stroll in
Freedom Park on Monday, after just receiving
the "all clear" from the LC - WINNER,
WINNER, CHICKEN DINNER, BABY!!!!

And a good evening to you from the Queen City, where Sammy the Bull has just finished "In the Garden of Beasts" (brilliant read, for the record - vintage Larson), and Muffin Puffin is busily reading "Secret of the Baby Whisperer" with Kaitlyn feeding happily at the moment. Somehow it's already 6 PM, and increasingly JT and I are SHOCKED at how quickly the day passes.  She was up before 9 today, and I managed to pull myself out of bed by 9:47, but the speed with which each day goes by (especially when I don't have a litany of crossed off "to-do's" in hand) is shocking.

Today however was a great one, featuring a few milestones for the "old" Team Taylor.  For starters, I got back onto the parkway for my first run as a father!  I went 4 miles on this GORGEOUS, sunny Wednesday, strolling at a 9+ minute pace but just enjoying the fact that I was moving and getting some exercise.  I could tell that my conditioning has (understandably) waned, as it was my lungs that gave out before my legs.  I felt a little pain from the old stress fracture spot, but nothing too daunting (although the pop in my foot before I started was a bit ominous).  If anything, I think Kaitlyn's birth has given both mine and Muffin's bodies some much needed R & R, and my hope is that I'll truly be able to rebuild from the ground up ahead of the fall/winter running calendar.  For Jenny, the hope is that her foot is now fully recovered from surgery last August, meaning she'll be able to mix running with the elliptical and swimming once she returns to the gym.

Kaitlyn "Shackleton" Taylor, ready for the
hike to the Whaling Station on South Georgia
Island...or Highland Creek Parkway.

Additionally, Jenny got out for her 4th walk in 5 days with the stroller.  That has been a great new addition to the routine, especially given that everything is now in bloom and that the weather these past few days has been nothing shy of PERFECT.  Granted, it was chilly enough to deck K in her "Ice Hotel coat" today (courtesy of one of Jenny's friends - TOO CUTE!), but JT still logged 3 miles over roughly an hour.   She made this loop with her friend Kelly, a neighbor who's newest addition is only a few weeks older than K.  I'm so glad that Jenny's got another mom so close, as I know that will be incredibly important once I start back to work (plus it's just great for her to have someone else to talk to aside from a husband who gets all of his information from the internet - where only 100% truth is ever spoken :-)).

We've had several good walks lately, and we've now got a) the quick loop around our street (30 min) when she's fussy, b) the longer walk down the parkway when we're feeling a bit more ambitious, and c) the mack daddy - the Clarke Creek Greenway once we feel confident enough to load the car and go for a stroll.  My hope is that we can pull that off in the next 1-2 weeks, but we'll see how it all goes as we continue to elongate some of Kaitlyn's strolls down the parkway.

Look at those clean gums...well, just trust
me - those puppies are SPOTLESS.

Another big milestone for daddy was completing the book I referenced earlier.  I know it sounds silly, but as a man who's always set 1, 5, and 10 year goals, I've been drifting a bit lately trying to identify what I view as my goals, Kaitlyn's goals, and our family's goals over the next several months years.  I realize that may sound silly (and as with all of the posts for this blog, I feel I've been incredibly inept at articulating myself and my thoughts), and I am conscious that the most important goals at present (without question) are my both my daughter's health and development & my wife's health and happiness.  But as a guy who's always thinking about multiple things (and has never been able to turn off that switch - at least not since college), I've decided to break things down into several different sets of goals:

1.  Daddy for Kaitlyn:  continue gaining weight, ensuring Kaitlyn is bathed and mouth is cleaned every day, ensure she's laying on different sides of her head, start to focus on wake time and focus (I've broken out the rattles since that is apparently something they can comprehend without overstimulation before 3 months)

2.  Husband for Jenny:  ensure she's getting plenty of rest, ensure she gets out of the house at least once every other day to do something fun for her, ensure any stress she has is not child related, do what I can to support good milk supply production (admittedly I'm about as useless as tits on a boar hog on this one, but I can at least track volumes and the schedule), ensure she knows how amazing and beautiful she is every day, minimize the housework she has to do given that she has to handle so much of Kaitlyn's daily activities

3.  Husband/Father for Family:  get K's college fund set up, continue active tracking of debts to ensure that, each year a new debt is crossed off for the next 3-5 years, work on memory preservation - this blog, photo organization, video and photo clips, ensure annual trip with the Rice clan, the Tacy Reunion (Markham-Hunsucker-Tacy-Taylor), ensure annual trips for Jenny with the girls and me with the Boys, annual Granville Six reunion

4.  Personal goals:  For this year, it's all about crossing off some books that I've been wanting to read FOREVER, and getting back into shape (real shape - not just "survive the race" shape).  For 2014, I think the goals will start to shift to potentially adding triathlons to the mix, and there is a desire to begin reading more non-fiction, as I'm keen to try and re-sharpen my intellect and ensure that much of what I learned (and considered such a valuable treasure trove of knowledge) in college stays fresh and continues to reside in accessible reaches of my brain

The conquering - or conquered - hero...I'm
conscious this doesn't look like much progress
in the way of "awake time," but trust us - this
photo represents a victory - in gas relief, at least.

For Kaitlyn, several big milestones have been crossed off, most notably shattering the 7 pound barrier!!!  That's right, sports fans, Kaitlyn is now 7 pounds, 6 ounces!  We had a lactation consultant appointment on Monday, at which time we received the "all-clear" - no more appointments required for the foreseeable future!  For us, this was GREAT news, as it told us that our feeding strategy was working, K was taking in the food she needs, and our plan of working in shifts to allow for some measure of sanity was working for both us and the baby.  We celebrated by having an hour walk on the Little Sugar Creek Greenway with Cuz, which was fantastic - perfect weather, some nice exercise, and a good sense of accomplishment that we are able to elongate the time we are out of the house.

That being said, we are still struggling with K at night.  We've certainly discerned that she's a little gas pocket (but given her genetic code, how could she NOT be?), and we're finding that she's consistently fussier at night than at any other time during the day (starting about 10 PM and going until 6 AM).  Whilst she does take in quality feedings, she screams like a A RABID BANSHEE once the gas builds up.  As a parent it's heartbreaking, as there are fewer things more frustrating than not being able to sooth your child despite a full belly, a clean diaper, and some cuddling.  Consequently, we've instigated a period of "wake time," during which she's burped quite a bit (she normally only burps when you lay her down, and BOY can she let it go!), and then we try to do some focusing exercises for her eyes (this is when the rattle comes in).  I do think that this is paying off, as she is screaming less each evening and sleeping deeper once we let her work through the gas.  But still, the volume that little girl can get her lungs up to is something EPIC.

Now THAT is what you want to see - the rug rat PASSED OUT
on mummy, another successful feeding in the books.

Oh, and in other news, it seems that the tongue tie wasn't the only genetic defect Sammy the Bull passed along to K.  It seems I also passed my gum tie, which required surgery and stitches for me when I was a kid.  So that's 2 known defects that could be passed which have been found within her first month of life.  Here's hoping and praying that she's got her mother's blood pressure.

Okay, a bit of a ramble here, and I'm conscious more of it was about me than my rug rat.  However, daddy needs an outlet to process his thoughts as well, which is another key reason this secret little site exists.  Here's hoping that, when we next chat, I'll be through another book and the rug rat won't be screaming at me as though I've just put bamboo shoots under her teeny little fingernails.

Love,

Sam and Jenny