And so reality comes crashing down - the Bull returns to work...

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  12 weeks and 5 days

Family,

And a good Saturday morning to you from the Queen City, where I'm happy to report that the little munchkin slept ELEVEN HOURS STRAIGHT last night!!!!  In fact, we had to WAKE HER UP at 7:30.  My mother was ALL SHADES OF AMAZED by this news, as I never slept more than 45 minutes at a clip for the first 8 months of my existence.  We're just finishing the second feed of the day as I type this, and Mon-chi-chi (she has SO many nicknames now) is sleepy yet again.

Today's actually another big milestone for the adult members of Team Taylor, as this afternoon will be the first time out as a couple without anyone else around!  We're going to see a matinee of "Catch Me if You Can" at Blumenthal, and we are quite excited.  Grandma and Grandpa Tacy are making the drive up to bond with the munchkin, and we're cooking salmon later this evening when we return. Then tomorrow it's VBGB, but the wee one will be in tow for that affair.  After all, she needs to think of VBGB as a second home! :-)  I know, I know - insert "parents of the year" joke here...

In terms of a routine, dare I hazard the optimistic comment that I believe we've turned a corner?  She's consistently eating 5 times a day, taking between 5-6 ounces at a feed.  She's consistently in bed for the night between 8:45-9:15, and she's consistently slept 10 hours a night for the last 2 weeks.  She's sleepy throughout her first 2 feeds, but then she becomes a LIVE WIRE until we put her down, never sleeping more than 2 hours at a clip (and rarely more than 45 minutes) until the final shutdown.

Munchkin in the morning - sleep, sleep...and more sleep.
But hey - when you're already wearing Polo Ralph Lauren
at 12 weeks, clearly your stress level should be pretty low.

On the medical front, we are now firmly in the camp that the munchkin has a blocked right tear duct.  Her left one was blocked initially, but that one has since opened.  Her right one, however, has continued to be problematic, leaving her eye constantly filled with "gunk" - very technical, I know - pooling up with tears, and always being slightly more "squinty" - again, very sophisticated description - than her left.  JT has been terrific about keeping it clean (both with a wash cloth and now cotton swabs), but we've finally thrown in the towel and have decided we need to take her to the Peds.  So look for an update on that front, as we want the little munchkin to have two eyes wide open when as she continues discovering the world around her.

KJ called this "The Angel Photo" - so true in so many ways.

Show me the fan, Daddy!!!!

She's SO CLOSE to discovering her hand.  Every day she makes a bit more progress (translation - every day she slaps herself in the face about 65 times whilst she tries to gobble her fingers), and the other day Jenny recorded a HILARIOUS video of her efforts.  She's still got a bit of a "rollerball head," but her neck does continue to strengthen (although she does NOT enjoy tummy time).  Also, in case I haven't posted this enough - SHE LOVES EVERY CEILING FAN IN THE HOUSE.  Seriously - our living room has a dark fan against a white ceiling, and she can stare at that FOR HOURS - cutest.  Thing.  EVER.

As for the week in review, well - it was a TOUGH one for the Bull.  Not only did I start back to work, but I made the drive to the office 4 days straight.  Add in the fact that we had a big series of meetings, which necessitated early starts and late nights, and you have a guy who was EXHAUSTED by Friday and was very glad he got to work from home so he could have a bit more time with his wife and baby girl.  That being said, it really was GREAT to return to work and feel like I was contributing to the GDP again.  I felt like I was able to get back into the rhythm pretty quickly, and the new position (really an expansion of the previous one) should bring some very unique challenges that I'm looking forward to working through.  Plus the days Uptown offered a terrific opportunity to reconnect with a lot of folks whom I hadn't seen in several months, so that was a big plus.

This is the look of utter relaxation...and
the joy of being 3 lbs lighter...

As for Muffin Puffin, she was a real trooper this week, especially given all the rain and the fact that I was never really home to give her a break.  We at least got to trade emails or chat during lunch every day, but it wasn't the same as having her on Communicator!  But no complaints, as the days were good and she did finally get a few hours to herself toward the end of the week.  She did have to manage through a pair of BLOWOUTS, and the photos she sent me with the before and after were HILARIOUS!  And speaking of blowouts, the munchkin is on a "once every 3 days" schedule at present.  Two days are all quiet on the "Southern front," but when the rush comes - LOOK OUT BELOW!!!!!!  Wow, it is amazing...and probably something you don't really want me to talk about EVER again.

As we approach the 3 month mark, I will say again what I've said all along - I'm happier than I've ever been, life is better than it's ever been, and our cup(s) truly runneth over.  And now with the sun shining and "date night" on the horizon, life's about to get even better!

Chat soon!

Love,

Sam and Jenny