Lady Kaitlyn at 3 months...

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  3 months and 1 day

Family,

And a good evening to you from the Queen City, where the sun is (FINALLY) shining and the summer humidity has officially arrived.  It's been the wettest May and June I can remember in CLT, but no complaints, as it's helped to keep the weather cool in the mornings (especially helpful since I'm now getting up at 6 AM every morning to jog - amazing how things change, eh?).

3 full months - WOW.  Where on EARTH has the time gone?  I am happy to report that, as indicated in the previous blog, the return to work has been easier than expected, especially on the days when I can work from home (will end up being 3 out of 5 this week).  We've established a good routine - we're both up at 6 (me to run, JT to pump), the munchkin rises about 7:15 (same time as when I start work), Jenny has the run of the upstairs and I own the downstairs until about 4:30-5 (with the exception of lunch when I get some time with my girls :-)), and then I get some quality time with K in the afternoon and evening (which works out great since that's when she's fussiest and least apt to sleep - she's a 2 person job!).

I don't want to jinx us, but (touch wood) I think she's officially established a sleep cycle.  She's slept 10+ hours a night consistently for the past 3 weeks, and so dare I say I feel we've got her on a schedule that works for all of us.  Granted, teething and JT's return to work will of course upset the apple cart, but that's 3 months down the road, and for now I just want to focus on a terrific summer ahead filled with fun plans, family, and sticking around the Queen City to enjoy our home.

Kaitlyn has acquired several nicknames this month, and they are sticking.  She's pretty much always called the Munchkin now, but that has been shortened to "Munch Munch," "Mon-chi-chi," and "Munch a Bunch" depending on the occasion.  She can't hold her head up on her own yet, but she's definitely close.  Also, she's SOOOOOOO CLOSE to consistently finding her hand (she's found it on several occasions but then proceeds to just slap herself in the face and eye balls when she tries to relocate it).  She's batting things now, and dare I see I think she's starting to associate her arm movements with the moving critters on her play mat.  Then again, parents always see genius in their children, so I'm not going to raise the red flag of victory just yet. :-)

As most folks will agree, each month does get easier, and month 3 was no exception.  Furthermore, with mum coming in a week or so, fun plans on the calendar each weekend, and the promise of consistently sleeping in the same place for a month, I am hopeful June's gonna be the best month yet.  Talk to me in 4 weeks to confirm that. :-)

Not a whole lot to report on this one, and I know that I've shared a lot of these thoughts previously.  I just wanted to ensure I recorded the milestone for posterity!  Oh, and in case anyone's scoring - the munchkin weighed in at 12 lbs, 8 oz yesterday at the doctor!  We took her in to check on a blocked right tear duct (which we did confirm is in fact blocked).  No treatment other than facial massage during feeding at this point - the doctor said we can just monitor it to ensure it doesn't get red or inflamed (but she's not concerned at this point).

The Muchkin - about 3 seconds before the full frontal explosion...

Oh, and I would be remiss if I didn't mention that, yesterday (her actual 3 month date) the munchkin gave us a new "first" - the explosion of feces out the FRONT of the outfit.  See we were at Hawthorne's with the Parkhouse clan, and K was starting to get a bit fussy (it was hot, she couldn't get comfortable, and Angie rightly assessed that she had a bit of gas).  Well, I offer to take her, and suddenly she goes calm as an underground lake.  It's BEAUTIFUL - I feel like the baby whisperer.  I even get a smile!  And then, about 3 seconds later Jenny says, "Oh, no."  I look down, and the front of her outfit (a little dress that Angie gave us) is no longer the cute lavender color it was 60 seconds before.  Instead, it's a nice shade of brown.  In fact, it's a nice shade of brown that is CONSTANTLY OVERTAKING THE LAVENDER WHILST ON MY LAP.  That's right, sports fans, based on the way she'd been sitting on Sammy "Father of the Year" Taylor, there was nowhere for the poop to go but up and over.  Needless to say that was the queue to head home, and we opened her up at the changing table to discover a site more terrifying than T.S. Eliot's "The Wasteland" - WOW.  I mean, this girl only goes once every 3 days now, but when she does - BE SOMEWHERE ELSE.  Amazing.  I feel certain I've spoken of her pooping prowess before, so I will summarily withdraw back into the shadows. :-)

The words "Parents of the Year" come to mind...

Okay, I realize this one was choppy, but a) we're between feedings, b) she's wide awake and I have to ensure she doesn't saturate herself with spit up again (since I missed it 5 minutes ago, rendering her hair a mop, c) I have to get her fed and to bed within the hour to prep for a work call, d) JT is heading out the door for her first swim since giving birth! (so excited for Muffin Puffin's return to the pool!  I hope there's no drama - Singapore style, lah...), and e) I wanted to ensure I got this in before too many days passed after her rolling 3 months.

Chat soon!

Love,

Sam and Jenny