A PERFECT weekend for the Bull - Daddy Daycare!!!!

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  15 months and 18 days

Family,

Who loves the weekend alone with daddy?
THIS GIRL...oh, wait...

And a good Sunday morning (as I type this anyway) from the Queen City, where the sneetch is down for a nap and the Bull is anxiously awaiting the arrival of his companion for the week - GRAMMIE!!!  But let's not skip ahead, as I don't want any spoilers for the next post.  :-)  Instead, let's focus on the e
vents of the past week - a 7 day stretch that was fantastic in so many ways.

So a bit of background - JT is currently out of the country, finally getting that much needed and even more deserved visit to London (as well as Lisbon, Chester, a beach in Portugal, and a TBD destination :-)).  We chatted for an hour last night, and I am SO THRILLED to hear that she's having an absolute blast and loving every second.  She's going non-stop and making it count - way to go, Muffin Puffin!!!

We dropped Jenny at the airport on Monday night about 5:45-6ish.  K was in the backseat (obviously), and she couldn't understand why mommy and daddy weren't taking her out of the car seat when we arrived at the departures area (and consequently started crying, which didn't help anything).  JT was definitely sad (Munchkin, your mommy was having a really tough time wrapping her head around the fact that shed as going to be gone for 10 days and wouldn't get to see you, as coming into this she'd only been away from you for a grand total of 3 nights), and the tears were definitely brimming (but she did a tremendous job of holding it all together).  However, I am pleased to report that, within 10 minutes, both girls were in a much better place.  I was singing the Primrose infant CD full blast to K (which elicited a much need smile), and JT sat down at Carolina Brewery for a beer (IPA, baby!).

Daddy and sneetch saying bye to mommy
before she boards the plane.

K got in bed late that night (and I gave her Motrin since she was teething - it was just about to pop), but she slept well and all was right with the world.  Jan wasn't coming until 10 AM the following morning, so we had a new baby sitter - Julia from a few houses down - sit with K and keep her entertained for the first 2.5 hours of her day (I'd already been up with her since about 6).  Julia was great, and K was an angel (even I'm starting to drink the Kool-aid now and acknowledge that we have an angel baby).  And then, when Nanny Tacy arrived, K instantly became all smiles.  JT's mom was a LIFESAVER this week, as without her K would have been in daycare, where we would have faced a) about $350 in cost and b) a high probability of infection and/or illness.  THANK YOU, JAN!

The next couple of days were a blur, but JT's mom was a rock star.  She fed her 5 times a day, took her for a morning walk, and played with her non-stop.  Bob (Grandpa) came over on Tuesday and Thursday to play with K as well, and they had a lot of fun throwing the ball around (K is becoming quite adept at picking up the ball - even though she still can't palm it like she wants - walking with it, and then throwing it.  Grandpa says he's going to teach her how to throw softball - we'll see what Aunt Pattie says about that :-)).  Jan introduced K to a few new foods, including cinnamon spiced apples.  K really enjoyed them warm.  Cold, however, she just tossed them instantly on the floor.

"Oh, the stress of running this household
without mommy around..."

Actually, now is a good time to mention that, whilst not necessarily becoming a picky eater, feeding K has become a bit more of an adventure in recent weeks (and especially this week).  You never really know what she's going to want, but you can bet that she'll NEVER want the same thing in back to back meals.  Also, she might eat the first 5 bites of something and then ask for more, but when you bring it 5 more pieces of the same thing she just instantly chucks it on the floor.  I am starting to realize that more can mean either "Yes please, more of that" (if it's emphatic) or "Negative on this piece of donkey trash, old man - bring me something else" if it's just a light tapping of fingers together.  Interestingly enough, she has learned how to say "No," and her enunciation has improved throughout the course of the week.  Sometimes she will give us the courtesy "no" before we place the food in front of her, which is good.  If we fail to heed that warning, however, it will be chucked to the floor in the blink of an eye.

One positive comment to add is that K can now SELF-FEED WITH A POUCH!  This was big news (Friday was the first time I'd ever seen it), as it gives her another measure of independence and will help making eating on the go a bit easier).  You can tell that she loves them - she went through 2.5 of them last night at dinner!  She still wants you to squeeze the first time, and YES - she still squirts some of it onto the tray, but she definitely understands the concept and is doing it.  She does NOT, however, understand the concept of "one bite at a time" or "chew your food."  Case in point:  I gave her half a hot dog bun (from GC and Melissa's place) on Sunday, and she started taking MAMMOTH bites of that puppy, filling her mouth to the brim and laughing the entire time (but not making a single chewing motion).  Finally she had to rip some of it back out of her mouth (and instantly throw it on the floor, of course), but I was laughing enough that I couldn't bring myself to chastise her. :-)

"You underestimate the sneakiness..."

In terms of learning, it has been crazy to watch K in action this week.  JT had taught her to point to her belly button, nose, and ear, and this week I've also managed to add tongue, teeth, knee, and eye to the mix.  We're using a book called "Ears, Nose, and Toes" (it's a lift the flap book) to teach her, and it is CRAZY to watch how quickly she's picking things up.  My favorite is when the tongue page comes up, as she instantly sticks out her tongue and looks at me.  I do the same, at which point she keeps trying to touch my tongue (and finds this hilarious for some reason).  I love it, so I read her that story before nap and bedtime.

Nanny also taught K how to give kisses, and it is SO CUTE to watch them blow each other kisses (and
just make the noise).  And as for walking, she will still reach for our hand, but it's clear that she's doing it more out of habit (or for a little initial assistance) than anything else.  She will use my finger to pull up, but after the second or third step she's already let go and is walking.  I'd say I've got one more week of her reaching before those days are gone forever - insert sniffle here.

The other amazing thing is that, when she's ready for bed, she doesn't scream or fuss.  Instead she simply proactively closes whatever book you are reading her, points to her crib, and says, "nah nah" ("night, night").  That is right, sports fans, this girl ASKS to go to bed - AMAZING!  This is when I started to finally get on board the whole "you have the one in a basquillion child," as I've never s

Nanny is down for the count!

een/heard/read anything like that.

In terms of sleep, it has been a bit trickier lately, as K is starting to wake up earlier, no matter what time she goes down.  We're still putting her down about 7 (although 3 times in the last week saw her in bed later than that), but she's typically waking up between 6-6:30 anymore.  The one exception was Friday, when she woke up at 4:40!  I heard some babbling on the monitor and looked over to see my daughter STANDING in her crib.  Realistically that means she'd been awake for about 20 minutes, and sure enough she was starving when I went in there.  Consequently, I have STUFFED THAT CHILD TO THE GILLS the last 2 nights.  And while it's hasn't returned us to 7 AM, we have at least seen a 6 on the dial when she's started making noise.

"Don't go, Nanny!"

JT's mom left about 3:30 on Friday (she let me get a final run in, which was HUGE), and then it was daddy daycare!  I was a little nervous (with memories of Asheville on the brain), but honestly it's been SO much easier this go-around (minus the part where Jan had been gone 20 minutes and I suddenly noticed silence in the house while I was washing dishes.  YES - someone had taken that opportunity to surreptitiously sneak up the stairs...little stinker).  I think it's like anything else - once you get used to it and know what to expect, it's much easier to plan and deal with the shocks should anything go off-

K helping with some laundry...

script.  Friday afternoon was pretty low-key for K and I, as we stayed in the house (it was too hot for a walk, and she needed an afternoon nap anyway given how early she got up), but Saturday was FULL ON.  Seriously - yesterday was just incredible - a perfect, happy day for Sammy the Bull.

K woke up at 6:06, and I was very happy that she did eat some in the morning.  We then got our 5K walk in, after which time we rolled over to Aldi to get K some new fruits (as she was NOT eating the old stuff).  It was at this point I experienced a new first for me - Sammy's first time arriving at a grocery store BEFORE IT OPENED.  We had 11 minutes to kill, so we milled around the parking lot - where K tried to eat some asphalt. :-)

K and Marlowe locked in a death match
on Connect Four...good thing neither can
actually reach the top of the board...

After a quick stop in Aldi, we got some cash and then rolled home, where I fed K quickly (she ate almost an entire banana) and then put her down for the count.  Again, she is an angel child, as I needed her to take a morning nap to allow for the featured activity of the day - VBGB BABY!!!!!  Sure
enough, K woke up on her own about 11:40 (perfect timing yet again), and we hopped in the car and made the drive to the Music Factory.

The next 2.5 hours were just wonderful.  VA, Tina, and Cami were all there (along with some of the kids and the 2 spouses), and we had a BLAST chatting about life, drinking good beer, and eating some delish food.  K ate for pretty much the whole time.  She had a huge lunch, and then she had 2 separate snacking periods.  She was introduced to watermelon, which she COULD NOT STOP EATING.  THANK YOU TINA for buying that fruit bowl (and thank you Marlowe for not wanting any of it :-)).

We headed home about 3 PM, at which point I put K down for a nap around 3:30.  That gave me time to tidy the house a bit, unpack, and then repack, as I woke K up at 4:30 for the next activity - POOL TIME, BABY!!!!!  And yes, to those of you reading this, I'm conscious that it sounds like I'm dragging my daughter all over creation.  While there is some truth to that, part of it was ensuring she got enough outside time, as

Beer - it makes for happy parents and exhausted, NOT
so happy children.  

her time outside was fairly limited last week (and I expect that to be the case again this week).  Plus, she loves the kiddie pool (and YES - I applied sunscreen THREE TIMES on this day).

We arrived about 4:45 and were in the water by 5, which is a good thing considering that 25 minutes later thunder was reported in the area and the pool was cleared.  K was having a blast (Angie and
Gavin were there, and Gavin was GREAT - held K's hand the whole time and played with her), but oddly enough she was good with leaving (WHEW).  I think she was just exhausted from the entire day, and she also wasn't overheated since the day was overcast.  Muffin - you would have FROZEN in that water - Angie refused to go in. :-)

After a much needed bath (which will be the case tonight as well), K was down about 7:40, after which time I made dinner and Skyped with Wife Muffin and Yazz.  Bedtime was about 10 AM, as I knew K would be up early (she didn't disappoint, but at least it was 6:30 before I heard her).  Today has been a 5K so far and some time at the park (K loved playing on the slides - still wet from last night's rain), where K fell over and face planted after she'd walked the width of the grassy area - there's a nice little red mark and thin scratch on her face, but she seems none the worse for wear.  The afternoon will be lunch (trying tomato soup again), followed by a Walmart run and the pool, and then concluding with dinner, a bath, and the arrival of Grammie!  The work week is going to be crazy I fear, so it will be SO NICE to have someone here at the house with K.

Okay, that's all the news that's fit to print.  Chat next week!

Love,

Sam and (sitting at De Hem's right now, clad in Orange and having a Mardesous Blonde) Jenny

An experience to forget - Kaitlyn's first boat trip...

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  15 months and 13 days

Family,

And a good Tuesday evening to you from the Queen City, where the Bull is upstairs in the office, t

One of the photos that kept me going during
a tough week in Costa Rica - I love you,
Munch!  And I love mommy for sending
me all these cute pics to keep my spirits up!

aking a deep breath after a very busy last 24 hours.  I won't spoil the events of the present, of course - you'll just have to tune in to this time next week. :-)  Instead let's focus on the past week - full of events to celebrate...and eradicate from one's memory.

Monday was a big day for K - her 15 month appointment.  JT and I had been on pins and needles for this one, as we had so many questions.  Were we over-feeding her fruit?  Is she developmentally on track?  Is her vocabulary on schedule?  What are the next milestones?  Will she be able to sing Rocky Top with daddy by the first home game?

The good news is that K received a TERRIFIC report from the Peds.  Her tubes look great.  She is teething (cutting 3 or 4 at the same time), but she's right on schedule with those and all looks good.  From a motor skill perspective, she even walked holding Dr. Knutson's hand - which made us happy because it showcased her walking skills and balance.  From a vocabulary, food, and general health perspective, all was well.  In fact, in reading the "what to expect from 15-18 month olds," I would say that she's right on schedule and has even caught up with those who went full term.  In other words, I have a HUGE smile on my face right now.

Her percentages:

Height = 30%

Weight = 75% (attributed to the fact that she just started walking, and I believe it because we are watching her slim by the day)

"I know you say it's a belly button, daddy.  But compared
to mummy, that looks like a furry dead animal."

Head Circumference = 40% (not quite the teeny little head from her early days!)

The Peds said that she looked great and gave us some of the expectations/to-dos for her 18 month appointment.  She also had vaccinations, but she was a warrior - didn't cry on the first one and only a bit after the second (she received 3 I believe).  I hate I wasn't there, but Wife Muffin was a trooper and took very good care of the sneetch.

Given that I was in Costa Rica, JT spent Tues-Thurs with her family down in SC.  Kaitlyn got to visit the pool at their new clubhouse, and she LOVED it.  Their pool is great because of the shaded section they have - definitely a HUGE plus for the wee one (and her red headed mother).  And I'm not sure if I've yet commented on the sunscreen that JT bought for K, but if not I just have 2 words for you:  BLUE LIZARD.  That stuff is like the opening scene from Robocop - SUNBLOCK 3000.  Seriously - vampires could walk around wearing that in broad daylight and never combust.  But I am so glad my wife did all the research on it and found it (it's Australian), as it is DEFINITELY some great protection for Munch Munch.

I arrived back on Thursday night, and Friday was a quiet one before the storm of events over the weekend.  On Saturday we headed over to a friend's house for the tenth annual "Boil in the Burbs," which is this fantabulous shrimp and sausage boil hosted by some of our work family.  It was PACKED - 70 folks or so roaming around - and K was amazed by all the other kids running around.  She had all kinds of fun new toys to play with, and she got to try loads of new foods for dinner - shrimp, sausage, hushpuppies, and even thai salad.  So guuuuuuuuuuud - peppy cheekies.

Wake up, big people!  It's GO TIME!!!

We did leave their late (spent the night at her folks) and didn't get K in bed until about 9.  This had NO EFFECT on her wake up, however, as that child was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 6:10 in the morning on Sunday.  I got up with her for about 20-30 minutes before she proceeded to wake up the rest of the house - gotta love the "pack 'n play loft" concept - so urban chic...

On both Friday and Saturday munch was really fussy (same was true during the week) and tired, and on both days we put her back down for an early nap between 8 and 9.  We think she just didn't sleep good due to the teething (we actually administered Motrin Sunday and Monday nights, and it made a HUGE difference - she went to sleep quickly and slept until 7 both times), and consequently she was waking up exhausted.  She had a second nap both days, which worked out good since she also went to bed late both days (and was EXHAUSTED both evenings as well).

Sunday was up to the lake to hang out at GC's house (along with Stacey and Tripp - who hosted the boil, and Tom & Mandy), where we had a GREAT day of US Soccer (except for giving up that 95th minute goal, that is...), delicious food, excellent beer, and even some time on the water.  This last part will be seared in my mind forever, as it was quite possibly the most miserable hour of K's life.

So JT and I had debated about taking her on the boat, as we know she doesn't like swings or anything in motion where she's not in control.  However, knowing that she's acquiring a fondness for water (she is a Pisces, after all), we didn't' think it would be too bad.  So we slathered her in Blue Lizard, put her hat and sunnies on, and hopped on-board.  GC even had an infant life jacket that looked SO CUTE on
her.  But then the boat started moving...and all hell broke loose.

Let's be REAL clear - K HATED EVERY ASPECT OF THIS EXPERIENCE.  There was too much noise, which made her uncomfortable.  She refused to wear the sunglasses, which meant that water kept splashing into her face.  She wouldn't wear the hat, which meant the sun blinded her.  And the life jacket was too confining, meaning that she was MISERABLE and couldn't get comfortable.  She kept trying to wiggle out of it, growing more agitated (and screaming louder) every second.  When we finally stopped the boat, we thought that would calm her - NO IMPROVEMENT.  So we tried to dip her feet in and cool her off - BAD IDEA.  We then tried to float her beside daddy in the water - EVEN WORSE IDEA.  JT was definitely uncomfortable, and neither of us knew what to do.  And then, as is always the case - the answer presented itself - Welch's seedless white grapes.  30 grapes and 30 minutes later, all was well...and daddy ran off that boat as soon as we docked to crack a beer.

Caden being a gentleman and showing
K the finer points of his walker.

The rest of the day was GREAT - she loved their lawn, ate like a champ, and slept like a rock once it was all over.  We were just happy she was happy, as we were both VERY rattled at the end of that experience.

Other than that, not a whole lot else to report.  The sneetch continues to grow in leaps and bounds, and every day she seems to learn something new.  She LOVES to wear shoes now, and the first thing she does when she goes downstairs is grab a shoe and walk it over to you, telling you she wants it on NOW.  She is starting to request that we read books over and over.  We saw this a couple of weeks back, but yesterday I learned that's part of the "repetition learning ritual" that children go through right now.  In the morning she will sit in her crib until you say "Up!", at which time she stands up (too cute). She is getting braver on the stairs as well and is trying to step vs. crawl.

Ok, that's all the news that's fit to print for this edition.  Talk next week!

Love,

Sam and (sleeping soundly in Manchester after a wonderful day rekindling memories in Chester) Jenny

The PERFECT Father’s Day Present – K starts WALKING!!!!

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  15 months and 4 days

Family,

The munch - moments before a burst of
self-propelled, frenetic energy.

And a good morning to you from Charlotte Douglas International Airport, where the Bull is sitting in the D Concourse, awaiting his flight to Pura Vida.  Sneetch – the good news is that this is the last work trip planned for awhile,so I’ll be around a lot more with you and mommy. J  On that note, it has been interesting to watch K on mornings or afternoons when I’m leaving on a work trip, as it’s almost like she can tell I’m preparing to go somewhere.  I don’t know if she’s figured out what the luggage means in the bedroom (probably not), if she notices I’m hugging her and playing with her a bit more (perhaps), or if she just senses something is about to be different (as crazy as it sounds, that feels like the most likely choice).  We obviously have no proof of any of this, of course, but it is interesting how she always either gets sick or fussy in the 24 hours before I’m set to depart. 

But let’s not dwell on any unpleasantness in this blog, as we have SO MUCH to report.  And while I realize that I should do this in sequential order, I just CANNOT wait to put the news on paper – MUNCHKIN IS WALKING!!!!!  That’s right, sports fans – K is officially the cutest little walking toddler on the planet.  The move from cruising to walking was a play in 3 acts this week, starting on Wednesday.

On Wednesday K and JT went out for their usual walk (now run) – the 5K around the neighborhood.  What follows is always a 15-20 minute stretch in the cul-de-sac where we walk with K while she drags us by one finger, pulling us desperately toward dogs across the street and the play structure in the neighbors’ yard (and always ends in us picking her up and her screaming at us because she doesn’t want to stop – she doesn’t quite yet understand the concept of “trespassing”).  From my office on the second floor, I usually get to watch a bit of this as I’m on a call, and it is always a highlight of my day. 

"As a future Rhodes scholar, I'd like to
examine the nutritional content of the
meal that you have prepared for me.  Oh,
and pass the mac 'n cheese."

Well, on this particular Wednesday, I happened to look out just as JT let go (similar to how we’ve been doing with K running between us), and BAM. Kaitlyn.  Took.  Steps!  She went 5 or 6 steps in one direction before dropping into the yard, cackling all the while.  JT looked up and saw me (it was really a miracle of God that I happened to look out at that moment), and the pride that passed between parents was unmistakeable.  This was NOT just a mad scramble on carpet between parents.  THIS was the real thing.

Thursday took it to the next level, as for the first time ever the sneetch LET GO OF FURNITURE and walked over to me!  It was crazy, because we weren’t even paying attention – JT and I were just chatting whilst K played with the toys on the table.  But then, as we looked over, she let go and walked straight to daddy!  It was absolutely AMAZING – I just can’t tell you how proud and excited I was (I ran straight to her baby book and recorded it). 

And then, on Friday, we had THE BIG ONE – the Munch STOOD UP on her own and walked!!!   JT and I hovered over her in stunned silence (HUGE smiles happily frozen on our proud parent faces), absolutely STUNNED that K had done it – and just in time for her 15 month appointment, no less (it’s actually later today, and we can’t WAIT to get the new numbers).  JT had actually seen her stand on her own 3 times previous, but this was the first time I’d ever seen it (and it was SO CUTE!). 

World Cup Fever - it runs in the genes...

And just like that – she was off.  K is now popping up all the time, and each time it is absolutely adorable.  When she does manage to stand (which is still a tricky, shaky proposition), she rises slowly from “down dog.”  Once she’s confirmed up, her smile is just about the cutest thing ever, after which time she starts clap (and we’re only too happy to do the same).  She actually views the act of standing as much more of an achievement than the walking – she only claps when she stands. 

Now granted, her stride is still a bit choppy, and the way she a) tilts her head and b) holds her arms to steady herself is too cute (and more than a little funny to watch).  But there is no mistaking it – she is MOVING!  The good thing (selfishly) for me is that she still wants to hold our hands most of the time.  However, I fear that, by the time I return from the flight, that desire will be a thing of the past.  But hey – no complaints, as I could NOT be more proud of my daughter (and my wife for all the tireless work with her to keep her on pace with developmental milestones and growth – I love you, wife muffin!).

The week itself was CRAZY busy with activities.  On Tuesday, JT took K to a working farm (it’s a long story, but a friend of a friend runs a farm down near the South Carolina border) – K LOVED IT!  She spent a good morning chasing after chickens, petting goats (and having them lick her J), and rolling around in/eating poop (her Granddaddy couldn’t be more proud).  K absolutely LOVED the goats, and because she had food, they absolutely LOVED her as well. J  The photos were TOO CUTE!  It was also one of the FUNNIEST “Captain Obvious” moments ever, as there was a moment when K – diaper full of poopy – was climbing around and suddenly thought it a good idea to climb on top of me (I was laying right beside her).  Well, she actually climbs on my head and then starts bouncing up and down, slamming my cranium with what I know is feces.  Jenny’s comment:  “She’s bouncing on your head!”  THANK YOU, CAPTAIN OBVIOUS – I am well aware of this fact.  Jenny and I must have laughed for a good 10 minutes. 

On Wednesday, Jenny’s mom (Nanny Tacy) came over for a bit, and she got to witness some of K’s walking (still the scrambling between adults) first hand.  Nanny hadn’t seen K in over a month – needless to say she was quite surprised by how much she’d changed!  We then had din din at (where else) Hawthorne’s with the Parkhouse clan.  It was the best dinner out with K we’ve had a in a long time – she was an angel, and she LOVED all the food we had for her.  That girl LOVES her carbs!  We had other food for her as well (Cheerios, fruit, etc), but shew as ALL ABOUT the penne.  J 

"Bubbles, bubbles, all around..."

Friday was yet another organized activity for the sneetch – Romp ‘n Roll!  This is basically like Gymboree (and Cross-fit Kids, L’il Gym, you name it) – it’s pretty much a fully padded room with a basquillion things to climb on, run around, and attempt to destroy.  K LOVED it – especially the bubbles that were blasting out of one wall (guess that means we can’t hide that bubble solution from her much longer), and I definitely think she’ll be back.  And now that she’s mobile, we think she’ll enjoy this even more (same with daycare at the Y and daycare at Elevation Church – once we actually visit J).

The weekend itself was JUST PERFECT.  Seriously, Father’s Day was one of THE BEST days of my entire life – a heartful of love, a belly full of good food, and a liver full of good New Belgium beer. J  The entire weekend was just great – amazing weather, to-do’s crossed off the list, lots of bonding time with K (JT started her run club this weekend – AND ROCKED IT – meaning I had some great bonding time with K in the morning – especially since she’s now waking up at 6:30 AM…).

This was about the time the sneetch stood up on her
own for only the third time.  She would stand and
walk a short 2ish hours later.  So proud of our munchkin!!!

Saturday was nice and relaxed, kicked off with a leisurely morning that flowed nicely post-nap to lunch with some friends.  As with dinner on Wednesday, K was just great – sweet as can be, didn’t make a sound, and sat there patiently for 90 minutes while we chatted with the adults.  What was amazing was that she ate EVERYTHING not bolted to the ground during that period – she really did eat the entire time we were there! 

A little help with my Father's Day present.

Sunday was Father’s Day, and as I said earlier – it was one of the best days of my life.  I woke up to smiles from both of my girls, and JT had created this amazing photo collage of K’s last year as my present.  The card she gave me was one of the sweetest ones (if not the sweetest) that I’ve ever received, and we followed that up with DELICIOUS breakfast (JT did ALL the cooking and cleaning).  I even got a 5.5 mile run in while the weather was still cool (well, cooler, anyway).  We rolled to the pool in the afternoon, where K got to play in both the kid pool and the “big kid” pool (aka the adult pool) and even saw her friend Avery.  K had first visited the kiddie pool on Thursday, and much to our relief she LOVED it.  On Sunday we spent over an hour in the water, with K pulling us all over the pool (and swallowing more than her share of water).  She absolutely LOVED it – no amount of going under or swallowing chlorine (and I’m sure other stuff) filled water could faze her.  She crawled around on the shore (there’s a gradual slow for kids to enter, which is quite nice) for a bit before entering and starting to run headlong at the water – SO CUTE, and so much fun. 

We then played in the yard at home for a bit before doing K’s bath and putting her down for the count about 7:30.  As it was Father’s Day, I got to put her down for both her nap and the evening, and as per standard we read our 6 books and got to cuddle a bit.  The last couple of nights she’s actually laid her head on my chest and rested peacefully for a bit before sitting up and saying “nana,” which I’m pretty sure means “night, night.”  And last night was extra special, as I was actually able to put her on my shoulder for a bit.  I know I don’t have many of those left, and so every second where she wants to lay on daddy is a very special one indeed.

There's really no question which side
of the family tree she inherited the
appetite from...I know what healthy is...

It was then to the back porch for a few beers, the sun down and the temperature perfect, during which time JT and I reflected on the past year as parents and how amazing it has been (as well as how perfect our lives feel right now).  I just cannot believe (or fully comprehend for that matter) how blessed we are, and I am so thankful for our lives right now and for all the blessings we have.  Jenny continues to love being at home, K continues to develop quickly (and seems very happy), and work has continued to be good for me.  We’re both getting back into shape (knock on wood we stay healthy), and we’ve got some fun travel planning in the coming months.  It’s been so great to see Jenny’s excitement with regard to getting back into running, and we’re very excited about the upcoming “racecations” we’ve got planned.  And just as being a parent has changed my diet for the better, so now I’m seeing it with regards to exercise.  I’ve always enjoyed running and working out, but for the first time in a LONG time I’m looking forward to every run – and even looking forward to hills.  I know that all of this will make me a healthier person, which means more ways to enjoy being a father, and hopefully more time on this earth to make the most of it.

June 15, 2014 - me and my girls on Father's
Day.  Without a doubt one of THE BEST
days of my entire life.  I love you, ladies.
I really am the luckiest man ever.

As for K – she’s now 15 months old, and the world is very much opening before her.  She knows what certain doors mean.  She knows that the milk is in the fridge.  She can identify her ear and nose when you ask her, and she knows that “Up!” means it’s time to stand (even if she doesn’t always want to).  She has 3 teeth set to pop through, does NOT like you to try and spoon anything into her mouth, likes to brush her own teeth (translation – she likes to chew on the toothbrush and will happily open her mouth as long as she’s wielding the instrument of cleaning), and loves to wear shoes (particularly her dark brown slippers).  She loves books and churns through them – we’ll read a good 15-20 books to her a day (and most will be read multiple times).  She also loves pulling all of her books down from the book shelf - even more than she enjoys trying to climb into the dish washer or move the end table in the living room.  Every day is a voyage of discovery – and we are LOVING being along for the ride.

So there you have it – one of the busiest and best weeks EVER for Team Taylor, party of 3.  Next week will be a report on K’s 15 months appointment and a weekend of serious festivities – already looking forward to being back at home with my girls!  Chat soon!

Love,

Sam and Jenny

A newfound appreciation for Wife Muffin's new job - a weekend of Daddy Daycare

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  14 months and 28 days

Family,

And a good Sunday afternoon to you (when I start this post, at least - the publish date will tell you when I finished it) from the Queen City, where Sammy the Bull is trying to shoehorn a blog into the
Munch's sleeping window (considering this is probably the 12th activity of the session, I'd say odds are
good I won't hit "publish" before someone stands up in their crib).  It's been another great (and quieter) week for Team Taylor, which is just what the doctor ordered.  Aside from Monday, I was home with my girls all week, which was FABULOUS.

No surprise, but life post JT quitting has continued to be nothing short of amazing.  I absolutely LOVE seeing K every time she wakes up (which is only twice a day, as we're still traveling down the "1 nap only" path at present) - she is SO CUTE when you walk in and she gives you that huge smile.  I will say that her little "mischievous" smile (it's that closed mouth smile that says "I'm pretty sure what I'm about to do is going to be hilarious - whether you think so or not") is now probably the new cutest thing she does, but the mile-wide smile she gives you when she takes your hand, stands up, starts walking, and then looks up at you is a VERY close second. :-)

Still no walking for the Munchkin, but all muscles and coordination continue to improve.  She's barely

"It's Lazare the cat!  Let's give him a pat."

hanging onto us now when she walks, and she's capable of walking quite a distance before she gets tuckered out.  To preserve this for posterity, I must recount how she gets into walking position:

1.  Sits on her knees (and may bounce a few times)

2.  Pops up her left arm (ALWAYS her left), palm down but open

3.  Says "ba" (code for "Get your lazy ass over here and help me walk - your back will heal fine...eventually)

4.  Takes your hand

5.  Twists her torso so that her right leg will be the piston that propels her upward

6.  Gets into standing position

7.  Takes off like a bat out of hell

8.  Looks up at you while walking 900 miles an hour

9.  Insert the cutest little smile ever here

Side note:  I have tried to take a picture of this about 16,000 times, but every time K sees the camera, she puts her hand down and either starts crying or bouncing on her legs like a jack russell terrier.  But I will NOT give up the fight!

The sneetch examining the new "buds" that
are forming in her mouth.  That's right, sports
fans - sneetch is teething again.  But, in angel
baby fashion - she's still been GREAT!

She is definitely walking better, now more capable of recognizing uneven ground and slopes (which I always tell her is "variegated topography" - gotta start the vocab training early!).  She is also really enjoying going up and down stairs (she needs help on the steps, of course), and she continues to LOVE pushing the deck chairs around outside.  One new thing we've introduced this week is passing her between Jenny and I, with her "running" to us.  She really does take 3 or 4 steps - it's just that she collapses into our arms once she arrives.  Also, as she has fallen straight backwards once or twice (we've always caught her!), it's not exactly a relaxing activity for me and JT.  Truth be told, I think it's just good practice for when she's fully mobile, as we'll of course no longer have control of her at that point!

Also on the walking front is that she's capable of covering much longer distances (she had a tenth of a mile and quarter mile walk this weekend AMAZING!).  The flip side of this is that, given how much I have to hunch over while she walks, at the end of a 20 minute session I look like the first cousin of Quasimoto (but no complaints!).  Also, it's hilarious that she now will take a few steps, pick something up, and then either a) carry it around on a world tour (we're talking things like leaves, rocks, books - you name it) or b) throw it down every 2 feet, bend down to touch it, adjust her grip, and pick it back up again.  As it's good exercise and she seems to enjoy it, you won't get an argument from me!  The stacking of the dead leaves outside, however, is not necessarily something I want her to aspire to.  That being said, she LOVES being outside in any capacity she can, and JT and I are ALL ABOUT that.

The only other developmental item I would note is that, for the first time ever, K is starting to not only take puzzle pieces out but is also starting to put them back in where they belong.  The first time I saw it was with a blue triangle from something the Hitman clan had given us, but I've since seen her move to slightly more complicated shapes (such as jungle animals in the puzzle from the Markham's.  And while she obviously still gets confused and tries to wedge things in the wrong place (or just gives up after about 5 seconds from sheer frustration), it is definitely cool to see the improvement.

K checking out the fish at her own speed.

The week itself was great but passed by in a FLASH.  The biggest item to note was JT and Munchkin's first visit to the Concord Aquarium.  It was an arranged visit with the "Meet Up" group, and K seemed to really enjoy it.  It's short, obviously, but that's great for her age and fit in perfectly with her current schedule.  We are still on the "1 nap" march, and barring the Peds telling us anything different next week (for K's FIFTEEN MONTH APPT - CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?), it's our expectation that we'll stick with it.

The biggest item to report was the weekend, where Sammy the Bull got his first true taste of JT's world.  As JT had a (very well deserved) girls' weekend in Asheville, Sammy the Bull was on Daddy Daycare for 48 hours!  And let me be up front and say that, while it was WONDERFUL - I don't know how JT does it. :-)

The sneetch after "7 mile Saturday" -
such a trooper.

So first off, you'll notice that there are virtually NO pictures of the weekend.  Why, you ask?  Well, as I spent the weekend either a) running around after the munchkin, b) scrambling to get stuff done around the house, or c) attached to her by 1 finger, there was virtually ZERO time for photos.  However, I am happy to report that both dad and daughter survived the ordeal - even if I might have pushed the munch a bit too hard. :-)

Friday was pretty chill - just hanging out in the backyard and around the house.  Saturday was busy, however, as I knew I wouldn't get my workout in and still wanted to log some miles.  That meant that I took poor sneetch first on a 5K loop in the stroller and then later (after her nap) to the Greenway in 90 degree heat for a 4 mile walk.  And while it was shaded, it was more humid than Mississippi in August, and sneetch was SO WARM.  It is crazy how quickly she heats up (her little arms were like radiators), and what was crazier was how much water she drank to cool back down after the walk was done.  I rotated on walking a mile or 2 and then letting her out of the stroller to walk a bit with me (this is when she did the tenth and quarter mile segments).  It was so cute - all I had to do was hold one hand and then keep the stroller wheel just slightly out of reach.  She chased that puppy FOREVER.

And speaking of puppies, on both Saturday and Sunday when I took K out to walk around the cul-de-sac, she marched straight to Mike and Julie's driveway.  You see, she knows there are 2 dogs on the other side of that fence (Bailey and Bear), and she desperately wanted to see them.  When I wouldn't let her she, well, EXPLODED - pretty sure no one on the street was asleep after that little outburst (rinse repeat on Sunday just to make sure the neighbors LOVE me).  And on that note (sorry - I know I'm all over the place this post) - you should see her when she's in the stroller. She is either waving at EVERYBODY, pointing at birds/squirrels/sprinklers, or bucking up like a bronco when she sees a dog in her path (and she always makes the same little laugh/contented noise when she sees them - TOO CUTE!).

How wife muffin "relaxes" on a girls' trip. :-)

Sunday was rainy, meaning that we were stuck in the house after the 5K.  I didn't mind, however, as Sneetch woke up at 6:15 that morning!  So needless to say - when Jenny arrived and we put the Munch to bed, this guy cracked a beer!

In all seriousness, it was great - dedicated time with K, great weather for most of the weekend, and most importantly JT got some time away that was a lot of fun for her (but make no mistake, Munchkin - she missed her little girl terribly and was very, VERY ready to be home!).  I will also say that it was great for me to experience this, because I now have a much more profound appreciation for how truly tough JT's job is and the amount of focus, planning, and patience it requires.  I always knew that I could never be a stay at home dad (Munch Munch - this is NOT because I don't love you immensely and don't love spending time with you), but this was definitely the litmus test to prove it.  Truth be told, I think I am a much better parent in shorter periods of focus, as I feel my work & personality lend me to being very focused and compartmentalized on each key activity or period of time in my day.  For example, when I am working from home but my mom is here, I always feel guilty - as though I'm not doing either job well (which again gives me an appreciation for how JT felt when she was working).  But when I can break up my day in a more orderly fashion (work, food, work, exercise, work, family time, shower, adult time), I think I'm more "switched on" in all facets.  That's why I feel SO BLESSED to have a wife that both wants to stay at home and takes it VERY seriously, as I know the entire family unit (and especially the sneetch) will benefit so much from it.

Okay, a bit all over the shop this time, but that's the post for this past week.  Speak soon!

Love,

Sam and Jenny

The Sneetch is introduced to the Greenway...

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  14 months and 22 days

Family,

And a good Tuesday evening to you from the Queen City, where another great day is in the books after a WONDERFUL weekend!  This blog should be a bit quicker, as for a change we don't have a thousand new developments to report.  That being said, it was a VERY fun week with a lot of activities to report, so let's get amongst it.

Not even Grammie escaped the
clutches of "Easy Street...:

The week itself was great, as it was SO NICE (as always) to be home with my girls.  We had date night on Wednesday (wife muffin and I hit Fleming's before rolling over to Blumenthal to see "We Will Rock You"), which meant that the munch had a very special baby sitter looking after her - GRAMMIE!!!!  We really owe mom a HUGE thank you, as she made the trek over the mountain to see us despite a CRAZY work schedule AND having to take care of Nanny (at time of writing, I am very pleased to report that Nanny is doing well and now able to stay at home by herself.  I'm not sure if I'd mentioned it previously, but just over 6 weeks ago she was in a car wreck and split a telephone pole in half - also breaking 4 ribs and her wrist in the process.  She's now very much on the mend, and all signs point to a full recovery.  God is good. :-)).  She was here Wednesday afternoon through to Friday morning, and we had a terrific 36 hours together.  I always hate the fact that I have to work during the day while she here, but the good news is that she gets dedicated time with Kaitlyn.  Also, given that Jenny's now at home, the 3 of them get to spend a lot of time together (meaning I really DO have all my girls under 1 roof).

Thursday was special because of a new discovery for Kaitlyn - The Children's Place.  Now a little back story - every time Grammie comes to visit, she becomes a LIGHTNING ROD for spending money.  This isn't an exaggeration, as her visits have results in quite a few large purchases - Macbook Pro, A HOUSE, new faucets and light fixtures, etc - and given that K was low on clothes, I had a feeling she would channel her energy once again.  True to form, she did NOT disappoint. :-)

So I'm sure most of you know this, but the Children's Place has REALLY cute clothes cheap, and Jenny practically bought out the store.  She walked in with a treasure trove of galcian proportions - all of which she procured for under $100!  WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER!  Do I love my wife or what? :-)

K is now the proud owner of several new rasher vests (rash guards as we call them in the states), lots of new pants and shorts, and tons of cute shirts.  She's been wearing these new outfits lately, and I must confess her fashion has much improved (if for no other reason than the colors on her tops and bottoms finally go together) - too cute she is!

Looks like I just found Bobby Fischer...

Friday was VBGB, where I am THRILLED to report that it was finally warm enough to sit outside.  This was GREAT and SO much better than back in January when we were inside, as K was able to

K and AJ going head to head - I am pleased
to report that she did actually get a few in!

run around all over the place (attached to one of us by a finger, of course).  She started on the life-sized chess pieces - playing with her future boyfriend AJ - before spending the next 20 minutes walking around (including up and down the little stepped patio outside).  Lots of our friends made it over, and it was great to catch up with them.  Obviously it was a bit difficult to chat too long with anyone (as we were all chasing after our respective children), but it was great all the same and fun to watch the Sneetch bouncing all over the place.

Saturday and Sunday were GORGEOUS, and we made the most of the time.  We actually had another sitter on Saturday night, as we went uptown (our 3rd time in a week, and not once to the office!) for a baby shower (soon to be another of K's friends, as GC and Melissa are having a little girl).  That night was a bit rocky for K (we think she's teething), and the sitter actually had to sit with her for a bit due to the pain (K was crying out about every 15 minutes).  Luckily she settled as soon as we got home and slept soundly until about 8 in the morning (which was great for mommy and daddy as well).

On Sunday we FINALLY made the trek over to the Greenway as a family, where we walked 3 miles and then played on the playground at the entrance for a bit.  The weather was great, and K enjoyed walking through the playground (and eating wood chips, of course).  The elements were a bit too advanced for her, and so we didn't do too much climbing.  However, she did get to pet more than a few dogs - one of whom licked her face to bits (which she loved).  It really is AMAZING to watch how much K loves dogs.  Every time she sees one in the stroller, she bucks up and tries to bust out of her harness to pet it.  I will also say I have been surprised at how wonderful all the dog owners have been, as they have always walked their pet over, kept them calm, and then sat their patiently as K pets, watches, smiles at their furry friend.  It really is cute - until the dog leaves her field of vision and she starts screaming like a rabid banshee, of course...

Sunday afternoon we attempted the pool, but that was an epic fail.  The goal was to test out the new clothes, hat, and float we'd purchased for K, and I am pleased to report that we had a good trial run for two of the three items.  The clothes were great - they covered her well and didn't ride up.  The hat was WONDERFUL - it stayed on her head snugly, and she didn't try to pull it off.  The float, however, was, well...a disaster.

You can take the boy out of the country...
check out that handy duct tape fix...which
STILL didn't work...largely because I blew
a hole in it large enough to park a Volvo.

It all started about 30 minutes before the pool when I took it out of the box.  I'd read that you needed a pump for it, and so I found one (I actually tried three different ones and multiple attachments before I found something that worked) and had some success getting the bottom part inflated.  I then started pumping the top portion and was thrilled to see how quickly it inflated.  What I didn't realize at that time that I wasn't inflating the entire top (which was attached to the bottom) but rather some decorative bit on the awning.  It was about at that time I heard POP - and knew that "Houston, we have a problem."

"Your float inflating skills SUCK, daddy!"

The good news is that it still floated. The bad news is that it looked like something off the Jeff Foxworthy Show. The worst news was that it's still too big for K, and the second I put her in it she immediately grabbed my shirt and tried to pull up, saying "baba" constantly (which is code for "whichever parental unit you are please save me right now as I am light years from my comfort zone"). Granted, the pool was busy (and she was hungry), so we didn't make it too long before we walked home.  She crashed hard that night - a very eventful day and weekend in the books!

She's still not walking, but she is SO close - we are talking barely hanging onto our fingers at this point!   But again - we aren't rushing it, as we know things will get crazy once she's fully mobile!

Okay, that's all the news that's fit to print for now.  Chat soon!

Love,

Sam and Jenny