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