Family,
And a good Saturday afternoon to you from the Queen City, where the Bull is on Daddy Daycare and loving EVERY SECOND OF IT while JT enjoys a much needed and much deserved girls' weekend in 
the mountains (Lake Lure, to be exact). First off, let me apologize that it's been over THREE WEEKS since the last post, but I believe I've finally come to terms with the fact that 2-3 weeks (or even monthly) might be the new routine going forward. While I realize that's not ideal and could result in some memories either not being recorded properly or perhaps missed entirely, the reality is that it's the best I think the Bull can do going forward. It's a mixture of things: the job - which I love - is busier and has seen me in the office more than expected, I'm ramping up mileage and exercise as fall race season approaches, and several other personal choices (reading the Bible nightly, planning to volunteer at church, trying for #2 :-)) are imposing limits on the amount of free time available. I don't say this as an excuse - I merely say it as a reality to further set expectations on the 
So the last couple of weeks have been absolutely AMAZING. I feel ON FIRE with life right now, and all the cylinders are clicking. I again give thanks SO MUCH to Freedom House, as they have helped me in so many aspects of my life to put me in this position. I know this blog is first and foremost about Kaitlyn, but as it is titled "Raise Kids With the Taylors" and is very much about our entire family unit, I wanted to at least record how refreshed and invigorated I feel right now, as my hope is that it's making me a better husband, parent, and person. To that end, I have segmented my areas of focus into 5 distinct groups: Family & Friends, Staying in Shape, mental sharpness, my Spiritual journey, and work. When I am participating in any one of these 5 areas, my goal is to be completely switched on and not let my mind wander to any of the other groups. I think this has helped me to be a better parent, as the time with Kaitlyn is now even more laser focused. In addition, I have tried to drop a lot of the mental baggage and worry I've carried over the years. This has truly made a difference, and it's amazing what you can do when your mind is just focused on the task at hand vs. carrying memories of past mistakes and fears with you at every turn. Today is a great example, as my time with K today was nothing shy of perfect, and I'm loving every minute of it.
As for the Munchkin - WOW, does she continue to grow. Some new items to record for posterity:
7/16: We were sitting at dinner when I coughed. K looked up and said "Dada needs Dr. Brown Bear" (a character from Peppa). In fact, anytime anyone coughs, K recommends they go visit Dr. Brown Bear. Yeah, it's pretty cute.
7/18: K was digging through some drawers and found a St. Patty's day necklace with a whistle on it. These were actually the necklaces we bought for what we thought would be our last St. Patty's day (2013) as DINK's - something K decided was not in the cards. Anyhoo - K picked up the necklace, put it around her neck, held the whistle to her chest, and said, "Check my heartbeat." She'd played with a stethoscope the week before at DPK, and she's now the proud owner of a doctor playset (courtesy of Vol Nana, of course).
7/26: K was able to put her shirt on for the first time ever! She can pull it over her head and then get each hand through the "arm hole" all by herself. She can also put shoes and socks on, and she can pull-up her new pull-ups (we're currently in Dora the Explorer diapers, and K LOVES THEM! She yells "DORA!" every time we change her). She can also now take off both overnight and pull-up diapers by herself, as well as taking off shorts, pants, and shoes. She can't quite take off her shirt yet, but when it's time to take her shirt off, she has introduced a cute part of that routine as well. When we say "arms up", she raises them and says "Da-da-da-DA-da." This is in reference to the song "Rise Up" by Yves Rock, and she's got the tune down pat! It's too cute (first observed on 7/18, for the record).
7/27: K did "Pat-a-cake, Pat-a-cake" from memory for the first time.
7/28: After MONTHS of turning it off but not on, K successfully turned off the humidifier and then switched her hand position to turn it back on before bed! Now I realize that may not sound like much to you, but I have watched this particular ritual for practically a year now, just waiting for the day she figured out she needed to invert her hand and change the position on her thumb. This was a big mental leap, baby - critical thinking! :-)
7/28 was special for another reason - it was K's first playgroup! Jenny had an acupuncture session, and since I was working, we needed daycare. We'd heard about this playgroup from Renee (at least I think that's the case, as she's in the know with EVERYTHING in HC) - a summer day care 4 hours 2x weekly run out of a British gal's house (Ms. Alison). $24 bought you 4 hours of care and food, and we wanted to try a bit of socialization ahead of starting pre-school in the fall. Well, I am pleased to report that K LOVED IT! She was the youngest one there, but she apparently had a blast playing with the horses, was very well behaved, ate like a champ, and seemed to enjoy herself. Insert monster sigh of relief here!
7/29: K was kicking JT after the bath (while we were drying her), and twice she hit JT square in the breasts. When JT said, "Kaitlyn, we don't kick mommy in the boobies," K fired back with "Dada not have boobies." Let's be real clear. I. STARTED. CACKLING. I must have laughed for 5 minutes straight - priceless! We couldn't discipline her because we were laughing too bloody hard. Priceless! Oh, and in this same session, another big milestone occurred (if your a UNC alum, anyway). Jenny had on a UNC shirt when she walked into the bathroom. K saw the NC logo and said "Tarheel!" WINNER, WINNER, CHICKEN DINNER, BABY!!!!! |
| "I'm a fairy princess!" |
7/31 - K sang "Jesus loves me" for the first time. Where did she learn this, you ask? See below for the "Henry's ducky" story.
8/1 - "Watch me brush, Owly!" This weekend has been particularly cute, as K has requested Owly "watch her brush." I think it ties to the book "I'm Not Reading!," where baby owl tries to read a story to Owly (this is the owl Kim & Matt gave her last year). Tooth brushing with K has been hit or miss, so when she said she wanted Owly to watch her brush, I thought "what can it hurt?" Well, as fate would have it, it's been a rousing success, as she's letting me SCRUB THOSE PUPPIES! She then announces "watch me spit, Owly!", at which point she then expectorates with renewed vigor. All the while Owly is "perched" in the towel rack on the opposite vanity - pretty cute. Owly has since been added to the bedtime friend list (bringing the total to 9), but I'm not fussing. Yet. :-)
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| I promise Xavier had more fun than his face indicates here. |
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| The Eagle does NOT intimidate the Munchkin. |
The following week (starting 7/13) marked another milestone for K - JT introduced the Potty Chart! This was a great idea, and I definitely think it's yielding results. Bottom line - anytime K pees or poopies on the toilet, Jt notes it on the chart. K then gets to put a sticker there and mark the chart (both of which she enjoys immensely). And while we're not consistently having peepee or poopy every day, I do think the cumulative effect of the chart, regular trips to the potty, and pull-ups are having the right effect. I also think that daycare in the fall will really ratchet it up, but we're in no rush either way.
This week saw K recite "Doing the Animal Bop" completely from memory, as well as the last page of "I'm Not Reading!" She can also do several sections from "The Bear Snores On," and she still remembers them to this day (even though we've returned the books). We did have a meltdown this week during toothbrushing time, and I admit the fault on this one lies with me. Long story short, as K is over 2, she should now be using fluoride (Minnie) toothpaste. That night she wanted the non-fluoride (Elmo) toothpaste. Well, I refused to give it to her, at which point K refused to brush her teeth or open her mouth. I was already down a path and refused to capitulate, and the end result was a meltdown that led to us restraining her in the tub while she thrashed about and ultimately a lot of screaming after we put her down. JT had told me "don't argue over the toothpaste - she'll revert back," but I had blinders on and was determined to be right. Wife Muffin - you were correct! My lesson from this was that a) I need to listen to you and b) I need to pick my battles, as 1 night of non-fluoride toothpaste does not a hot bed of cavities make... :-)
We actually had one more meltdown that week, and it was on Friday (7/17) - just on the eve of starting vacation. Knowing that K wouldn't sleep in a pack n play, we had planned to use an inflatable "big girl bed" in Asheville and TN. Well, we decided it would be wise to test it out ahead of time, and so Friday night we inflated it and put it in her room. She's slept on this same model (and in this same location before), but this night she was still away after 45+ minutes in her Big Girl bed. JT knew something was wrong when she checked the monitor and saw K sitting up. Shortly thereafter, she put her animals back in her crib (we think she was trying to protect them, as she looked scared). I then went up there, and she was clearly afraid, as she was almost on the verge of tears. She ran too me and started crying, and when I asked her if she wanted to go into her crib, she immediately said yes. This definitely had us concerned for the trip, especially since she then threw her animals out of the crib and demanded to go back into big girl bed. Ultimately we had to let her cry it out (we did put her animals back in), but she screamed and was awake for a total of 2+ hours before she gave it up. And when JT went up, K swung at her and pushed her off violently, screaming "I don't want mama! I want dada!"
This was actually a theme of that week which continued throughout the vacation - K wanted daddy to do EVERYTHING and refused help from JT. Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE feeling needed and wanted, but as any parent will tell you - it gets exhausting. It gets ESPECIALLY exhausting when K only wants daddy but refuses daddy's help for anything she believes she can do for herself (picking things up, setting things down, closing doors, etc). In fact, when I would do some of these things, she would then immediately UNDO them so she could do them herself. This escalated over the course of the vacation to the point that we had to start discipline - but more to come on that. 
As to the vacation itself - let me just say that it surpassed ALL expectations. I will be honest and say that, going into this, I was a little concerned. K's last family vacation was fun but exhausting (Jamaica), and I feared more of the same. Also, memories of the High Country 1/2 resonated in my mind, and I was overall quite worried about how K was going to sleep. I am happy to report that she was a CHAMPION - especially when you consider the havoc we wreaked on her schedule.
Saturday was an easy drive to Asheville (after 3 hours of loading the car!), where we met Dad and Alice at Barley's Tap Room for some pizza. K dropped a steamer here and was ALL ABOUT DADDY changing it. But hey - I'd had 2 new beers, so nothing could harsh my mellow! We then rolled over to Wicked Weed, where K loved walking around on the ground floor (and moving the corn hole bags from 1 side to the other). We then returned home to our cute little rental house for grilled chicken and more beer, after which time we crashed early. I actually had trouble sleeping that night (as did K), but that was the only night either of us didn't fare well. She actually didn't have a nap this day, but we had her down by 8:30ish. Oh, and did I mention the big surprise - PATTIE DROPPED IN TO SEE US! K had already gone to sleep, but she woke up to find Pattie there the next morning!
Sunday was a real highlight - Highland Brewing! There was a bluegrass band playing, and my dad was in Heaven. They were really good, and Highland's facility was just terrific. We chased the ball around inside (thank goodness they had a cavernous space), and K really had fun. We actually started the day on a school playground (one of 3 playgrounds she hit in Asheville), and we finished the day running around in the yard with the little doggie sprinkler Alice had purchased for her. We ate in again that night, as we wanted to maximize the time with Pattie. So much fun! K got a nap this day (I think), but regardless - she slept like a champ this night!
On Monday we had the "tag out," where Dad and Alice left and mom drove over. We had brunch at King Daddy before Dad & Alice departed (Pattie'd left the night before), and K enjoyed more than a few bites of chicken and waffles. As is so often the case with Asheville, these folks had toys for K and were great about having a wee one in our midst. Asheville is such a chill town to begin with, but throw in all the breweries and everything else, and it's now completely a "come as you are place." Did I mention we love it here? Oh, and we discovered Jones Park on this day, which is the MEGA-playground only 2 blocks from the house. K LOVED it, and she got the chance to run around and go down some GREAT slides. For JT and I, this provided a great chance to relax while still giving K something new and fresh to do, as we could watch her "passively" while still knowing she was getting Vitamin D, fresh air, and exercise in a safe
environment. This was something we lacked in Jamaica (and to be fair, it's a year on, so that's a consideration), and it definitely gave us some of the rest we needed.
The featured event this day (with mom) was the Sierra Nevada Brewery, located all the way out at the airport. While it was GORGEOUS - we're talking a cathedral to beer - it was not as kid friendly, and I don't see us going back with rug rats anytime soon. If we have kids in tow, Highland is CLEARLY the winner.
Tuesday was another fun day, but it featured a mega meltdown for K. Now a big of side commentary here - K is currently at the point that she either wants to do everything or at a minimum "assist" someone with EVERYTHING (and I do mean everything) that they do. Initially I was fine with this, as I wanted her to feel part of the team and wanted to foster that sense of independence, but in Asheville I did notice it starting to go too far. When you couple this with a) the fact that she was adamant that daddy do everything for her and b) the fact that she would "undo" things I would do for her so she could do them herself, I started to reach a breaking point. In truth, I think I was a bit embarrassed, as my mother noticed it and commented on her behavior. In that moment, I felt like a failure (that's a harsh personal commentary, but at the time it was true), as I felt as if a) I'd been neglecting my parental responsibilities and b) I wasn't showing mom that I intended to replicate all the lessons that she'd taught me. And don't get me wrong - my mom wasn't rude about it at all and certainly didn't lecture me. It was just a self-imposed frustration that I wasn't doing the right thing as a father. Plus the fact that K had pushed Jenny away earlier in the week and didn't want her help was eating at me, as I found it disrespectful. So that day was a challenge, as I finally hit my limit when we were in the parking deck. Long story short - she wanted to walk down a section that I didn't let her go down, and then she wanted to crawl into her stroller but took too long to do it. My decision point had been (and is still now) that if she wants to waste her own time, that's fine. However, if it impacts others, then she needs to respond to commands quicker. Consequently, K was MENTAL in her stroller for about 20 (rather stressful) minutes.
Ultimately, we got her to the splash pad and the park, where we played for a bit before hitting LAB for lunch and then going home. K was so tired she actually tried to lay down on the couch and then later had her head bobbing during Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (what does THAT tell you!), but it was already so late that we kept her up vs. giving her a nap. And really, looking back on everything after a week at home, I think that was a lot of K's behavior during this stress. We had pushed her schedule SO hard - skipping naps, having late bed times, eating at odd hours - and I think it all just came crashing down on Tuesday. Some facts became apparent - she still needed that nap. She didn't like the inflatable mattress. And so many people, new experiences, and shifts in schedule was way more than she should have been asked to accept. In retrospect, she really was AMAZING, and I have to give her credit for her resilience. We'd never done anything like this to her before, and I really am proud of her for rolling with so many punches.
The other big news for that night - Team Taylor (the adult members) had their FIRST DATE NIGHT IN 10 MONTHS that evening. Mom graciously agreed to watch the Munchkin while JT and I went out, and so we hopped an Uber and made our way to Hi Wire Brewing. We then ate at Tupelo Honey (with a drink at the thirsty monk) before a night cap of Ice Cream at the French Broad Chocolate lounge - talk about an epic night! It was SO GREAT to just have some time away and to relax. And don't get me wrong - JT and I talked about it during the evening (as we have many times previous) - we've both had good time to do our own activities and to get away, and so neither of us were feeling distant, disconnected, or burned out. However, a night of adulthood free from parental worries truly was a blessing, and I definitely think we made it count.
Wednesday was nice and relaxing, as we drove Asheville highway over the mountain, stopping first at Mom's for some quality pool time before rolling over to Nanny's for the afternoon. This day was just a chill one of swimming, eating, and hanging out with family, and it was great to see everyone.
Thursday featured breakfast at Nanny's where K had another meltdown. Team Taylor introduced K's first ever time out during breakfast, which actually worked. Choosing to ignore her did the trick in that instance, and I'm thankful (for everyone's sake) that she dialed back the screaming. We then rolled over to Dad's house, where K had a BLAST getting into some old toys. We spent a good 2 hours there before rolling over to Grandmother's, where we had some quality time with her, Patrick, and Scotty.
My side note here is that I feel truly blessed and thankful to have had this unexpected visit with both grandparents. Nanny was much feebler than I expected, but as I type this I can confirm she's getting stronger every single day. More to the point - that lady is a fighter and has a more resilient, resolute spirit than I imagined, and I have no doubts she'll continue on the mend. Grandmother Taylor, however, does concern me a bit more. Our chat was great - she's clearly very, VERY articulate and intelligent still, and minus her short-term memory continues to be incredibly switched on. However, it wasn't the conversation that I noticed so much as the tone. At 98 1/2, you can tell that she's seen and done everything she wants to do in life. She's thankful for every second of it and is grateful to Go heart and soul for every blessing she's received on this earth. But she is also a woman who's lost her soul mate, and the way in which she spoke about her blessings and the life she's had sounded like someone marking time until she hears the roll call from above. Now make no mistake - I hope that day is still a ways off. However, when it does come, I know she'll see the man she's loved for 70 years waiting for her, and while I will definitely cry on that day - not every tear will be one of sadness.
That afternoon we drove to Knoxville, where we crashed with the Rice clan for 2 days. As per standard, they greeted us with a DELICIOUS meal, and that afternoon and evening were a great mix of great food, fun beer, and hilarity. And the most interesting part - for these last 2 nights, we were going to have to put K into a crib, and we were worried about how she'd react. Well, as fate would have it, she was THRILLED. Readers - K jumped into that crib like a piggy in muddy puddles, and she LOVED IT - slept 11 hours that night! It was really amazing, as she was basically reaching for the crib when we got in there. It was so nice of the Rice's to put Henry in the pack n play, and I can't really thank them enough for that. Side note - it is AMAZING to visit people that already have kids and all the accoutrements required to keep a kid happy and on schedule.
A side note here about the past week and our return home - K has been sleeping LIKE A CHAMP. While the days of being awake in her crib for an hour aren't gone completely, she is ABSOLUTELY sleeping like a champion. JT and I think she's still trying to catch up, and I am only now realizing how hard we pushed her. That being said, I don't know how else we could have done it and seen anything, as the nap schedule would have largely torpedoed most activities. With that lens on it, I can confidently say I would have done it the same way, but poor Kaitlyn!
Friday was another big highlight - the Knoxville Zoo! This had been the one thing on my "we must do this" list when we planned the trip, and it DID NOT disappoint. If anything, it was AMAZING how active all the animals were! K loved it, and she was great about running around and looking at all the animals. She did have 2 meltdowns - 1 when a kid ran up a slide and screamed at her, and another when she was exhausted, overheated, and hungry right at the end. Oh, and I forgot the screaming session by the snakes, but details...:-) Seriously, I do think she had a blast, and we made it count. She slept 2-5 like a ROCK that day, and JT had to wake her at 5 (which she was NOT happy about). And granted, we normally would have either woken her earlier or skipped the nap, but we knew she would be up late this go-around, as some of the Morristown crew (the Wyatt's and Fergusons) made the drive over to Johnny's house for a cookout. It was a BLAST, and K loved watching all the other kids run around. K kept going up and down "the mountain," which was the hill in their backyard. Now I will note that she has about 6,000 mosquitos bites on her legs, which are slowing going away (one in particular on her left leg has given her a FIT). However, those bites were a small price to pay for such an amazing experience. Plus, K slept LIKE A CHAMP that night in the crib. Honestly, that crib saved us, as otherwise I think K
would have going into a meltdown of epic proportions. :-)
Saturday was breakfast with the clan (we got to see Gail!) before backing up and heading out. The drive required several detours and involved a backup around the lake at Davidson (surprise, surprise), but we rolled in about 5ish, 7 hours after departing Knoxville. And just like that, Team Taylor was back home in the Queen City - where I'm happy to report that K rediscovered her own bed and has never seemed happier. :-)
Honestly, this particular trip was wonderful. Truly, it exceeded all expectations. We saw more family than I thought we would be able to wedge in, and thanks a ton to Johnny for getting "the band back together" on Friday night, as that was great to see everyone. K was a trooper through it all, and looking back now I can't believe how many liberties we took with her schedule (and how well she rolled with the punches, all things considered). We had good time in each location, got a chance for some adult time, and definitely made every day count. Now I will say that the best way to describe walking back through the door on Regal Court was "elated but exhausted" - so thankful for all the blessings of family we have and for new memories made but VERY happy to be home. I mean, there's no denying it - vacationing and traveling with a two year old is a LOT of work and a lot of packing, and Team Taylor actually had to unpack/re-pack 3 times on this trip. Realistically, I think it will be awhile before we do this again - especially if we have another one. Also, if we try this again, we'll need to rent (or buy!) a bigger car!
A little over a week after returning, we still think K is getting caught up on sleep (but is nearly there!). As I said above, she was SUCH a resilient little trooper, but she's slept SO MUCH BETTER since she's been home (bed earlier and sleeping longer, even WITH a 1.5-2 hr nap).
The only other bits to note:
On 7/26, I merited out K's first spanking. The temper tantrums of the "Terrible 2's" have escalated as of late, and on this day I popped her for the first time while she was washing her hands (and misbehaving, for the record obviously). We've actually had 2 meltdowns since then, and so Jenny and I have had to make a coordinated effort to keep each other abreast of what we've corrected her on and how we've disciplined her to ensure consistency. We actually had a COMPLETE MELTDOWN last night in the tub, but after the discipline we meted out last night, I"m happy to report this evening was much smoother. :-) The funniest part? The day after the meltdown, K will always say, "I was naughty!" She'll then follow up with "TT stopped crying" - I mean, how can you stay mad at this child?
Speaking of (and I've typed this blog over a couple of days, so for all I know I said this above - K can really say pretty much whatever she wants now. She definitely knows that those bites on her legs came "from mosquitos," and she's really starting to use adjectives in sentences ("I went super fast," "that is a little boat," etc). My favorite from this past week was "Daddy, get both these towels out from under me" on the changing table. I mean, that's some advanced Calculus right there, right?
7/3 - I came home just in time for a 20 minute set of "Ring around the rosy" - it was really cute.
And last but CERTAINLY not least - 7/26 was a big day for more than 1 reason. Let it be known that, on this date in history, Team Taylor got back in the game and started trying for #2. Our approach this time is COMPLETELY different, and already I will say we're much more relaxed about the whole thing and having a lot more fun. Watch this space! :-)
On Monday we had the "tag out," where Dad and Alice left and mom drove over. We had brunch at King Daddy before Dad & Alice departed (Pattie'd left the night before), and K enjoyed more than a few bites of chicken and waffles. As is so often the case with Asheville, these folks had toys for K and were great about having a wee one in our midst. Asheville is such a chill town to begin with, but throw in all the breweries and everything else, and it's now completely a "come as you are place." Did I mention we love it here? Oh, and we discovered Jones Park on this day, which is the MEGA-playground only 2 blocks from the house. K LOVED it, and she got the chance to run around and go down some GREAT slides. For JT and I, this provided a great chance to relax while still giving K something new and fresh to do, as we could watch her "passively" while still knowing she was getting Vitamin D, fresh air, and exercise in a safe 
The featured event this day (with mom) was the Sierra Nevada Brewery, located all the way out at the airport. While it was GORGEOUS - we're talking a cathedral to beer - it was not as kid friendly, and I don't see us going back with rug rats anytime soon. If we have kids in tow, Highland is CLEARLY the winner.
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| I mean, it kind of looks like a bathtub... |
Ultimately, we got her to the splash pad and the park, where we played for a bit before hitting LAB for lunch and then going home. K was so tired she actually tried to lay down on the couch and then later had her head bobbing during Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (what does THAT tell you!), but it was already so late that we kept her up vs. giving her a nap. And really, looking back on everything after a week at home, I think that was a lot of K's behavior during this stress. We had pushed her schedule SO hard - skipping naps, having late bed times, eating at odd hours - and I think it all just came crashing down on Tuesday. Some facts became apparent - she still needed that nap. She didn't like the inflatable mattress. And so many people, new experiences, and shifts in schedule was way more than she should have been asked to accept. In retrospect, she really was AMAZING, and I have to give her credit for her resilience. We'd never done anything like this to her before, and I really am proud of her for rolling with so many punches.
The other big news for that night - Team Taylor (the adult members) had their FIRST DATE NIGHT IN 10 MONTHS that evening. Mom graciously agreed to watch the Munchkin while JT and I went out, and so we hopped an Uber and made our way to Hi Wire Brewing. We then ate at Tupelo Honey (with a drink at the thirsty monk) before a night cap of Ice Cream at the French Broad Chocolate lounge - talk about an epic night! It was SO GREAT to just have some time away and to relax. And don't get me wrong - JT and I talked about it during the evening (as we have many times previous) - we've both had good time to do our own activities and to get away, and so neither of us were feeling distant, disconnected, or burned out. However, a night of adulthood free from parental worries truly was a blessing, and I definitely think we made it count.
Wednesday was nice and relaxing, as we drove Asheville highway over the mountain, stopping first at Mom's for some quality pool time before rolling over to Nanny's for the afternoon. This day was just a chill one of swimming, eating, and hanging out with family, and it was great to see everyone.
Thursday featured breakfast at Nanny's where K had another meltdown. Team Taylor introduced K's first ever time out during breakfast, which actually worked. Choosing to ignore her did the trick in that instance, and I'm thankful (for everyone's sake) that she dialed back the screaming. We then rolled over to Dad's house, where K had a BLAST getting into some old toys. We spent a good 2 hours there before rolling over to Grandmother's, where we had some quality time with her, Patrick, and Scotty. 
My side note here is that I feel truly blessed and thankful to have had this unexpected visit with both grandparents. Nanny was much feebler than I expected, but as I type this I can confirm she's getting stronger every single day. More to the point - that lady is a fighter and has a more resilient, resolute spirit than I imagined, and I have no doubts she'll continue on the mend. Grandmother Taylor, however, does concern me a bit more. Our chat was great - she's clearly very, VERY articulate and intelligent still, and minus her short-term memory continues to be incredibly switched on. However, it wasn't the conversation that I noticed so much as the tone. At 98 1/2, you can tell that she's seen and done everything she wants to do in life. She's thankful for every second of it and is grateful to Go heart and soul for every blessing she's received on this earth. But she is also a woman who's lost her soul mate, and the way in which she spoke about her blessings and the life she's had sounded like someone marking time until she hears the roll call from above. Now make no mistake - I hope that day is still a ways off. However, when it does come, I know she'll see the man she's loved for 70 years waiting for her, and while I will definitely cry on that day - not every tear will be one of sadness.  |
| I mean, she was PAAAAAAAAASSED out. |
That afternoon we drove to Knoxville, where we crashed with the Rice clan for 2 days. As per standard, they greeted us with a DELICIOUS meal, and that afternoon and evening were a great mix of great food, fun beer, and hilarity. And the most interesting part - for these last 2 nights, we were going to have to put K into a crib, and we were worried about how she'd react. Well, as fate would have it, she was THRILLED. Readers - K jumped into that crib like a piggy in muddy puddles, and she LOVED IT - slept 11 hours that night! It was really amazing, as she was basically reaching for the crib when we got in there. It was so nice of the Rice's to put Henry in the pack n play, and I can't really thank them enough for that. Side note - it is AMAZING to visit people that already have kids and all the accoutrements required to keep a kid happy and on schedule.
A side note here about the past week and our return home - K has been sleeping LIKE A CHAMP. While the days of being awake in her crib for an hour aren't gone completely, she is ABSOLUTELY sleeping like a champion. JT and I think she's still trying to catch up, and I am only now realizing how hard we pushed her. That being said, I don't know how else we could have done it and seen anything, as the nap schedule would have largely torpedoed most activities. With that lens on it, I can confidently say I would have done it the same way, but poor Kaitlyn!
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| Seriously. LEAVE. ME. ALONE. |
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| First proper ice cream! She LOVED it. |
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| "DADA, I FOUND TIDDLES!" |
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| Just when we thought we'd lost happiness - success and smiles at the splash pad. |
Saturday was breakfast with the clan (we got to see Gail!) before backing up and heading out. The drive required several detours and involved a backup around the lake at Davidson (surprise, surprise), but we rolled in about 5ish, 7 hours after departing Knoxville. And just like that, Team Taylor was back home in the Queen City - where I'm happy to report that K rediscovered her own bed and has never seemed happier. :-)
Honestly, this particular trip was wonderful. Truly, it exceeded all expectations. We saw more family than I thought we would be able to wedge in, and thanks a ton to Johnny for getting "the band back together" on Friday night, as that was great to see everyone. K was a trooper through it all, and looking back now I can't believe how many liberties we took with her schedule (and how well she rolled with the punches, all things considered). We had good time in each location, got a chance for some adult time, and definitely made every day count. Now I will say that the best way to describe walking back through the door on Regal Court was "elated but exhausted" - so thankful for all the blessings of family we have and for new memories made but VERY happy to be home. I mean, there's no denying it - vacationing and traveling with a two year old is a LOT of work and a lot of packing, and Team Taylor actually had to unpack/re-pack 3 times on this trip. Realistically, I think it will be awhile before we do this again - especially if we have another one. Also, if we try this again, we'll need to rent (or buy!) a bigger car!A little over a week after returning, we still think K is getting caught up on sleep (but is nearly there!). As I said above, she was SUCH a resilient little trooper, but she's slept SO MUCH BETTER since she's been home (bed earlier and sleeping longer, even WITH a 1.5-2 hr nap).
The only other bits to note:
On 7/26, I merited out K's first spanking. The temper tantrums of the "Terrible 2's" have escalated as of late, and on this day I popped her for the first time while she was washing her hands (and misbehaving, for the record obviously). We've actually had 2 meltdowns since then, and so Jenny and I have had to make a coordinated effort to keep each other abreast of what we've corrected her on and how we've disciplined her to ensure consistency. We actually had a COMPLETE MELTDOWN last night in the tub, but after the discipline we meted out last night, I"m happy to report this evening was much smoother. :-) The funniest part? The day after the meltdown, K will always say, "I was naughty!" She'll then follow up with "TT stopped crying" - I mean, how can you stay mad at this child?
Speaking of (and I've typed this blog over a couple of days, so for all I know I said this above - K can really say pretty much whatever she wants now. She definitely knows that those bites on her legs came "from mosquitos," and she's really starting to use adjectives in sentences ("I went super fast," "that is a little boat," etc). My favorite from this past week was "Daddy, get both these towels out from under me" on the changing table. I mean, that's some advanced Calculus right there, right?
7/3 - I came home just in time for a 20 minute set of "Ring around the rosy" - it was really cute.
And last but CERTAINLY not least - 7/26 was a big day for more than 1 reason. Let it be known that, on this date in history, Team Taylor got back in the game and started trying for #2. Our approach this time is COMPLETELY different, and already I will say we're much more relaxed about the whole thing and having a lot more fun. Watch this space! :-)
Okay, that's all the news that's fit to print. Sorry for the delay, and I'll warn you that it will likely be the end of August before the next publication, as Sammy the Bull is traveling work work over the next 2 weeks. But hey - we'll get there when we get there, right?
Love,
Sam and Jenny
Love,
Sam and Jenny
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