Age of Lady Kaitlyn: 4 years, 9 months, 18 days
Age of Lady Cora: ONE YEAR!!!!!! And 9 days
Family,
And a good evening to you from the Queen City, where the Bull is frantically trying to ensure that he
stays on top of all the changes going on in this house. Much to cover on this holiday report out, so let's get amongst it, shall we?
stays on top of all the changes going on in this house. Much to cover on this holiday report out, so let's get amongst it, shall we?
December 2: So today was one for the ages - talk about packing it in! It all started with a 10 mile run for this guy, followed by a lunch for JT with the FH Kids team. After that it was over to the Highland Creek Clubhouse, where we had our annual visit with Santa! It was K's fifth installment, and she was pretty up front that she didn't want to go (actually told us that - who doesn't want to see Santa?!?!?!?!), and she CERTAINLY didn't want to dress in Christmas clothes for it. However, when I mentioned "no changing clothes = no sugar," she quickly got on board. :-)
So this was a big deal, as it was Cora's first visit to Santa. I am thrilled to report that, given how close they were to shutting down, there wasn't even a line for Santa! We were able to rock right in, at which point K told Santa what she wanted (Chubby Puppies and a Hatchimal), while Cora did what she does best - STARED BLANKLY AT THE MAN IN THE RED SUIT. Seriously, y'all - it was HILARIOUS - Cora just started straight at him and NEVER blinked! K was still shy and barely spoke above a whisper, but she did at least tell him what she wanted.
After that, it was the standard - sugar cookie, peppermint sugar stick, and hot chocolate (with marshmallows this time). K, as per standard when sugar was involved, was in Heaven. Cora loved crawling around the new space as well, and we managed to get a few really cute pics of them together. We also rode the train, and K even got her face painted (too cute) - she was a reindeer! 
After that, K headed over to Kate's 5th birthday party, which was a puppy-kitty party. K was again in Heaven, and when I picked her up, she informed me that she'd had cake, a cupcake, and a dog bone. They gave out sugar cookies as a treat, and she wanted that as well on the drive to church! Mercifully we put the kibosh on that one, but WOW - that kid had packed in the sugar. Seriously - you should have seen how wired she was running around and laughing that evening before bed.
On the Cora front, that girl had her own big day - SHE TOOK TWO STEPS AT THE CLUBHOUSE!!!!!! she was standing, and then she took two legit steps before collapsing in a heap. AMAZING!!!! I'd seen her fall toward people before, but these were legitimate steps. She is also standing GREAT now and is really controlling and balancing herself. It is only a matter of time, people - get ready...
12/3 - This was another really wonderful day, with Team Taylor rolling over to the Tacy's for a) lunch at their church, and then b) some quality down time at their house. The time at the church was hilarious, as Cora was ALL ABOUT chasing the vacuum cleaners as they worked the carpet! She chased the first one, and then she was so excited about 2 of them at the same time that she didn't even know where to start! Too cute.
Before we left, K and I played "memory" (we've got the little Classic Concentration tabs with Disney characters). I did beat K, but I was amazed by her memory - she did a GREAT job at remembering where things were and making matches. What was no so great was her attitude when I took the lead, and ultimately we didn't get to play again because she refused to accept that I won. Oh well, we'll get there...
The good news - for the last two days (and very noticeably at the Tacy's), K was GREAT about playing on her own. I have been shocked by the transformation - it's been really wonderful to see. And when I complimented her in the car about how proud I was of her newfound penchant for using her imagination and playing on her own, she thought pensively for a moment before saying, "Thank you" in a very clear voice. And after that, she was an angel for the rest of the night - SO nice.
One other funny note - lately I have been doing the "Fire Marshall Bill" face and laugh with the girls, and they both LOVE it. I mean, forget the fact that it KILLS my jaw to do it - even Cora laughs in the car when she hears it! Too funny.
12/4 - TT went to Kate's house today after preschool, where they played Sharkbite. As fate would
have it, it was apparently too scary for them, as the shark jumping up and biting the line was apparently quite terrifying. They made it through 2.5 rounds before calling it quits, after which time I feel fairly certain they played "kitty sister" (whatever that is). It was then over to the park and in bed early, with life being blissfully normal. Cora was very fussy during her feeds today and took longer than normal to settle for her naps. That being said, she was still pretty happy throughout the day - even if her nose is all snot crusted and cut from her Wolverine-style finger nails. Details...gotta be rough and tumble in this house!
12/5 - so let it be confirmed: K LOVES gymnastics!!!! She came back from this session (her second) raving about it. You can tell that she really likes the instructor (she calls him "gray boy" because he has gray hair - classic). Before class, she said, "the instructor calls me stinky girl!", which he actually doesn't, but she finds it hilarious to say. This girl... :-) But seriously - she loves the activities, loves her classmates, and really seems to enjoy the entire experience. It's AWESOME, and I am so happy for her.
12/7 - So the classic quote from today: I am bathing K, and while washing her bum I asked her (as I sometimes do), "Did you poop today?" Without missing a beat, she says, "Yeah, I pooped at Aldi. We were over by the bananas and I told mommy I had to go, and she said, 'Seriously?'" I was howling (as was JT when I related the story. Not sure if it's the smell of fresh food or what, but that girl has to poop EVERY TIME they go into Aldi - hilarious!
Also, K and I played "the memory game" today - that girl was AMAZING! Seriously, I was blown away by her retention and memory. It is SO EXCITING to see her memory in action, as I just know how much easier that will make her life down the road. I beat her, but she managed 15 matches! The one thing we will need to work on - she refuses to accept that she lost. However, when I said that "I won but you did an AMAZING job," she perked up considerably and suddenly had a big smile on her face.
12/8 - So today was a milestone for Cora - her first snow! It came out of NOWHERE, and boy was it a nasty (and cold) day. It didn't pour snow, but there was precipitation all day, and we did open the door so she could watch it fall (and listen to it when it was more ice than snow). Needless to say that was a pretty quiet day, and we ended up not going to NOMAD (which was my original plan). That being said, it was a good thing, as K had some nasty, crusty gunk around her ear on Thursday. We aren't sure if it's the beginnings of an infection or what, but to be safe we've gone ahead and pre-emotively starting putting drops in (which she HATES right now for some reason). Seriously - the tears being shed over these 4 little drops is mind blowing. That being said, I didn't realize that I put in too many on Thursday night, with the end result being a RESERVOIR of Ciprodex pooling up in her ear. #fatheroftheyearstrikesagain...
12/9 - So today started a WHIRLWIND of weekend activity for Team Taylor. I was up early and bagged 12.5 miles before Team Taylor shuffled off for the Leaders Lunch at church. K and Cora had a new sitter - Grace - and she was AWESOME. She's 17, and we really, really liked her. Her mom is K's current preschool teacher, and she volunteers with the kids at their church. She was super sweet, really good with K, and knew exactly what to do with those two kids. I think we've got a winner for future date nights...assuming there is one at some point in the next 3 months... :-)
After that it was over to the Miller's, where we had a great time relaxing and hanging out. AJ, Kaitlyn, and the Miller girls were great playing together, which really let the adults just chill (we had 4 adults for K, so between that and all the feeding I really didn't do much). It was just a lot of fun to relax and unwind after what had been a total whirlwind of a morning/early afternoon, and it was good to see the kids interact so well. K was obviously in Heaven, as she had a billion toys to play with. Also, she beat AJ at Candyland (and apparently he's unstoppable at that game), so that created quite the stir in the house. I have no lie to tell - I was proud of her and gave her the "thumbs high." :-)
K had the quote of the day before we left to go over there. She said, "Dada, do you know what I'm gonna do when I get to AJ's house?" We asked what, and she said, "I'm gonna rip his room apart." Um, WHAT?!?!?!!?! Honestly - what are they teaching her at this "faith based preschool?" :-) Juuuuuuust kidding. I really do love that place.
Some Cora notes to relate: first off, she is holding her bottle on her own now! She doesn't do it the whole time, but she can hold her bottle and actually feed herself. I was amazed, but the JT told me that she's been letting her do it in hopes of making the transition to the sippy cup easier. And on that note, I have to give JT SO MUCH CREDIT for the way she works with/plays with Cora. Seriously - she does SUCH a great job of playing with her, keeping her focused, pointing out things and naming them, etc. She has such a gift and is such a wonderful, natural mother. YOU ARE LUCKY, KID! Plus it's just so sweet to watch, and I absolutely love having a front row seat - especially when Kaitlyn is there as well and they are all playing, hugging, and laughing. Love my girls! They actually had a really cute moment back on Friday when they were all riding "Scout" in the foyer. Cora has been using Scout more as a walker, but on this day she really started climbing on top of it and sitting (with help, of course). Once there, JT started pushing her along, and Cora's smile was a mile wide).
Speaking of, she definitely is starting to to smile more now. Granted, when she's tired and/or hungry, she's still a handful and is fussy (and STALKS YOU in the kitchen while you try to prepare food). But more and more, we are seeing a sweet disposition that comes out when she's playing or when she hasn't seen you in awhile and then you enter a room. It should be noted that only sister and parents are getting smiles at this point - everyone else is still getting the cold shoulder. :-)
12/10 - So today was another really good one, starting with an INCREDIBLE church service and worship experience (read the Encounter Log for that update). After that (and a few tears because K and I had to change cars to drive home from church, resulting in separation anxiety from Twinkie), it was home for lunch, where we did have the hiccup of the day - an episode that will henceforth be known as the "silver truffle meltdown."
So here's the deal - on Saturday, the Church had given us each truffles (think cake balls) wrapping in different colors. K wanted a silver one, and told me to eat a silver one as well. I said sure, but Sunday while reading the flavors, I decided I wanted red (red velvet) vs. silver (oreo). Well, K got her ball and was eating it at lunch, but when she realized I was eating a red one, she EXPLODED. Y'all, I know it's gonna sound like I am exaggerating, but it was INSANE! Throwing stuffed animals. Stomping the floor. Screaming like a banshee. Crying real tears. Jerking the downstairs gate. Shouting "NO" at me. It was like the post Thanksgiving meltdown! I ended up a) spanking her twice, b) sending her to her room (where she slammed the door 7 times and tried to tear it off its hinges), c) taking some of her stuffed animals, d) taking the rest of her stuffed animals, e) threatening her with no more TV (which finally worked - gotta find that currency!). It was insane! I mean, if this girl is this crazy now, what is gonna happen when she hits puberty! Oh dear...I might look at getting a 1 bedroom apartment somewhere close to the house so I'll have sanctuary...
The good news - we did rebound, and later on that day I made good on a promise to take K swimming. She had actually been really excited about it all week, and I was keen to get her back in the water and see where she was at. I am thrilled to report that we swam HARD for an hour, and she did GREAT! Seriously - she probably did 400 yards or so, grinding laps "otter style" and even giving me a solid 25 free. I was thrilled to see so much endurance still there, and best of all - we really had fun doing it. K was clearly exhausted (she slept 12 straight hours that night), but we had fun, and I am hopefully that we can keep this going until summer/swim team season. I am under no illusion that I can improve her stroke, but I do hope that we can maintain a) a basic knowledge of freestyle at least and b) can keep her endurance at a reasonable level. She told me again that she doesn't like swim lessons, and I am fine to keep her out of them until spring (at least) if we can keep these up. Plus the alone time with her is great, so that's a nice plus.
Also, on the memory game tonight, K got 16 matches - a new record! I honestly thought she had me there for a bit - I have to go at it full tilt to beat that girl. That's what a daddy likes to see - it made me proud!
Two other moments to relate:
1. K's quote of the day: JT picked up some Cocoa puffs from Aldi last week, and K LOVES them (same with Lucky Charms). Before we'll give her any for breakfast, however, she has to eat some fruit first. But the classic moment was at 7 AM when I asked what she wanted for brekkie: "I want little balls of chocolate for breakfast." Niiiiiiiiice - parents of the year.
2. Cora is really starting to imitate what we do now! She's waving all the time (which is super cute - especially when it's timed right), pointing a lot, and she's clapping when we clap. We applaud her when she does it, and you can tell she loves the positive feedback and attention. That little personality continues to come out!
12/12 - So today started a little rocky, as Kaitlyn just suddenly started crying at the breakfast table before I left. It came out of nowhere, but it highlights something I've noticed, which is that she's been exceptionally emotional lately. Perhaps it's sickness, exhaustion, or something else, but we've seen it on several occasions lately (the most noticeable is when she's crying about missing Sweetie Pie, mom's cat). She has cried on multiple occasions about that, just suddenly tearing up (we are talking real tears here, people) and saying, "I miss Sweetie Pie!" before bursting into sobs. She LOVED the fact that Sweetie Pie slept in her room, and you can tell she wants that again SO badly.
Kate came over after preschool, and then they went to gymnastics, which she again LOVED! They worked on the balance beam and did a "snow ball fight" with the foam pit blocks, both of which she really enjoyed. I am so happy that she's loving the class. She really enjoyed Dance Camp as well, but to me this is the first time she's really enjoyed something at a level where you can see her excitement. Several times this week she demonstrated one of the moves she learned there - sizzle and pop (think "bend and snap" from Legally Blonde :-)). It's super cute, and I love that she's enjoying it.
The highlight of the night was K singing "Away in a Manger" - complete with arm movements! It was SO CUTE, and YES - I did get it on video.
On the Cora front, that girl has started blowing kisses now!!! I had noticed her slapping her mouth with the palm of her hand previously, but it wasn't until I heard JT say "are you blowing kisses" that I realized she's really doing it! So we've got kiss blowing, hand waving, and lots of pointing at this point. She's also become a master page turner (especially on the Little Quack books), and is fond of doing a hiss/snort thing all the time. Still no words yet, but you can tell that she is close. In fact, I feel I'm starting to see a flicker of recognition when Jenny says certain words (and JT has been GREAT about naming everything she touches). Cora actually started handing me things tonight at the last bottle feed, which was really cute. She thought it was a game, and so we went back and forth with that. Growing up!
12/13 - So today was a LONG day, as both girls were up before 6 AM. Cora woke up at 5:50, and we think that woke up Kaitlyn, who climbed into our bed at 5:55. She climbed in and said, "I'm scared of skeletons, dada. There are skeletons in my room." I actually went into her room, turned on the night light, and showed her that there were, in fact, no skeletons. She has said that she's afraid of the dark from time to time, but she won't sleep with her night light on because we never sleep with a night light. However, after a few stories about skeletons scratching her in her bed, I am thinking she will start to keep her night light on (she is using it tonight as I type this).
Unfortunately she was a tyrant at the Peds today, where he behavior was so bad that it cost her a show. The good news - no infection (despite continued coughing - it's honestly been since September!), but apparently that stop and the trip to Aldi were anything but pleasant for JT (but at least Cora was good :-)).
The cute moments: Kaitlyn wrote her first ever letter to Santa today! It is really cute - she wrote what she wanted (I only helped with 1 letter) and signed her name, and then she wrote the address on the front of the card and sealed it. She got to put it in the mailbox (which we later took out, as I'm going to keep it hidden and then eventually put it in her baby book), and she really did seem quite excited about doing it. It's interesting, as it's really the first time that she's seemed that excited about Santa. To date, she's not been overly interested in him or even in what he will bring. I am thinking she talked about it with Kate, and that in turn piqued her interest.
On the Cora front, she was good today and even started wedging the letters into this little alphabet tool she's got. She is starting to piece stuff together, and it's really, really cool to watch. Her hair is also growing out some now - I absolutely love it when we bathe her and she has that post-bath bed head. Too cute!
12/15 - So some big milestones for the Nugget today. First off - she had bread for the first time! JT put some avocado on wheat toast, and Cora LOVED it. Seriously - that girl couldn't get enough! What can I say - my girls love their carbs...just like their parents. :-)
Another big milestone - Cora at the last of her frozen cubes! At this point, she's pretty much eating whatever we're eating, which is really exciting. They are growing up so fast!
The day was tough when JT was leaving for Raleigh, as K started bawling because I wasn't coming. It's honestly been a meltdown a day lately - yesterday she started bawling when I headed out to go Uptown for work. She was trying to talk through her sobs, saying, "Bye, dada! Have fun at work!" I don't have a diagnosis for what's causing it, but January should bring a return to normalcy. Hopefully that schedule and consistent routine will help get things back to homeostasis. Watch this space! :-)
12/18 - It's the week that Cora turns 1! Poor Cora is definitely fighting some kind of infection. Her nose was so crusty this morning that she couldn't breathe. Thankfully JT is a MASTER with the saline and the snot sucker - otherwise poor Cora wouldn't be able to breathe at all while sleeping. She is super congested and is coughing, but her temperature hasn't really spiked much (she had a fever on Sunday I think in Raleigh but hasn't had one since). The good news is that she's still eating well and has been able to eat her bottles, so she's breathing ok as long as JT cleans her out periodically. All I can say is BEST WIFE AND MOM EVER!
12/19 - Today was the Christmas pre-school party at UCUMC. K loved it (had two slices of pizza and all the sugar you can handle, bro!), and I even made it in time to hear them sing their Christmas carols. They did "Away in a Manger," "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," "Jingle bells," and "Happy Birthday to Jesus" - all super cute. K had been practicing the first two at home, so we knew she had those down cold. However, she was shy in front of the crowd, and she was barely singing (her tongue was out like she normally does when she's feeling shy). That being said, she was still super adorable!
12/20 - Today was the start of Christmas break for K, and she started with a bang - a Christmas party at Kate's house! They did a little "funky sock stocking exchange," and it sounds like the girls had a really fun time. I have to give Cheryl credit - that gal thinks of fun stuff like this all the time. I am impressed!
Today was exciting for another reason - the new Team Taylor Stockings arrived! That's right, sports fans - we now finally have matching stockings for the whole family and finally have stockings with the girls' names on them. YAY! Jenny had been wanting these for awhile, and when we learned about a sale at Pottery Barn, well...had to have it! :-) Seriously - they are super cute, and we really are glad that we've finally got a matching set on the mantle.
12/21 - Today was AWESOME! JT and K went to NOMAD in the morning while I worked and Cora slept. The afternoon was even more fun, as the girls went over to Taylie's house (Ms. Teresa) to bake cookies (and brownies :-))! Kaitlyn was SO excited - especially to play in Taylie's room. In fact, the girls actually spent more time playing upstairs than baking, but it sounds like the mommies didn't mind.
In the evening we crossed off another Christmas "must do" - looking at the lights in Highland Creek! K got her "traditional annual cup of cocoa," and then we rolled out to check out the neighborhoods. The lights were really, really good this year, and we saw some great ones. Cora was really good throughout the whole thing, and we spent over an hour checking out several of the neighborhoods. We ideally want to see some more the week after Christmas, but in the event we don't pull that off, it's great to know that we at least saw the award winners from the annual light festival (some of them were AMAZING!).
12/22 - A day for the books (in many ways), but most importantly - THE NUGGET IS ONE!!!!! That's right, sports fans - Cora hit the 365 day mark at 2:23 AM on this day (happily all were asleep this time) :-). We didn't do any big celebrations on this day (lesson learned from previous parties), and it was just SO nice. We got the chance to just enjoy the Nugget as a family, playing and relaxing a bit in the morning. Cora was in really, really good spirits - it's amazing how much more she's suddenly started smiling. I'm not sure if it's just finally clearing some illness, teething, and all her original reflux issues, but she's been really, really happy lately! I have definitely noticed a change in her personality - especially when she wakes up and you walk into her room. She's all smiles!
She is really starting to cruise along furniture now - WAY faster than before. The one catch: she tends to cross her feet when she walks (vs. shuffling), and she is rather prone to tripping over her feet (resulting in an almost daily THUD when her head hits the hardwood). The good news is that she rebounds quickly, but it has worried Jenny to no end. Nugget - you definitely kept your mommy's blood pressure elevated as you learned how to walk! But she was always there to scoop you up and comfort you, making sure that you were ok (and checking your pupils to ensure you weren't concussed :-)).
Now all that was the fun part of the day. The rest of the story - today was the single WORST DAY OF BEHAVIOR FOR KAITLYN EVER. Honestly, y'all - I have never seen anything like it (in our child or anyone else's), and I really hope I never do again.
Some back story here - things had been building where K had tried to push our buttons, largely in the form of trying to control us and making us do everything (I want mommy to read the story, I want daddy to sit here, I don't want you to sing while we look at lights, etc.). We both had noticed it, but I didn't think it was anything too a) out of balance or b) worthy of discipline. In fact, I think I probably lied to myself thinking that she just really, really wanted to be near us all the time. However, when Jenny told me that K had told Kate earlier that week, "I can do whatever I want at home," I started to piece two and two together. And then when I found out she touched the Elf on the Shelf specifically after being told not to touch it (because apparently it would die - this happened at Taylie's), I realized that she was starting to believe that rules didn't really apply to her. Add in her attitude when playing games, and the Team Taylor adults agreed it was time to bring things in line. The good news - K has really been an angel again since this day (it's like we have our daughter back), but MAN - talk about a day of days to right the ship.
I don't want to go into excruciating detail about this day, so I'll give you the highlights. 1. K refused to say please for anything, even when asked. 2. K disagreed with EVERYTHING Jenny and I said throughout the day. 3. She whined constantly and willfully disobeyed/refused to do anything asked of her. It came to a head early when she refused to say please for a tissue in the car on the way to Chik-fil-A. After finally saying please and then saying to Jenny, "I didn't say please," JT did the right thing - took away K's ice cream at CFA. This is a big deal, as she ALWAYS gets it, and obviously K didn't think JT was serious. So much so that, after about the 70th time asking JT if she could have ice cream, JT took her into the bathroom kicking and screaming and busted her tail.
Fast forward to the afternoon, when K and I had a pre-planned swim date to do stroke work. Well, she was a tyrant there - refused to get into the water, refused to pick a pool (warm or cold), refused to swim, you name it. I actually had to put her in time out on a bench, at which point she started SCREAMING AT ME. So I had to bust her tail. When she continued screaming, I had to then bust her tail again, put her under my arm, and drag her DRIPPING WET into the parking lot (I was soaked and shirtless - it was quite the scene).
K then screamed repeatedly in the car, telling me I was rude and shrieking loud enough to break the sound barrier. This continued for a good hour, and by the end of it we had taken:
1. Her TV for the rest of the night
2. Her ice cream at CFA (already mentioned)
3. Her TV for the following day (morning and evening)
4. Her swim time with daddy (already mentioned)
5. Twink
6. All other animals in her room
7. The planned activity of walking around the neighborhood to look at lights
8. The plan
She did eventually calm down (we had to leave her outside to finish screaming until we got worried about pneumonia given that she was still in her bathing suit - initially she'd refused to come inside).
Simply put - it was horrible. I went to bed that night wondering where my kid was an how long this was going to go on. Fortunately, God blessed us with a reset, and it's been SO much better since then.
12/23 - Nole Nana and Grandpa visited today, ask we had a GREAT little visit. They had gifts for us and the girls, and K especially loved this little Melissa & Doug clock they bought her. She's been playing with it a lot, practicing the hour hand and the minute hand and truly learning how to tell time. It's been cool to watch, and it's a great, practical gift for her. Now we just have to keep the nugget from eating the blocks that have the hours on them...
But even better than an early Christmas celebration was Cora's "official" first birthday party! So, as mentioned previously - we didn't want a huge to-do, as we really wanted to enjoy the moment, get some pics, and hang out with Buke and the family. So, we did the smart thing - simplified. Instead of a massive cake, we did a single cupcake. Instead of tons of people, we had just family. And instead of a big production, we tried to make it simple and focused on Cora. She was GREAT - all smiles throughout the day (and SUPER CUTE IN HER OUTFIT!). And of course...she LOVED the cupcake. At first she had no idea what to do with it, but once she got that first taste of sugar, she figured it out rather quickly. :-) Seriously, her smiles were infectious, and it was just perfect. We even used the "1" candle from GMT's 100th birthday celebration, which was a very sweet, personal moment for me.
That evening we went to Freedom House for a "Very Queen City Christmas," which was a WHOLE NEW ADVENTURE with the two of them! Last year we'd just been released from the hospital, and it was just me and K who made it over. This time, however, all 4 of us made the trip, and it was quite the juggling act.
Don't get me wrong, they do a GREAT service - great music, a terrific message, lots of stuff for the kids. It's just a LOT to try and juggle - kids holding candles (open flames!), loud music (luckily the Williams clan had their noise reducing headphones, as K did say it was too loud), lots of sugar (cookies and peppermint sticks to open), and even hot cocoa to a) cool down and b) keep from spilling. That being said, it really was wonderful, and we got some great pics with Santa on his sleigh. :-) We also got to do the carriage ride, eat some yummy treats, and visit the petting zoo, where K was IN HEAVEN. Seriously - that girl spent probably 20 minutes in there feeding donkeys and sheep (the camel was having none of it). At first she didn't know what to do with the feed (she took two handfuls and just dumped it into the cage). But then, when she realized that the animals would take it out of her hand, she was in 7th Heaven. It was too cute, and she LOVED it.
12/24 - Christmas Eve! Holy Moly, where did this year go? It was a fun day for many reasons, starting with the Sweet Spot for breakfast! We were worried when we arrived to find a note on the board outside stating that computers were down and cash was appreciated, but as it turns out, we rolled in just in time, as we got great service and didn't even have to pay tax on our meal! Thank you, Father!
The morning was great - JT and I traded serves at Freedom House in the AM, and during my shift at home I learned the art of "bumper balls" with Kaitlyn. This is essentially a loud, destructive game where you try and roll hard plastic balls toward each other. Inside each ball was a flip-a-zoo (courtesy of Nole Nana from yesterday), and so they would go flying when the balls collided. K enjoyed it immensely, and I had fun as well. Honestly, it was just SO NICE to have her back to normal and playing, so I was soaking up every second of it.
The highlight of the day was the afternoon, as we rolled over to the Williams House for their annual Italian Christmas Eve shindig! We had a really nice time there, spending about 2.5 hours eating, laughing, and relaxing. Cora was great - she ate for almost an hour straight, and when she wasn't in the high chair, she was either being held or playing with magnets in the kitchen. K was running around with Ryann and the other kids (she made some new friends), so she was obviously in Heaven as well. And when you add in all the food and the sweets? Well, yeah - it was pretty much the greatest night ever. She got to watch part of Trolls upstairs with the kids, ate pizza, ate Mac 'n Cheese, and even managed two chocolate dipped double-stuffed Oreos (which we just happened to see - she didn't ask first :-)). It was classic: JT said, "You didn't ask mommy and daddy if you could have these." K: "Ryann has two." Quality. :-)
But some good news on the independence front to report. When I asked K what color plate she wanted (red or green), she said, "Whatever Ryann has." I said I that I didn't know what color she had but that it didn't matter. K actually left it at that (previously she would have fought), and then she really did pick the food she wanted. She then went outside and wanted to sit by Ry, but there was already someone there. I placed K's food at another spot and told her that she had to figure it out, and for the first time ever - she actually did and didn't cry! Hey, I realize these sound like small things, but they were HUGE lifts to me. Way to go, kiddo!
We ended the night by tossing some reindeer food out into the front lawn (luckily it was an activity at the party, and each kid had a little bag), and then it was off to bed (sans baths) for the tiddlywinks. It was funny - when K got into the car, she suddenly got SO EXCITED about Santa. I have always found it interesting, as she's never really seemed to interested/excited in a) visiting Santa, b) talking about Santa, c) learning about reindeer, d) asking questions about how it all works, etc. In this last hour, however, she kept saying that she was SO EXCITED and just POUNDED me with questions: How do the reindeer know where to land? How does Santa get in? Why does he eat the cookies? It was so funny! But it was GREAT to see this huge rush of excitement. And then the funniest part - before bed she said, "I'm so excited to see what Santa brought me tomorrow and open Sharkbite!" I mean, it's the ONE THING we didn't get her on her list, and it's what she's specifically referenced like 35 times at this point. Oh well - so it goes!
12/25 - MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!! Team Taylor had a little interloper jump into bed with us at 6:55 this morning, climb under the covers, put her head on my pillow, and ask, "When are we going down to open presents?" It was super cute, and it actually worked out well because we had a good 30+ minutes with just Kaitlyn while she opened her gifts before Buke woke up. K LOVED her bike! That was really, really great to see, as it was definitely better received than the balance bike. :-) She was riding it throughout the house all morning and really seemed to enjoy it - SO EXCITED! And while Santa also gave her a Chubby Puppy, the highlight was unquestionably the little pack of Hatchimals. HOLY MOLY, this girl is now OBSESSED WITH THEM! Seriously - she just LOVES them: hatching them out of the egg, their colors, their sizes, etc. She has a checklist and is diligently marking them off as she goes - too cute! In fact, she likes them so much that she looked at me mid-morning and said, "Dada, next year I only want hatchimals from Santa." Too funny!
One other big note - Vol Nana and Grand Pooh got her a tablet - her first ever! Needless to say, that puppy has gotten TONS of use so far. We didn't really even regulate it on Christmas Day, as she was in Heaven bouncing between playing Shopkins Run, Sonic Dash, and then hatching hatchimals. It was just too cute. And I will confess that even I am enjoying some of the games on her new tablet. But shhhhhh...don't tell anybody. It's just so crazy to look down, see the SEGA logo, and then watch Sonic take off running - talk about an inter-generational character! I would LOVE to find my Sega Genesis and see if it still works. Good times...
The day was lazy and perfect. We hung some pictures (which we'd been meaning to do for over a YEAR), got caught up on some stuff, and just generally had a GREAT day. We didn't get out of our PJs, watched some football, played with the kids, and just loved being a family. My batteries have really recharged since the Friday meltdown, and I am in such a good place right now. We've had really good quality time with both kids, and that has been wonderful.
And just like that - another Christmas is in the books. It's funny, but I still get a little sentimental on Christmas night (I trace this all the way back to when I lived on Cain Mill). I make it a point to stop and stare at the tree with all the lights in the house off except those glowing on its branches. Since having a staircase in view of it, I have traditionally just stopped, turned back, and looked at it for a moment, reflecting on the Christmas season and life in general. Some of it is knowing that the tree has now "served its purpose" and will soon come down, a new year ready to kick off. Some of it is just taking that final moment to save the Christmas Day and all the goodness that came with it - food, sweets, presents, smiles, laughter, relaxation. But I know what a part of it is, and it's the most somber part. In that moment, I realize how amazing life is, how truly incredible every day is, and I look at that tree wondering how many more times I'll stare at it on Christmas night before I shuffle off this mortal coil. I know that sounds odd, but those of you that know me know that the week leading up to New Years is always very quiet, reserved, and introspective for me, and now as a father of two I think it's truer than ever.
My 2018 goal/mission is to live life intentionally - having purpose in every single thing I do. And while it may sound silly to some, being intentional about Christmas is very high on that list. I want to make it more about a) the reason for the season and b) the experience vs. just about the gifts and the sweets. I want to spend more time with the lights, walking around the neighborhood, baking, decorating, reading the Christmas story, purging the house to give to others, volunteering, and several other things. To do that, I will have to be more planful to ensure that the season doesn't "sneak up" on me. I am confident I can do that, and I've already started writing out the "2018 intentional plan by month" to get me in the right mindset.
12/26 - Happy Boxing Day! The day started with Cora's 1 year appointment, where everything checked out great. We got some tips for the next 3 months (until her next appointment), and everything looked good! She was 21 lbs, 2 oz - 70th percentile in weight, 40th percentile in head circumference, and 35th percentile in height - solid kid right there! :-) Dr. Knutson said that the next big goal (other than walking) was speech, as Cora should ideally have 3-5 words other than mommy and daddy by the time she's 15 months. We were pleased to report that Nugget was already on whole milk, and we'd by and large already dropped the morning bottle. We are SO CLOSE to being done with the last tin of formula (we usually put two ounces of it in with the whole milk at night) - it won't see the new year!
Poor little nugget did get 3 shots (vaccines) and a finger prick. JT said she was a rock star (the little bandaids on her chunker legs were so cute), and the only time she really fussed was the pin prick, as it took something like three minutes to milk enough blood out. Tough as nails, this one!
So the "best week ever" for Kaitlyn continued in roaring form this week, as she did something she's never done before - went to Toys R Us with her OWN MONEY for a shopping spree! She rocked in with $50, and JT said that it was so cute to watch her in action. She apparently was of a one track mind, and her plan was to search for only one thing - HATCHIMALS! Sure enough, she was a thrifty little shopper, securing 2 packs of mini-hatchimals, 1 puzzle (of a hatchimal...with a hatcnhimal included), and then a new game - Tumblin' Monkeys (which is SUPER CUTE - we have played it a ton since she brought it home). K had a blast doing the shopping, and JT said that she was super good the whole time. They actually ended up making a FULL day of it, hitting EIGHT SHOPS before coming home. Talk about an epic run! They even managed to pick up a pair of leotards for K's gymnastics class. JT was really excited about this (as was K obviously), as to date our daughter had been the only one without a leotard. Movin' on up!
Oh, and the quote of the day from K: "I am going to call you forgetting mommy because you always forget something. I am going to call you autopilot daddy because you always start to drive before I'm clipped in." Nice. And to be CLEAR - that has only happened a few times, and it's ALWAYS before we really get rolling!
12/27 - In yet another glorious day for Team Taylor (and especially K), she and JT hit the mall today, where they did some more shopping (5 shops), rode the carousel, and even had pizza in the food court. In the afternoon we hit NOMAD for swimming, where I am THRILLED to report that we had a tremendous turnaround when compared to last Friday. K swam GREAT - no stroke work, but she tried to dive and even did 35+ minutes in the cold pool! We had a lot of fun, tons of laughs, and got some really good exercise in. She saw Mr. Brandyn, and that really made her want to show out. She saw him in the locker room and gave him a big hug - it was cute. Oh, and the cutest part: she popped up after completing a lap and noticed the HCTC sign (it has a big yellow jacket on it). Without missing a beat she said, "Look, dada! Russellville Hornet!" Granddaddy would have been so proud (and the logo really did look similar - full marks, kid!). :-)
K did say that, after this day, she was tired of shopping. Her quote: "I don't want to go to any more stores. I just want to stay at home and stare at Cora." Hilarious! No rest for the weary, however, as tomorrow is another full slate!
12/28 - In keeping with the best week/busiest week ever theme for our oldest, today it was off to Emmi's house for a play date. They had a lot of fun (I didn't get many details except for a bit about Emmi piling kitties on top of her - the stuffed kind, of course :-)), and then the afternoon featured a trip to the library, where K piled up FOURTEEN BOOKS! The good news - we have been reading them non-stop, so she clearly did want them. They have actually been a life saver for me, as I was desperate for some new material (not that there's anything wrong with "Make Way for Ducklings" or "Bear Says Thanks" - it was just getting tough to constantly come up with "funny words" in those stories...). Actually, that reminds me - have I told you about "saying funny words" during story time? Essentially, I have to change around the names, change around places, come up with different rhymes, etc - you name it - to keep the stories fresh and interesting. It's not too difficult the first 20 times, but this girl has a mind like a steel trap, and so constantly keeping it fresh has become a REAL challenge. The same is true of the plan - I am well and truly out of ideas at this point (especially since she's always entering the room behind JT while I start to lay stuff out).
12/29 - So we kept the party going today, with JT and K heading to Chic-fil-a to complete "best week ever." I am happy to report that ice cream was consumed this time, and all involved were very well behaved. K played good on the playground, and she came back in very good spirits.
Dad and company rolled in about 2:30, and after that the weekend commenced in earnest. K had been standing by the door waiting to see their car, so imagine her elation when they rolled into the cul-de-sac. We hit NoDa Brewing that afternoon, where we watched some football (the Belk Bowl was on), had some good beer, and K played on both her tablet and granny A's tablet.
As a tablet update - K LOVES that thing. WOW - I mean, I remember loving my Nintendo, but it's just incredible how much she loves that puppy. If we can ever get the weather warmer, I really, really, really, really want to take her out for a bike ride. However, when it's NINE DEGREES (that's right - it was NINE this morning), indoor activities are pretty much a requirement. But what I will say, when you simply substitute the tablet for TV, I actually like the tablet better, as she's learning how to figure things out, learning hand/eye coordination, and selfishly - I definitely get a little time to myself when she's locked in on that puppy. What I will say - I am LOVING watching her play the Shopkins Run and also Sonic Dash - I can't believe that Sonic is still around! There is even a Sonic 2 (which we've also downloaded) which features a pink, female hedgehog named Amy (pretty cute - K loves it), and we spend a lot of time with the dash-o-meter, the "You're History" guy, and the "Bad Star Guy" ( who is going to "beat you like a drum").
K had Granny A, Granddaddy, and Aunt Pattie to play with (as well as us, snacks, and her tablet), so she was in HEAVEN. She did ask when we were going to open presents, and we promised the following morning. :-) It was a great night and a wonderful week - talk about making it count!
12/30 - Another great day in the books! I started the day with my last long run before the Frosty 50, and then after showers we dove into presents - and made out like bandits! Seriously - it was a lot of fun, and K was on cloud 9. Alice had made her this adorable My Little Pony beanie, and she looked too cute! She also racked up on clothes, shoes, toys, and games (shocking, I know), as did Buke!
We did lunch at 3 Amigos before a day of hitting various and sundry places (201, Lindsey's house to pick up a Christmas tree, Goodwill, etc). It was interesting to watch K, as the poor girl was SO CONFLICTED about whether to go with Granny A and mommy or stay with Daddy, Aunt Pattie, and Granddaddy - she even started crying! I think she was tired of shopping but simply couldn't stand the thought of not being with Alice while she was here. Poor little thing! Luckily, Buke did not have that problem and slept like a charm on Saturday.
We even made it to 26 Acre Brewing, where K enjoyed herself with treats, games, and popcorn...as well as the Smurf movie on Alice's tablet. Alice bought her the noise reducing headphones (with Troll hair on them), so she was again happy as a clam. K knew the troll on the headphones (I had no idea - some dude named Diamond), and she has actually requested that I start a) calling her Princess Poppy and b) stop telling her that she's silly (since apparently she's a big girl now and no longer is ever silly).
Everyone crashed hard that night, and Pattie earned the honor of reading to K!
12/31 - So this day was a whirlwind of EPIC proportions! Jenny and Dad's crew were both out the door about 9. JT was headed to the Peach Bowl (free seats in the box!), and dad & Co wanted to head home for New Year's Eve festivities. That left me, the Goose, and the Nugget in town on a day that had a wind chill of 21 degrees. Now normally you would probably suggest we just make a day inside, but that was NOT to be this go-around. Why, you ask? Because we had a wedding to get to. And the kicker - it was an outdoor wedding!
That's right, sports fans -
"Uncle Mark and Aunt Christine" officially tied the knot on New
Years, and I was there with the girls (as well as the Newcomb clan). It
was BONE CHILLING cold, and I had the kids wrapped up in everything I could
find! Seriously - Cora was okay, as she had 2 layers of shirt, two
blankets, a beanie, and was inside the stroller shell. The poor Sneetch,
however, was absolutely freezing because she just had one layer of pants on.
Poor thing!
At one point, she had 3
layers on to, a hospital blanket around her legs, her beanie, and was standing
against a wall to block the wind. That didn't help, however, and she told
me more than once "dada, I am really cold." Mark even gave her
his jacket for a bit, but it was too heavy (it weighed about what she did :-)).
The good news - once I gave her some food, her spirits brightened
considerably. Luckily we were only out there for 30 min before we rolled
over to Craft, where K's tablet was an absolute LIFE SAVER (thank you, Vol
Nana!). I had to feed Buke (that girl SUCKED DOWN some pouches), and then
I fed K some yummy flatbread. K wanted to go say hi to Sara, but she was
just too shy. However, when they both sat down side by side to play their
tablets, K was in Heaven. I mean, ignore the fact that they weren't
interacting - K just wanted to be near her. Too cute.
It was then back home,
where I informed K that, starting tomorrow, her daily chores would start in
earnest! Now, you might think that this bit of information would cause pain
or consternation to a young child. However, when you tell them that the
reward for good work Sun-Fri is an extra hour of tablet time on Saturday, you
get one happy camper (it's 10 minutes per day during the week for those 6 days
- no chores on Saturday). K even asked "Can we do some chores
tomorrow, dada?" LOVE IT! We have FOUND the currency!
12/3 - This was another really wonderful day, with Team Taylor rolling over to the Tacy's for a) lunch at their church, and then b) some quality down time at their house. The time at the church was hilarious, as Cora was ALL ABOUT chasing the vacuum cleaners as they worked the carpet! She chased the first one, and then she was so excited about 2 of them at the same time that she didn't even know where to start! Too cute. 
Before we left, K and I played "memory" (we've got the little Classic Concentration tabs with Disney characters). I did beat K, but I was amazed by her memory - she did a GREAT job at remembering where things were and making matches. What was no so great was her attitude when I took the lead, and ultimately we didn't get to play again because she refused to accept that I won. Oh well, we'll get there...The good news - for the last two days (and very noticeably at the Tacy's), K was GREAT about playing on her own. I have been shocked by the transformation - it's been really wonderful to see. And when I complimented her in the car about how proud I was of her newfound penchant for using her imagination and playing on her own, she thought pensively for a moment before saying, "Thank you" in a very clear voice. And after that, she was an angel for the rest of the night - SO nice.
One other funny note - lately I have been doing the "Fire Marshall Bill" face and laugh with the girls, and they both LOVE it. I mean, forget the fact that it KILLS my jaw to do it - even Cora laughs in the car when she hears it! Too funny.
12/4 - TT went to Kate's house today after preschool, where they played Sharkbite. As fate would
12/5 - so let it be confirmed: K LOVES gymnastics!!!! She came back from this session (her second) raving about it. You can tell that she really likes the instructor (she calls him "gray boy" because he has gray hair - classic). Before class, she said, "the instructor calls me stinky girl!", which he actually doesn't, but she finds it hilarious to say. This girl... :-) But seriously - she loves the activities, loves her classmates, and really seems to enjoy the entire experience. It's AWESOME, and I am so happy for her.
12/7 - So the classic quote from today: I am bathing K, and while washing her bum I asked her (as I sometimes do), "Did you poop today?" Without missing a beat, she says, "Yeah, I pooped at Aldi. We were over by the bananas and I told mommy I had to go, and she said, 'Seriously?'" I was howling (as was JT when I related the story. Not sure if it's the smell of fresh food or what, but that girl has to poop EVERY TIME they go into Aldi - hilarious!
Also, K and I played "the memory game" today - that girl was AMAZING! Seriously, I was blown away by her retention and memory. It is SO EXCITING to see her memory in action, as I just know how much easier that will make her life down the road. I beat her, but she managed 15 matches! The one thing we will need to work on - she refuses to accept that she lost. However, when I said that "I won but you did an AMAZING job," she perked up considerably and suddenly had a big smile on her face. 12/8 - So today was a milestone for Cora - her first snow! It came out of NOWHERE, and boy was it a nasty (and cold) day. It didn't pour snow, but there was precipitation all day, and we did open the door so she could watch it fall (and listen to it when it was more ice than snow). Needless to say that was a pretty quiet day, and we ended up not going to NOMAD (which was my original plan). That being said, it was a good thing, as K had some nasty, crusty gunk around her ear on Thursday. We aren't sure if it's the beginnings of an infection or what, but to be safe we've gone ahead and pre-emotively starting putting drops in (which she HATES right now for some reason). Seriously - the tears being shed over these 4 little drops is mind blowing. That being said, I didn't realize that I put in too many on Thursday night, with the end result being a RESERVOIR of Ciprodex pooling up in her ear. #fatheroftheyearstrikesagain...
12/9 - So today started a WHIRLWIND of weekend activity for Team Taylor. I was up early and bagged 12.5 miles before Team Taylor shuffled off for the Leaders Lunch at church. K and Cora had a new sitter - Grace - and she was AWESOME. She's 17, and we really, really liked her. Her mom is K's current preschool teacher, and she volunteers with the kids at their church. She was super sweet, really good with K, and knew exactly what to do with those two kids. I think we've got a winner for future date nights...assuming there is one at some point in the next 3 months... :-)After that it was over to the Miller's, where we had a great time relaxing and hanging out. AJ, Kaitlyn, and the Miller girls were great playing together, which really let the adults just chill (we had 4 adults for K, so between that and all the feeding I really didn't do much). It was just a lot of fun to relax and unwind after what had been a total whirlwind of a morning/early afternoon, and it was good to see the kids interact so well. K was obviously in Heaven, as she had a billion toys to play with. Also, she beat AJ at Candyland (and apparently he's unstoppable at that game), so that created quite the stir in the house. I have no lie to tell - I was proud of her and gave her the "thumbs high." :-)
K had the quote of the day before we left to go over there. She said, "Dada, do you know what I'm gonna do when I get to AJ's house?" We asked what, and she said, "I'm gonna rip his room apart." Um, WHAT?!?!?!!?! Honestly - what are they teaching her at this "faith based preschool?" :-) Juuuuuuust kidding. I really do love that place.
Some Cora notes to relate: first off, she is holding her bottle on her own now! She doesn't do it the whole time, but she can hold her bottle and actually feed herself. I was amazed, but the JT told me that she's been letting her do it in hopes of making the transition to the sippy cup easier. And on that note, I have to give JT SO MUCH CREDIT for the way she works with/plays with Cora. Seriously - she does SUCH a great job of playing with her, keeping her focused, pointing out things and naming them, etc. She has such a gift and is such a wonderful, natural mother. YOU ARE LUCKY, KID! Plus it's just so sweet to watch, and I absolutely love having a front row seat - especially when Kaitlyn is there as well and they are all playing, hugging, and laughing. Love my girls! They actually had a really cute moment back on Friday when they were all riding "Scout" in the foyer. Cora has been using Scout more as a walker, but on this day she really started climbing on top of it and sitting (with help, of course). Once there, JT started pushing her along, and Cora's smile was a mile wide).
Speaking of, she definitely is starting to to smile more now. Granted, when she's tired and/or hungry, she's still a handful and is fussy (and STALKS YOU in the kitchen while you try to prepare food). But more and more, we are seeing a sweet disposition that comes out when she's playing or when she hasn't seen you in awhile and then you enter a room. It should be noted that only sister and parents are getting smiles at this point - everyone else is still getting the cold shoulder. :-)
12/10 - So today was another really good one, starting with an INCREDIBLE church service and worship experience (read the Encounter Log for that update). After that (and a few tears because K and I had to change cars to drive home from church, resulting in separation anxiety from Twinkie), it was home for lunch, where we did have the hiccup of the day - an episode that will henceforth be known as the "silver truffle meltdown."
So here's the deal - on Saturday, the Church had given us each truffles (think cake balls) wrapping in different colors. K wanted a silver one, and told me to eat a silver one as well. I said sure, but Sunday while reading the flavors, I decided I wanted red (red velvet) vs. silver (oreo). Well, K got her ball and was eating it at lunch, but when she realized I was eating a red one, she EXPLODED. Y'all, I know it's gonna sound like I am exaggerating, but it was INSANE! Throwing stuffed animals. Stomping the floor. Screaming like a banshee. Crying real tears. Jerking the downstairs gate. Shouting "NO" at me. It was like the post Thanksgiving meltdown! I ended up a) spanking her twice, b) sending her to her room (where she slammed the door 7 times and tried to tear it off its hinges), c) taking some of her stuffed animals, d) taking the rest of her stuffed animals, e) threatening her with no more TV (which finally worked - gotta find that currency!). It was insane! I mean, if this girl is this crazy now, what is gonna happen when she hits puberty! Oh dear...I might look at getting a 1 bedroom apartment somewhere close to the house so I'll have sanctuary...
The good news - we did rebound, and later on that day I made good on a promise to take K swimming. She had actually been really excited about it all week, and I was keen to get her back in the water and see where she was at. I am thrilled to report that we swam HARD for an hour, and she did GREAT! Seriously - she probably did 400 yards or so, grinding laps "otter style" and even giving me a solid 25 free. I was thrilled to see so much endurance still there, and best of all - we really had fun doing it. K was clearly exhausted (she slept 12 straight hours that night), but we had fun, and I am hopefully that we can keep this going until summer/swim team season. I am under no illusion that I can improve her stroke, but I do hope that we can maintain a) a basic knowledge of freestyle at least and b) can keep her endurance at a reasonable level. She told me again that she doesn't like swim lessons, and I am fine to keep her out of them until spring (at least) if we can keep these up. Plus the alone time with her is great, so that's a nice plus.
Also, on the memory game tonight, K got 16 matches - a new record! I honestly thought she had me there for a bit - I have to go at it full tilt to beat that girl. That's what a daddy likes to see - it made me proud!
Two other moments to relate:
1. K's quote of the day: JT picked up some Cocoa puffs from Aldi last week, and K LOVES them (same with Lucky Charms). Before we'll give her any for breakfast, however, she has to eat some fruit first. But the classic moment was at 7 AM when I asked what she wanted for brekkie: "I want little balls of chocolate for breakfast." Niiiiiiiiice - parents of the year.
2. Cora is really starting to imitate what we do now! She's waving all the time (which is super cute - especially when it's timed right), pointing a lot, and she's clapping when we clap. We applaud her when she does it, and you can tell she loves the positive feedback and attention. That little personality continues to come out!12/12 - So today started a little rocky, as Kaitlyn just suddenly started crying at the breakfast table before I left. It came out of nowhere, but it highlights something I've noticed, which is that she's been exceptionally emotional lately. Perhaps it's sickness, exhaustion, or something else, but we've seen it on several occasions lately (the most noticeable is when she's crying about missing Sweetie Pie, mom's cat). She has cried on multiple occasions about that, just suddenly tearing up (we are talking real tears here, people) and saying, "I miss Sweetie Pie!" before bursting into sobs. She LOVED the fact that Sweetie Pie slept in her room, and you can tell she wants that again SO badly.
Kate came over after preschool, and then they went to gymnastics, which she again LOVED! They worked on the balance beam and did a "snow ball fight" with the foam pit blocks, both of which she really enjoyed. I am so happy that she's loving the class. She really enjoyed Dance Camp as well, but to me this is the first time she's really enjoyed something at a level where you can see her excitement. Several times this week she demonstrated one of the moves she learned there - sizzle and pop (think "bend and snap" from Legally Blonde :-)). It's super cute, and I love that she's enjoying it.
The highlight of the night was K singing "Away in a Manger" - complete with arm movements! It was SO CUTE, and YES - I did get it on video.
On the Cora front, that girl has started blowing kisses now!!! I had noticed her slapping her mouth with the palm of her hand previously, but it wasn't until I heard JT say "are you blowing kisses" that I realized she's really doing it! So we've got kiss blowing, hand waving, and lots of pointing at this point. She's also become a master page turner (especially on the Little Quack books), and is fond of doing a hiss/snort thing all the time. Still no words yet, but you can tell that she is close. In fact, I feel I'm starting to see a flicker of recognition when Jenny says certain words (and JT has been GREAT about naming everything she touches). Cora actually started handing me things tonight at the last bottle feed, which was really cute. She thought it was a game, and so we went back and forth with that. Growing up!
12/13 - So today was a LONG day, as both girls were up before 6 AM. Cora woke up at 5:50, and we think that woke up Kaitlyn, who climbed into our bed at 5:55. She climbed in and said, "I'm scared of skeletons, dada. There are skeletons in my room." I actually went into her room, turned on the night light, and showed her that there were, in fact, no skeletons. She has said that she's afraid of the dark from time to time, but she won't sleep with her night light on because we never sleep with a night light. However, after a few stories about skeletons scratching her in her bed, I am thinking she will start to keep her night light on (she is using it tonight as I type this).
Unfortunately she was a tyrant at the Peds today, where he behavior was so bad that it cost her a show. The good news - no infection (despite continued coughing - it's honestly been since September!), but apparently that stop and the trip to Aldi were anything but pleasant for JT (but at least Cora was good :-)).
The cute moments: Kaitlyn wrote her first ever letter to Santa today! It is really cute - she wrote what she wanted (I only helped with 1 letter) and signed her name, and then she wrote the address on the front of the card and sealed it. She got to put it in the mailbox (which we later took out, as I'm going to keep it hidden and then eventually put it in her baby book), and she really did seem quite excited about doing it. It's interesting, as it's really the first time that she's seemed that excited about Santa. To date, she's not been overly interested in him or even in what he will bring. I am thinking she talked about it with Kate, and that in turn piqued her interest.
On the Cora front, she was good today and even started wedging the letters into this little alphabet tool she's got. She is starting to piece stuff together, and it's really, really cool to watch. Her hair is also growing out some now - I absolutely love it when we bathe her and she has that post-bath bed head. Too cute! 12/15 - So some big milestones for the Nugget today. First off - she had bread for the first time! JT put some avocado on wheat toast, and Cora LOVED it. Seriously - that girl couldn't get enough! What can I say - my girls love their carbs...just like their parents. :-)
Another big milestone - Cora at the last of her frozen cubes! At this point, she's pretty much eating whatever we're eating, which is really exciting. They are growing up so fast!
12/18 - It's the week that Cora turns 1! Poor Cora is definitely fighting some kind of infection. Her nose was so crusty this morning that she couldn't breathe. Thankfully JT is a MASTER with the saline and the snot sucker - otherwise poor Cora wouldn't be able to breathe at all while sleeping. She is super congested and is coughing, but her temperature hasn't really spiked much (she had a fever on Sunday I think in Raleigh but hasn't had one since). The good news is that she's still eating well and has been able to eat her bottles, so she's breathing ok as long as JT cleans her out periodically. All I can say is BEST WIFE AND MOM EVER!
12/20 - Today was the start of Christmas break for K, and she started with a bang - a Christmas party at Kate's house! They did a little "funky sock stocking exchange," and it sounds like the girls had a really fun time. I have to give Cheryl credit - that gal thinks of fun stuff like this all the time. I am impressed!
Today was exciting for another reason - the new Team Taylor Stockings arrived! That's right, sports fans - we now finally have matching stockings for the whole family and finally have stockings with the girls' names on them. YAY! Jenny had been wanting these for awhile, and when we learned about a sale at Pottery Barn, well...had to have it! :-) Seriously - they are super cute, and we really are glad that we've finally got a matching set on the mantle.12/21 - Today was AWESOME! JT and K went to NOMAD in the morning while I worked and Cora slept. The afternoon was even more fun, as the girls went over to Taylie's house (Ms. Teresa) to bake cookies (and brownies :-))! Kaitlyn was SO excited - especially to play in Taylie's room. In fact, the girls actually spent more time playing upstairs than baking, but it sounds like the mommies didn't mind.
In the evening we crossed off another Christmas "must do" - looking at the lights in Highland Creek! K got her "traditional annual cup of cocoa," and then we rolled out to check out the neighborhoods. The lights were really, really good this year, and we saw some great ones. Cora was really good throughout the whole thing, and we spent over an hour checking out several of the neighborhoods. We ideally want to see some more the week after Christmas, but in the event we don't pull that off, it's great to know that we at least saw the award winners from the annual light festival (some of them were AMAZING!).12/22 - A day for the books (in many ways), but most importantly - THE NUGGET IS ONE!!!!! That's right, sports fans - Cora hit the 365 day mark at 2:23 AM on this day (happily all were asleep this time) :-). We didn't do any big celebrations on this day (lesson learned from previous parties), and it was just SO nice. We got the chance to just enjoy the Nugget as a family, playing and relaxing a bit in the morning. Cora was in really, really good spirits - it's amazing how much more she's suddenly started smiling. I'm not sure if it's just finally clearing some illness, teething, and all her original reflux issues, but she's been really, really happy lately! I have definitely noticed a change in her personality - especially when she wakes up and you walk into her room. She's all smiles!
Now all that was the fun part of the day. The rest of the story - today was the single WORST DAY OF BEHAVIOR FOR KAITLYN EVER. Honestly, y'all - I have never seen anything like it (in our child or anyone else's), and I really hope I never do again. Some back story here - things had been building where K had tried to push our buttons, largely in the form of trying to control us and making us do everything (I want mommy to read the story, I want daddy to sit here, I don't want you to sing while we look at lights, etc.). We both had noticed it, but I didn't think it was anything too a) out of balance or b) worthy of discipline. In fact, I think I probably lied to myself thinking that she just really, really wanted to be near us all the time. However, when Jenny told me that K had told Kate earlier that week, "I can do whatever I want at home," I started to piece two and two together. And then when I found out she touched the Elf on the Shelf specifically after being told not to touch it (because apparently it would die - this happened at Taylie's), I realized that she was starting to believe that rules didn't really apply to her. Add in her attitude when playing games, and the Team Taylor adults agreed it was time to bring things in line. The good news - K has really been an angel again since this day (it's like we have our daughter back), but MAN - talk about a day of days to right the ship.
I don't want to go into excruciating detail about this day, so I'll give you the highlights. 1. K refused to say please for anything, even when asked. 2. K disagreed with EVERYTHING Jenny and I said throughout the day. 3. She whined constantly and willfully disobeyed/refused to do anything asked of her. It came to a head early when she refused to say please for a tissue in the car on the way to Chik-fil-A. After finally saying please and then saying to Jenny, "I didn't say please," JT did the right thing - took away K's ice cream at CFA. This is a big deal, as she ALWAYS gets it, and obviously K didn't think JT was serious. So much so that, after about the 70th time asking JT if she could have ice cream, JT took her into the bathroom kicking and screaming and busted her tail.
K then screamed repeatedly in the car, telling me I was rude and shrieking loud enough to break the sound barrier. This continued for a good hour, and by the end of it we had taken:
1. Her TV for the rest of the night
2. Her ice cream at CFA (already mentioned)
3. Her TV for the following day (morning and evening)
4. Her swim time with daddy (already mentioned)
5. Twink
6. All other animals in her room
7. The planned activity of walking around the neighborhood to look at lights
8. The plan
She did eventually calm down (we had to leave her outside to finish screaming until we got worried about pneumonia given that she was still in her bathing suit - initially she'd refused to come inside).
Simply put - it was horrible. I went to bed that night wondering where my kid was an how long this was going to go on. Fortunately, God blessed us with a reset, and it's been SO much better since then.
12/23 - Nole Nana and Grandpa visited today, ask we had a GREAT little visit. They had gifts for us and the girls, and K especially loved this little Melissa & Doug clock they bought her. She's been playing with it a lot, practicing the hour hand and the minute hand and truly learning how to tell time. It's been cool to watch, and it's a great, practical gift for her. Now we just have to keep the nugget from eating the blocks that have the hours on them...But even better than an early Christmas celebration was Cora's "official" first birthday party! So, as mentioned previously - we didn't want a huge to-do, as we really wanted to enjoy the moment, get some pics, and hang out with Buke and the family. So, we did the smart thing - simplified. Instead of a massive cake, we did a single cupcake. Instead of tons of people, we had just family. And instead of a big production, we tried to make it simple and focused on Cora. She was GREAT - all smiles throughout the day (and SUPER CUTE IN HER OUTFIT!). And of course...she LOVED the cupcake. At first she had no idea what to do with it, but once she got that first taste of sugar, she figured it out rather quickly. :-) Seriously, her smiles were infectious, and it was just perfect. We even used the "1" candle from GMT's 100th birthday celebration, which was a very sweet, personal moment for me.
That evening we went to Freedom House for a "Very Queen City Christmas," which was a WHOLE NEW ADVENTURE with the two of them! Last year we'd just been released from the hospital, and it was just me and K who made it over. This time, however, all 4 of us made the trip, and it was quite the juggling act. 
Don't get me wrong, they do a GREAT service - great music, a terrific message, lots of stuff for the kids. It's just a LOT to try and juggle - kids holding candles (open flames!), loud music (luckily the Williams clan had their noise reducing headphones, as K did say it was too loud), lots of sugar (cookies and peppermint sticks to open), and even hot cocoa to a) cool down and b) keep from spilling. That being said, it really was wonderful, and we got some great pics with Santa on his sleigh. :-) We also got to do the carriage ride, eat some yummy treats, and visit the petting zoo, where K was IN HEAVEN. Seriously - that girl spent probably 20 minutes in there feeding donkeys and sheep (the camel was having none of it). At first she didn't know what to do with the feed (she took two handfuls and just dumped it into the cage). But then, when she realized that the animals would take it out of her hand, she was in 7th Heaven. It was too cute, and she LOVED it. 12/24 - Christmas Eve! Holy Moly, where did this year go? It was a fun day for many reasons, starting with the Sweet Spot for breakfast! We were worried when we arrived to find a note on the board outside stating that computers were down and cash was appreciated, but as it turns out, we rolled in just in time, as we got great service and didn't even have to pay tax on our meal! Thank you, Father!
The morning was great - JT and I traded serves at Freedom House in the AM, and during my shift at home I learned the art of "bumper balls" with Kaitlyn. This is essentially a loud, destructive game where you try and roll hard plastic balls toward each other. Inside each ball was a flip-a-zoo (courtesy of Nole Nana from yesterday), and so they would go flying when the balls collided. K enjoyed it immensely, and I had fun as well. Honestly, it was just SO NICE to have her back to normal and playing, so I was soaking up every second of it.
The highlight of the day was the afternoon, as we rolled over to the Williams House for their annual Italian Christmas Eve shindig! We had a really nice time there, spending about 2.5 hours eating, laughing, and relaxing. Cora was great - she ate for almost an hour straight, and when she wasn't in the high chair, she was either being held or playing with magnets in the kitchen. K was running around with Ryann and the other kids (she made some new friends), so she was obviously in Heaven as well. And when you add in all the food and the sweets? Well, yeah - it was pretty much the greatest night ever. She got to watch part of Trolls upstairs with the kids, ate pizza, ate Mac 'n Cheese, and even managed two chocolate dipped double-stuffed Oreos (which we just happened to see - she didn't ask first :-)). It was classic: JT said, "You didn't ask mommy and daddy if you could have these." K: "Ryann has two." Quality. :-)But some good news on the independence front to report. When I asked K what color plate she wanted (red or green), she said, "Whatever Ryann has." I said I that I didn't know what color she had but that it didn't matter. K actually left it at that (previously she would have fought), and then she really did pick the food she wanted. She then went outside and wanted to sit by Ry, but there was already someone there. I placed K's food at another spot and told her that she had to figure it out, and for the first time ever - she actually did and didn't cry! Hey, I realize these sound like small things, but they were HUGE lifts to me. Way to go, kiddo!
We ended the night by tossing some reindeer food out into the front lawn (luckily it was an activity at the party, and each kid had a little bag), and then it was off to bed (sans baths) for the tiddlywinks. It was funny - when K got into the car, she suddenly got SO EXCITED about Santa. I have always found it interesting, as she's never really seemed to interested/excited in a) visiting Santa, b) talking about Santa, c) learning about reindeer, d) asking questions about how it all works, etc. In this last hour, however, she kept saying that she was SO EXCITED and just POUNDED me with questions: How do the reindeer know where to land? How does Santa get in? Why does he eat the cookies? It was so funny! But it was GREAT to see this huge rush of excitement. And then the funniest part - before bed she said, "I'm so excited to see what Santa brought me tomorrow and open Sharkbite!" I mean, it's the ONE THING we didn't get her on her list, and it's what she's specifically referenced like 35 times at this point. Oh well - so it goes!
12/25 - MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!! Team Taylor had a little interloper jump into bed with us at 6:55 this morning, climb under the covers, put her head on my pillow, and ask, "When are we going down to open presents?" It was super cute, and it actually worked out well because we had a good 30+ minutes with just Kaitlyn while she opened her gifts before Buke woke up. K LOVED her bike! That was really, really great to see, as it was definitely better received than the balance bike. :-) She was riding it throughout the house all morning and really seemed to enjoy it - SO EXCITED! And while Santa also gave her a Chubby Puppy, the highlight was unquestionably the little pack of Hatchimals. HOLY MOLY, this girl is now OBSESSED WITH THEM! Seriously - she just LOVES them: hatching them out of the egg, their colors, their sizes, etc. She has a checklist and is diligently marking them off as she goes - too cute! In fact, she likes them so much that she looked at me mid-morning and said, "Dada, next year I only want hatchimals from Santa." Too funny!
One other big note - Vol Nana and Grand Pooh got her a tablet - her first ever! Needless to say, that puppy has gotten TONS of use so far. We didn't really even regulate it on Christmas Day, as she was in Heaven bouncing between playing Shopkins Run, Sonic Dash, and then hatching hatchimals. It was just too cute. And I will confess that even I am enjoying some of the games on her new tablet. But shhhhhh...don't tell anybody. It's just so crazy to look down, see the SEGA logo, and then watch Sonic take off running - talk about an inter-generational character! I would LOVE to find my Sega Genesis and see if it still works. Good times...
The day was lazy and perfect. We hung some pictures (which we'd been meaning to do for over a YEAR), got caught up on some stuff, and just generally had a GREAT day. We didn't get out of our PJs, watched some football, played with the kids, and just loved being a family. My batteries have really recharged since the Friday meltdown, and I am in such a good place right now. We've had really good quality time with both kids, and that has been wonderful.
And just like that - another Christmas is in the books. It's funny, but I still get a little sentimental on Christmas night (I trace this all the way back to when I lived on Cain Mill). I make it a point to stop and stare at the tree with all the lights in the house off except those glowing on its branches. Since having a staircase in view of it, I have traditionally just stopped, turned back, and looked at it for a moment, reflecting on the Christmas season and life in general. Some of it is knowing that the tree has now "served its purpose" and will soon come down, a new year ready to kick off. Some of it is just taking that final moment to save the Christmas Day and all the goodness that came with it - food, sweets, presents, smiles, laughter, relaxation. But I know what a part of it is, and it's the most somber part. In that moment, I realize how amazing life is, how truly incredible every day is, and I look at that tree wondering how many more times I'll stare at it on Christmas night before I shuffle off this mortal coil. I know that sounds odd, but those of you that know me know that the week leading up to New Years is always very quiet, reserved, and introspective for me, and now as a father of two I think it's truer than ever. My 2018 goal/mission is to live life intentionally - having purpose in every single thing I do. And while it may sound silly to some, being intentional about Christmas is very high on that list. I want to make it more about a) the reason for the season and b) the experience vs. just about the gifts and the sweets. I want to spend more time with the lights, walking around the neighborhood, baking, decorating, reading the Christmas story, purging the house to give to others, volunteering, and several other things. To do that, I will have to be more planful to ensure that the season doesn't "sneak up" on me. I am confident I can do that, and I've already started writing out the "2018 intentional plan by month" to get me in the right mindset.
Poor little nugget did get 3 shots (vaccines) and a finger prick. JT said she was a rock star (the little bandaids on her chunker legs were so cute), and the only time she really fussed was the pin prick, as it took something like three minutes to milk enough blood out. Tough as nails, this one!
So the "best week ever" for Kaitlyn continued in roaring form this week, as she did something she's never done before - went to Toys R Us with her OWN MONEY for a shopping spree! She rocked in with $50, and JT said that it was so cute to watch her in action. She apparently was of a one track mind, and her plan was to search for only one thing - HATCHIMALS! Sure enough, she was a thrifty little shopper, securing 2 packs of mini-hatchimals, 1 puzzle (of a hatchimal...with a hatcnhimal included), and then a new game - Tumblin' Monkeys (which is SUPER CUTE - we have played it a ton since she brought it home). K had a blast doing the shopping, and JT said that she was super good the whole time. They actually ended up making a FULL day of it, hitting EIGHT SHOPS before coming home. Talk about an epic run! They even managed to pick up a pair of leotards for K's gymnastics class. JT was really excited about this (as was K obviously), as to date our daughter had been the only one without a leotard. Movin' on up!
Oh, and the quote of the day from K: "I am going to call you forgetting mommy because you always forget something. I am going to call you autopilot daddy because you always start to drive before I'm clipped in." Nice. And to be CLEAR - that has only happened a few times, and it's ALWAYS before we really get rolling!12/27 - In yet another glorious day for Team Taylor (and especially K), she and JT hit the mall today, where they did some more shopping (5 shops), rode the carousel, and even had pizza in the food court. In the afternoon we hit NOMAD for swimming, where I am THRILLED to report that we had a tremendous turnaround when compared to last Friday. K swam GREAT - no stroke work, but she tried to dive and even did 35+ minutes in the cold pool! We had a lot of fun, tons of laughs, and got some really good exercise in. She saw Mr. Brandyn, and that really made her want to show out. She saw him in the locker room and gave him a big hug - it was cute. Oh, and the cutest part: she popped up after completing a lap and noticed the HCTC sign (it has a big yellow jacket on it). Without missing a beat she said, "Look, dada! Russellville Hornet!" Granddaddy would have been so proud (and the logo really did look similar - full marks, kid!). :-)
K did say that, after this day, she was tired of shopping. Her quote: "I don't want to go to any more stores. I just want to stay at home and stare at Cora." Hilarious! No rest for the weary, however, as tomorrow is another full slate!
12/28 - In keeping with the best week/busiest week ever theme for our oldest, today it was off to Emmi's house for a play date. They had a lot of fun (I didn't get many details except for a bit about Emmi piling kitties on top of her - the stuffed kind, of course :-)), and then the afternoon featured a trip to the library, where K piled up FOURTEEN BOOKS! The good news - we have been reading them non-stop, so she clearly did want them. They have actually been a life saver for me, as I was desperate for some new material (not that there's anything wrong with "Make Way for Ducklings" or "Bear Says Thanks" - it was just getting tough to constantly come up with "funny words" in those stories...). Actually, that reminds me - have I told you about "saying funny words" during story time? Essentially, I have to change around the names, change around places, come up with different rhymes, etc - you name it - to keep the stories fresh and interesting. It's not too difficult the first 20 times, but this girl has a mind like a steel trap, and so constantly keeping it fresh has become a REAL challenge. The same is true of the plan - I am well and truly out of ideas at this point (especially since she's always entering the room behind JT while I start to lay stuff out).
Dad and company rolled in about 2:30, and after that the weekend commenced in earnest. K had been standing by the door waiting to see their car, so imagine her elation when they rolled into the cul-de-sac. We hit NoDa Brewing that afternoon, where we watched some football (the Belk Bowl was on), had some good beer, and K played on both her tablet and granny A's tablet.
As a tablet update - K LOVES that thing. WOW - I mean, I remember loving my Nintendo, but it's just incredible how much she loves that puppy. If we can ever get the weather warmer, I really, really, really, really want to take her out for a bike ride. However, when it's NINE DEGREES (that's right - it was NINE this morning), indoor activities are pretty much a requirement. But what I will say, when you simply substitute the tablet for TV, I actually like the tablet better, as she's learning how to figure things out, learning hand/eye coordination, and selfishly - I definitely get a little time to myself when she's locked in on that puppy. What I will say - I am LOVING watching her play the Shopkins Run and also Sonic Dash - I can't believe that Sonic is still around! There is even a Sonic 2 (which we've also downloaded) which features a pink, female hedgehog named Amy (pretty cute - K loves it), and we spend a lot of time with the dash-o-meter, the "You're History" guy, and the "Bad Star Guy" ( who is going to "beat you like a drum").
K had Granny A, Granddaddy, and Aunt Pattie to play with (as well as us, snacks, and her tablet), so she was in HEAVEN. She did ask when we were going to open presents, and we promised the following morning. :-) It was a great night and a wonderful week - talk about making it count!
12/30 - Another great day in the books! I started the day with my last long run before the Frosty 50, and then after showers we dove into presents - and made out like bandits! Seriously - it was a lot of fun, and K was on cloud 9. Alice had made her this adorable My Little Pony beanie, and she looked too cute! She also racked up on clothes, shoes, toys, and games (shocking, I know), as did Buke!
We did lunch at 3 Amigos before a day of hitting various and sundry places (201, Lindsey's house to pick up a Christmas tree, Goodwill, etc). It was interesting to watch K, as the poor girl was SO CONFLICTED about whether to go with Granny A and mommy or stay with Daddy, Aunt Pattie, and Granddaddy - she even started crying! I think she was tired of shopping but simply couldn't stand the thought of not being with Alice while she was here. Poor little thing! Luckily, Buke did not have that problem and slept like a charm on Saturday.
We even made it to 26 Acre Brewing, where K enjoyed herself with treats, games, and popcorn...as well as the Smurf movie on Alice's tablet. Alice bought her the noise reducing headphones (with Troll hair on them), so she was again happy as a clam. K knew the troll on the headphones (I had no idea - some dude named Diamond), and she has actually requested that I start a) calling her Princess Poppy and b) stop telling her that she's silly (since apparently she's a big girl now and no longer is ever silly).
Everyone crashed hard that night, and Pattie earned the honor of reading to K!
12/31 - So this day was a whirlwind of EPIC proportions! Jenny and Dad's crew were both out the door about 9. JT was headed to the Peach Bowl (free seats in the box!), and dad & Co wanted to head home for New Year's Eve festivities. That left me, the Goose, and the Nugget in town on a day that had a wind chill of 21 degrees. Now normally you would probably suggest we just make a day inside, but that was NOT to be this go-around. Why, you ask? Because we had a wedding to get to. And the kicker - it was an outdoor wedding!
That's right, sports fans -
"Uncle Mark and Aunt Christine" officially tied the knot on New
Years, and I was there with the girls (as well as the Newcomb clan). It
was BONE CHILLING cold, and I had the kids wrapped up in everything I could
find! Seriously - Cora was okay, as she had 2 layers of shirt, two
blankets, a beanie, and was inside the stroller shell. The poor Sneetch,
however, was absolutely freezing because she just had one layer of pants on.
Poor thing! 
At one point, she had 3
layers on to, a hospital blanket around her legs, her beanie, and was standing
against a wall to block the wind. That didn't help, however, and she told
me more than once "dada, I am really cold." Mark even gave her
his jacket for a bit, but it was too heavy (it weighed about what she did :-)).
The good news - once I gave her some food, her spirits brightened
considerably. Luckily we were only out there for 30 min before we rolled
over to Craft, where K's tablet was an absolute LIFE SAVER (thank you, Vol
Nana!). I had to feed Buke (that girl SUCKED DOWN some pouches), and then
I fed K some yummy flatbread. K wanted to go say hi to Sara, but she was
just too shy. However, when they both sat down side by side to play their
tablets, K was in Heaven. I mean, ignore the fact that they weren't
interacting - K just wanted to be near her. Too cute.
It was then back home,
where I informed K that, starting tomorrow, her daily chores would start in
earnest! Now, you might think that this bit of information would cause pain
or consternation to a young child. However, when you tell them that the
reward for good work Sun-Fri is an extra hour of tablet time on Saturday, you
get one happy camper (it's 10 minutes per day during the week for those 6 days
- no chores on Saturday). K even asked "Can we do some chores
tomorrow, dada?" LOVE IT! We have FOUND the currency!
That night we played some
more and even started the "Giant Baby game," where Cora basically
breaks into the house that K and I are playing in and proceeds to absolutely
ABUSE the toys we are playing with. We had mommy (a giraffe), daddy (a
T-rex), and 16 kids (all hatchimals) in "the cabin," and Giant Baby
threw them all over the place. The good news - everyone was laughing, so
it was a success.
I will say that Cora was
well and truly amazing all day. That girl is really starting to make some
associations now. For starters, she recognizes that handing me objects
can constitute a game, and she seems quite content to play that (over...and
over...and over). She also remembers that giving me high fives is fun,
and she is always fascinated by my wedding band. Oh, and she enjoys
slapping me in the face even more - especially when she's tired (the look on
her face is absolutely priceless as she whacks me across the nose - "I'LL
SHOW YOU, OLD GUY...").
Team Taylor was in bed well
before the ball fell, and just like that - 2017 was in the books.
WHAT?!?!?!?!? How is that even possible!!?!?!?!?!?? Two
quotes in the evening that I must recount before I close:
1. K tells me to
close my eyes because she "wants to do something" (never trust
those). I ask her why, and she does come out and tell me. She opens
her little jewelry box, and inside is what can only be described as fuzzy hair.
She says, "I have some fuzz from the doggies next door. I kept
it because it reminds me of sweetie pie." Seriously - this girl
picked up shedded hair from the dogs next door and kept it because it reminded
her of that cat. She LOVES that cat! And yes - she did start crying
this evening because she missed Sweetie Pie.
2. K has by and large
refused to go anywhere by herself after dark - including within the house.
She won't change floors unless someone is there, and this evening she
wouldn't even go over to the Christmas tree room because there weren't lights
on. She asked, "Why will someone sleep with me?" I told
her a long time from now when she has friends over they might, but turns out
she wants someone to sleep with her because she's afraid of the dark. No
idea where this came from, but I also reckon it's just a part of life.
Let's face it - I get scared of the dark too, sometimes. :-)
I know that I normally do a
summary each March recounting the best memories of the last 12 months of
parenthood, but let me at least take a moment here as well to THANK OUR
HEAVENLY FATHER for an incredible year of blessing, health, miracles, laughter,
fun, lessons, and life. We are so blessed and have so much, and I pray
that no member of Team Taylor ever forgets that or takes it for granted.
Okay, that's a wrap on
December and all the news that's fit to print. Catch you in 2018!
Love,
Sam and Jenny
