Age of Lady Cora: 1 year, 4 months, 8 days
Family,
And a good afternoon to you from the Queen City, where we are recapping another WONDERFUL month for Team Taylor. Let's get amongst it, shall we?
4/1 - HAPPY EASTER!!!!!! Today was an AWESOME day, starting at 6:42 AM when a certain 5 year old climbed into bed to rouse us from our slumber. We had set her alarm for 7:30, but let's be honest - the Easter Bunny had made a visit, and there was NO CHANCE we were sleeping in. :-)It really was a terrific morning. K followed the clues to the Bonus Room, where she found her Easter Basket, Cora's Easter Basket, and lots of eggs hidden throughout the room. I have to give JT ALL the credit here, as she did 100% of the shopping, packing, and setup for this. Muffin - You. Did. GREAT.
K was hilarious as she searched for the eggs, and her favorites were the eggs that held plastic kitties (JT had found these on Amazon). K is playing with them constantly at the moment! In fact, they were such a hit that she wasn't enamored by all the candy, which was a HUGE win. :-)After putting the girls in their matching dresses (courtesy of Vol Nana), we rolled over to Church, where we had a TERRIFIC service. After service, the girls (meaning really K) had photos with the Easter Bunny, had some sweets, and got to hold bunnies and little chicks. K was loving it, but the carrot (no pun intended) to getting her home was the sweet she'd been given in FH Kids. That girl LOVES her sugar!
JT had FH kids, but after church we rolled down to the Tacy's, where we had a great afternoon. We walked over to this suspension bridge that runs over a creek about a quarter mile from their house, and the girls loved it! K loved running on it (and loved me shaking and bouncing it), and Buke even walked THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF IT EACH WAY! I was amazed, and it was really cute to watch her balance check herself. She did fall a few times, and given the surface it did draw blood. She now has her first little scab, and on Sunday had her first band-aid and Neosporin treatment. That being said, she was trooper, and between the great food, all the doggies, the stairs, and the toys, Nugget was happy as a clam. K was really good as well and got tons of great exercise - I've really been happy about how much activity she's been getting lately. Getting that girl ready for swim season this summer! Endurance is everything, baby!!!
A few other Easter Sunday pics:
4/2 - HAPPY BIRTHDAY, VOL NANA!!!! We called to wish mom happy birthday today, and Buke won the award for cuteness, as she waved into the phone (we don't have FaceTime with mom). And for the record, she actually did say Bye Bye when we hung up. Really cool! Buke is definitely starting to talk and recognize things more. She's obviously good with pointing (and then smiling when you pick up what she wants), but she's also making the "please" sign almost all the time these days. What she'll do is hand you something and then do the please sign (she'll put both hands on her chest and rub). This could be a book, a toy, food, a drink - you name it. It's really cute. And she's definitely saying "Gaga" consistently for dada at this point. YAY!!!! So amazing (and exciting) to watch how she's developing.
So the biggest activity of the day was a visit to our closest amusement park - CAROWINDS!!!!!! JT rolled down there with the girls to meet Katie and her crew, and they spent over 5 hours there. They absolutely LOVED IT!!! When K came into my office, she said it was "Great." To be clear - K NEVER says something is great, so that's a sign that she LOVED it. She particularly loved the a) the scary ride with the skeletons playing the piano where you have to go through the dark cave and b) the game where you shoot goes with your laser guns. I have NO IDEA what either of these are - I just know that everyone had a blast, which exceeded my expectations. K even got to do her first roller coaster, which she loved.
4/3 - So today was a good (but interesting) day. The girls were exhausted after Carowinds, and they slept 12-13 hours! JT woke up feeling off, and shortly thereafter ended up throwing up. She managed to rally and get the girls to the aquarium (which was apparently BEDLAM given that it was spring break), but afterwards she felt bad and laid down. I said I'd watch the girls, and when I went in to check on Buke, I noticed a dark spot in her crib. Sure enough, Cora had thrown up in bed and then LAID IN IT. When I went in there, she looked CRAZY - her hair was all matted (had chunks of vomit in it), her shirt was soaked, and she reeked. I bathed her immediately and set to work stripping, cleaning, and washing the sheets. The good news - Buke was still super happy and didn't seem to be out of sorts at all! She was great all evening, ate good for snack and dinner, and went down easy that evening. Not sure what was going on, but something was clearly off. We got the girls down easily, but K played in her bed for about an hour or so, as she wasn't tired. Guess I need to redouble my efforts to wear that girl out! :-)
4/4 - So the BEST news - JT and Cora felt great today, and everything seems to be trending in the right direction. They actually hopped onto the light rail for the first time ever today and rode the train down to Imaginon. They had a blast, and it was only $4.40 return (the kids were free). That will DEFINITELY become a summer activity!
Oh, and the biggest news of the day? KAITLYN TIED HER OWN SHOE LACES TODAY!!!! True, she had a bit of help from JT, but the mechanics (and focus) were there. I am VERY impressed - exciting!!!!
We tried the park in the afternoon, but K went into absolute MELTDOWN when she couldn't hop into one of the slide seats (it was too high). She became obsessed with it and refused to let us help her. She then went berserk, and I ended up taking five animals! AHHHHH!!!!!! But all was well by the evening. K's left eye was puffy at bedtime, so we'll keep an eye on that. Between her eye, JT and Cora puking, and me getting diagnosed with an abscess in my root canal today, we are quite the collection of medical oddities at the moment!
4/5 - today was a better day, as the girls were feeling great. JT was able to hit the gym in the morning, and then the afternoon was another treat for K - Carowinds (Round II this week) - this time with Kate and family! They only had about 3.5 hours there (and didn't get to Boo Blasters), but they did get to play on the playground, watch the dog show, visit the dinosaur exhibit, and hit lots of stuff they didn't get to do on Monday. Talk about making that annual pass count this week! 
Dinner that night was McDonald's (a rarity for Team Taylor), where K got a Happy Meal. There was an interesting turn in the car, where K complained about the toy she received in the meal (a Snoopy) and was generally whining about how she wanted something else. Jenny tried to explain the importance of being grateful and realizing everything she'd just received - Carowinds, dinner out, an ice cream, and then a toy - but it didn't seem to resonate. This is something that is grinding on both of us right now - how do you make a child grateful and aware of how fortunate they are? I feel like we both work so hard to give her experiences, love, attention, and "fun activities" (all in lieu of "stuff), but now comes the question - have we bred a sense of entitlement? I think I will struggle with this for awhile, and I'm definitely going to pray about it (and talk to my folks). I know some of it is the age coupled with what she views as normal, but lately I have to concur with Jenny that the ungrateful, selfish attitude is very pronounced, quite exhausting, and more than a little frustrating. Watch this space!In other news, Cora went down at 7 PM and barely made a peep. She didn't eat grate but slept like a champ. As for K - her eye is still puffy, but it doesn't seem to be bothering her at all. We definitely don't think it's Pink Eye - more likely allergies (as they are crazy right now).
4/6 - Jt and K headed to Raleigh today, and I settled in for a weekend with the Nugget. The girls got off about 1:30 - K is excited to play with James! I am already looking forward to pics when Aunt Jenny meets baby Grant for the first time.
Things were low key for Cora and I, as we spent the afternoon chilling. We got outside for a walk and fresh air, stopping at the park for about 20 minutes. Buke had ZERO desire to swing but was instead focused on the slides. That girl was ALL ABOUT going by herself on the top slides, and she LOVED it! I would go down the slide beside her and hold her hand, letting go near the bottom. She oftentimes fell back, but she never cried. If anything, she'd have a huge smile on her face and hair that was SUPER SPIKY given the static electricity. And that's another thing - we would shock each other constantly, but she never complained once (barely even acknowledged it!). Back at home we played in the Cozy Coupe for a bit, which Cora quite enjoyed. She has already figured out how to back it up on her own, and at one point when I was looking the other way she figured out how to open the door and get in. Let me go ahead and say it now. GENIUS...
We played with some bubbles as well, and all was good save for Cora doing a face plant while walking down the driveway. She landed on her knees first which softened the blow, but she definitely ate it. She cried, of course, but that was short lived. That girl is one tough cookie.
Also - while still blue, I do think her eyes are starting to get lighter. Today I think I saw some flashes of green in there. K had blue eyes for 18 months before they changed - will be interesting to see what happens.
4/7 - Today was a MISERABLE weather day, and so we stayed indoors all day and didn't even leave the house save for a morning trip to Nomad (C was very good in child watch). I think Cora must be tired or going through a growth spurt, as she's eating a ton and sleeping like a champ (and is incredibly fussy anytime she's not being held). Case in point - all 4 "sleeping periods" this weekend (2 naps and 2 evenings) she just put her head on my shoulder, snuggled up, and then didn't make a PEEP when I put her down. She just rolled over and PASSED out.
The snuggles were such a welcome surprise! She would put her head on my right shoulder and then grab my finger with her right hand (K used to do the same thing). It was SO sweet, and I really, really didn't want to put her down either night, as I know how quickly this time goes. It was a good day, and I learned the very valuable lesson that looking after a 15 month old isn't as easy as I'd remembered. That is a testament to how amazing their grandparents are for all they do to look after these little munchkins (and I just had one!), and it absolutely heightened my gratitude. Also, I learned that I have related to K so long that I've forgotten how to relate to a child who can't speak and isn't quite as adept at following my comments - quite the eye opener! However, I did find my way via a mixture of books, balls, food, and tickles. It was a fun lesson to learn. :-)
Two cute things from today - when Cora is still in her high chair and you are cleaning the floor around her, she LOVES to rub your hair! She finds it HILARIOUS when she strokes your locks with her "sticky from fruit, dirty from crackers, slimy from cheese, and sticky from peanut butter" fingers. Chuckles every time! In fact, she started a) touching and b) patting the top of my head at bedtime while I was rocking her tonight, and she was just cackling uncontrollably! She also loves to rub noses (aka Eskimo kisses), and at night she loves to slam noses (which is no joke and HURTS!).
4/8 - The girls came home today! They didn't roll in until 7 (after I'd put Buke down), but we still got to hang out until about 7:30 or so (we just fed K quickly and then got her up without a bath - that hair will be due a washing on Monday!). They had a blast, and K loved playing with James in their bonus room. She also must have had a rip roaring time with Georgeanne, Ivanna, Danica, and Callie at AC's house (where she had 3 desserts as part of the Greek Easter celebration), as JT said it was nothing but tears while she tore her out of there. But the good news - when you have "My Little Pony" downloaded on the tablet, a lot can be rectified quickly. :-)
Buke was great again all day. She was wonderful (and cute as a button) at church - even if the "dress" I put her in was actually a onesie that wasn't buttoned. Details...We got out for a walk in the afternoon (chilly but clear), and she was really good the whole time. We got about 20 or so minutes at the park, but she got hungry a little after 5, so we headed back. I must say how amazing it is to watch Buke in action. She knows what she wants, and she knows where to find it. Case in point - at the playground, she went right to the stroller and pointed at the food. And while the answer was no (since it was so close to dinner time), she definitely is aware of her surroundings. If you say fan, she looks up. If she hears outside (or if she wants to go outside), she hands you her shoes and then walks to the door. She's now very patient when you are putting her shoes on, as she knows that's part of the process. Also, she's a great help now at putting her arms through her jacket or top, and she even tries to pull her shirt down while she's on the changing table. Development and comprehension at this age is just INCREDIBLE, and it's so cool to have a front seat to it all. The most recent one I've noticed is that she's just figured out how to step out of her pants when getting into the bath - super cool (and you can tell she's proud that she's figured it out).
4/9 - The return to normalcy kicked off in earnest today, with Kaitlyn and Kate back together again en route to preschool. K's teacher was back from Florida (her mom had been sick but praise Jesus is now much better!), and K assumed her job for the week - calendar helper! She seemed in good spirits, and the afternoon was a lot of fun. We went outside and just played in the cul de sac, and K was a WARRIOR on that Joybay - seriously the best I'd ever seen her play with it. She would ride it down (at a very fast pace) and then actually either carry or push it back to the top of our driveway. I will take that kind of exercise for her every day! Buke was great as well, as she walked around non-stop, including climbing up the steep incline of the cul de sac and even tackling the "step" from the street to our driveway. This was exciting for me, and it has touched on some introspective items that I want to focus on in the coming weeks. I already have an inventory of what I view as important for the girls (being outside, being active, church, proper dietary habits, time to play, good sleep manners, etc), but I also want to take stock of a) what I am good at as a person/parent vs. what needs work, and b) what activities and goals I have for them. I think we do a great job of giving them activities, and I hope we also do a good job of giving them a) structure, b) experiences, c) a routine, d) appropriate discipline, e) independence, and f) individual time to just play. However, I also want to ensure that we're cognizant of their developmental milestones and tracking to those. I think starting school will help with that, as the curriculum will lay out some of those key milestones. Also, I want this summer (aka the summer of staycation) to be fun and certainly don't want to drill the enjoyment out of it with a list of must do's. I just want to make sure I'm being a focused parent vs. taking an "accidental" or "shotgun" parenting approach. I probably made a real mess of the above paragraph, so let me summarize - I want to be the best parent possible for my kids and set them up for success, so I think I need to reflect on my current aptitudes, behaviors, priorities, and areas for development. I probably should have just said that at the beginning... :-)
A few other K items:
1. Her verb conjugation right now is hilarious. The good news - she is definitely aware of when to use past tense. However, it's in these moments that you realize how many irregular verbs there are in the English language. Hilarious to listen to! But you have to give her credit - if the verbs were regular, she'd be spot on!
2. I read the Grinch to her tonight, and for the first time ever she asked me, "Where is the Grinch talking - which page?" I pointed out the quotation marks and then started tracing the words with my fingers. It's amazing how quickly a certain synapse fires and they realize that reading is about sight and visualization. Very cool. I will be curious to see how quickly she learns to read, as I think she'll pick it up fast.
3. One thing Jenny and I both notice - K definitely wants your full attention all the time at the moment. She is constantly saying, "Daddy, daddy, daddy" or "Mommy, mommy, mommy" to get you to look at whatever she does (and I truly mean whatever).
4. Her quote of the day: She walks into my office after she gets home from preschool, gives me a hug, then pats me on the back and said, "I missed ya, buddy." Priceless.
Oh, and the other interesting moment: We are in bed reading (I think) "The Littlest Elf," and K asks, "Is Santa real?" I just answer "Yes" and keep going, but this marks the second time in a month she's asked about Santa. I'm not sure if someone has said something to her or if she's just piecing it together, but she is definitely on the hunt for answers. It's interesting - we have friends who told their kids from the start that Santa wasn't real because they didn't want their kid(s) later on thinking that Jesus wasn't real. I struggled with that a bit as well, but then I realized - kids have believed in Santa for a LONG time, and there are still a lot of Christians out there. Consequently, let the magic continue...:-)
4/10 - Cora 15 month appointment! It went great - she checked out completely healthy and normal. She's 42% in height and 69% in weight - SOLID KID. Apparently that's still "proportionate," so no complaints here. They also gave us a little printout on "this is what your kid might be doing about now," and it was hilarious - it DESCRIBED CORA EXACTLY. Seriously - EVERYTHING on their pretty much applied: walking, popping back up from kneeling, starting to lead you where she wants to go, imitating you, saying a few words other than mama and dada, etc. HILARIOUS! It just continues to amaze me how different the two kids are - especially since they both spent their first 15 months in that same crib in that same room in this same house! So amazing - such a voyage of discovery.
BTW - I took the girls to gymnastics tonight, and I saw K do a bridge! They started working on their "beam routines," and they seemed to be really enjoying it. K really does love gymnastics, which is awesome to see.4/11 - It's really amazing how independent K is becoming. She's already dressing herself, tying her own shoes, and even bathing herself sometimes. Also, tonight she actually brushed her teeth using Jenny's (aka "adult") toothpaste. It's also interesting that she's showing much more of an interest in reading. You can tell she's about to break through to a new plane, and it's really cool to hear the questions she asks now, stuff like: "Where is that on the page?" or "When will I be able to do what you do?" You can tell she's more interested in the words and their sequence, and she definitely realizes that memorizing and reading aren't the same thing. As she is sharp (I think at least. Shocking, that... :-)), I think she'll pick it up quickly, and I'm already thinking about introducing bigger, longer books during my reading portion to her. She's not quite ready for Harry Potter, but I really hope we can start reading that some time this year or early next.
On the Buke front, her nose just started running yesterday - right after the appointment! She did get 3 shots, and the weather is warming up (which means the allergies are likely kicking back in), so that is likely a factor. We checked with our PA friend, and she said that we could give C a little Zyrtec (2.5 ml). We'll see if that helps things. The good news - she's sleeping great, doesn't have a fever, is eating well, and seems happy. So all in all, no complaints!4/12 - Today was a great day for all the girls, especially in the afternoon. JT met up with Lindsey, Teresa, Ashley, and Melanie (the newest addition to the mommy group) at the park, and they had a proper play date with all the kids there! K was in Heaven following Ry around, and Cora seemed happy as a clam as well.
Also - random catch-up story: On the way home from gymnastics on Tuesday, K suddenly asked "Where is God?" When I tried to explain that a) he's everywhere but b) up in the sky, she said, "You mean He walks on the sky?" I said yes and then talked about Heaven having streets of gold. She followed that up with "I want to walk on streets of gold! I want to walk in the sky! I want to die right now!" I mean...how exactly do you handle that one? :-) I explained that it was a one way street (going Heaven) and that we shouldn't be in any rush - hopefully that quelled the desire. That being said, for the third night in a row (this time at dinner) she said, "I'm so excited to see Heaven." I mean, hey - that's a good thing, right? :-)4/14 - Talk about a flat out day! Team Taylor was up early, and we kicked the day off with something high on JT's to do list: A final post-Easter photo shoot of the girls! K was NOT best pleased when asked to put the dress back on, but she acquitted herself admirably once she was promised 3 M & M's for the photo shoot. Honestly, she really was great once she got into it - she's a great little poser, and she was wonderful to hold Cora's hand and try to get her to smile. We took about 14 million pics, and a few of them were really good. Nice idea, Wife Muffin!!!
One crazy thing - K brushed her hair all by herself today. She need a little help with the tangles, but y'all - that girl is growing up. It's just amazing to watch it happen. She ties her own shoes. She dresses herself. She brushes her own teeth (with adult toothpaste). She brushes her own hair. She takes her medicine like a champ. She's even started bathing herself. It's happening - SHE'S GROWING UP!!!!! Cora, slooooooooooooow down!!!! I can't have you growing up as quickly as your sister. :-)After the photo shoot, we all rolled over to the park to play for about an hour. It was then a mad dash back to the house, where JT and K went to Fun2BFit for Eli's 5th birthday party. Obviously K was in Heaven, as she was fed cupcakes, got to play at the gym, hung out with Ry, and had a yummy lunch. It was then back home for the next part of the day - a trip to the Greenway! We only had an hour (as we had yet ANOTHER engagement), but K was a rock star on her bike. She is really, really getting comfortable going fast, and she's definitely getting better about attacking the hills. I'm just thrilled that my little Saris Bones bike rack is still holding up (it carried JT's bike this time) - gettin' my money's worth!
At 5:30 we then rolled over to the last event of the evening - dinner with our old neighbors. The Ways moved to Skybrook late last year, and they invited us and our other neighbors over for a reunion. The food was great, and K got a chance to play with Kaelin for the first time in probably 6+ months! I had to leave a bit early given how fussy Cora was, but K was able to stay and play with the kids until later. Kaelin actually went to bed about 7:30, but the other 3 siblings in the Way house looked after my Munchkin until it was time to roll. Plus K had 3 desserts, so she wasn't exactly complaining... :-)4/15 - It was off to church this morning, and there was a funny moment in the car with K. She said she didn't like church, and when I asked why, she said, "That word you don't like." Family, this was a HUGE MOMENT for me - as it felt like a breakthrough. That word is, of course - BORED - and K knew that I never wanted it said in my presence (and actually respected me enough not to say it). Now what I will say - I am with her, in that FH kids can be fairly repetitive. They are taught the same lesson fairly continually on a quarterly basis (or so) every year until they get to the Arrows classroom (which is I think 5th grade). However, I told her that she just had to try and find ways to make it fun - play games, learn things, make new friends, enjoy the snacks, etc (she told me her favorite part of FH Kids was the goldfish snack :-)).
What I will say - she is always super chipper when I pick her up, and she's usually playing great and enjoying herself with kids in the room. Also, on this day one of the volunteers told me that she was "a really, really good one," which obviously made me feel great. And this is the point where I have to pause and say a huge THANK YOU, FATHER for the transformation I've seen in K over the past week (JT mentioned it as well last night). A week ago I just raised up my parenting and K's behavior to God, as I realized I was trying to do it "on my own, under my own power" vs. bringing in the source of all grace for my help. Since then, K has been SO much sweeter, and things have been so much calmer. We haven't had to discipline her all week, she's said please and thank you almost constantly, and we've just had more fun and gotten along better. Praise Jesus, as this is nothing shy of a blessing from above. 
The afternoon was, unfortunately, a bit of a disaster. I went to the gym and got a good workout in, and then the plan was that the girls would show up about 3 PM for a good swim session (K has swim tryouts in a week). Well, they show up and K jumps in, goes one lap down, jumps off the block, and then swims back. We are about to do it again (and JT and Cora are about to hop in) when the staff tells us that sirens are going off and we've got a Tornado Warning in effect. Consequently, we have to jump out of the pool and head to the locker room for shelter. I honestly thought it would pass quickly, but when I looked out the window I realized that we were potentially in trouble, and I didn't just mean "not getting to swim anymore." K was dry and having a snack, which placated her for a bit (I had her, JT had Nugget), but pretty soon she was quite adamant that she wanted to swim some more (which I totally understood but was powerless to influence). When 3:30 came and went, there were 2 realities we had to confront: 1 - the pool wasn't going to open back up, which meant that K was NOT going to be happy, and 2 - We couldn't stay there, as the forecast said it was going to just get worse over the next 4 hours. Consequently, we packed up the girls and then went out into the cars during a veritable HURRICANE! Seriously - in retrospect, it was the absolute ZENITH of the storm, and it was CRAZY! K was absolutely bawling as we ran for the car. She was truly rattled, and I was worried that either a) the storm was scaring her or b) how I had described the storm had scared her (I had described it as something powerful enough that it was very dangerous and could kill us if we stayed in the pool, as I wanted to impress upon her why we were being forced to huddle in the locker rooms). She did say (in the moment) that she was scared, but afterwards she just admitted she was upset because she wanted to swim longer.
THE GOOD NEWS: We made it home safely, we didn't lose power, we have another swim date scheduled for Saturday, and K got to watch a movie with cheese puffs as her snack (she watched Hercules for the first time and LOVED it).
4/16 - So two great stories to relate today:
1. We are sitting at the dinner table, and K suddenly starts singing: "Kindergarten here we come (here we come), Kindergarten here we come (here we come)! Good-bye preschool, it's been fun - Kindergarten here we come (here we come)!" Too cute! She then gives us the whole song, which says:"I've learned my numbers: 1-2-3 (1-2-3)!
I've learned my letters: ABC (ABC)!
Then the chorus again - too cute! It was SO sweet and so cute...and so emotional all at the same time. When we listened to the whole thing (and I can't get the tune or the words out of my head), the reality did hit - she is almost done with UCUMC. All the fretting about which pre-school, all the memories made, all the donuts for dad and muffins for mom and end of semester celebrations and everything else - it's all ending. I'm getting a little emotional as I type it, and I know that we are just talking about preschool. But there is a reality in all this, and that is the inexorable march of time. She's growing up so fast (and not just growing, but really maturing). It's amazing.
The same is true of the Nugget. She is pointing to things she wants and then pointing back at herself. She's signing more and please. She hands you her shoes when it's time to go outside (or when she wants to :-)). She is comfortable brushing her teeth. She sees a picture of a belly button and points to her own. She knows who to look at when you say mama, dada, and TT. She knows when it's time for bed and actively points to/reaches for the crib. She is talking more and using actual words. She has even started imitating my gestures when reading - especially on Go Dogs, Go (just like Kaitlyn did). Incredible.
2. So I am about to bathe Buke, and I take off her diaper. When I do, I get DEUCE ON MY HAND! That little stinker (literally) had pooped in her diaper right before the bath! I tried to wipe her standing up, but that was not working. Consequently, I had to transfer her to the changing table, and in the process got more deuce on my chest! Needless to say I was bathing while the girls were, as I was ROT. GUT. FILTH. Nasty...
4/17 - So today was another good one. Kate was over in the morning, and the girls played "Cora tag" with her before leaving for preschool. Cora loves it, as she chases them both around. The girls were in their capes, which double as wings for the "dragon migration" (My Little Pony).Kate was over in the afternoon, and then it was off to gymnastics before $2 Burger Tuesday!
4/17 - A big milestone on the gymnastics front today - K did her first ever forward roll at the gym! I had seen her practice it the week before, but JT said she really did pull it off. Way to go, Munchkin! I have seen her do bridge multiple times, and it's crazy to watch how much stronger at it she's already become. And at night she's walking her feet up the wall in bed - that girl is getting stronger!
4/18 - So today was a super emotional day for me. I read "The Last Lecture" today, and let me tell you - that story is going to stick with me for the rest of my life. I have often heard it said that we don't pick our books - they pick us. That was certainly true in college when I read 100 Years of Solitude. And it was CERTAINLY true on this day.
I knew the story, but I didn't know much about the author. He was in his 40's. He was healthy. He was an academic. He had 3 kids, one of which was 5 and the other 1. There were SO MANY things I read that matched where I was in my life, and the lessons contained therein were just PHENOMENAL. Honestly, God has dropped SO MUCH wisdom on me lately, but this was just an avalanche of amazing information to take in. I was so thankful to read it. Many tears were shed, several laughs were had, and I left that book with a profound sense of the importance in making every single day count - especially with your family. THANK YOU, FATHER - it was like Solomon was sitting with me today.
JT and the girls had a park dinner with Lindsey and the Williams clan, and it sounds like they had a blast. I didn't see much of them today, but I was thrilled they were able to get out and about, as the weather is finally turning. Yay!
4/19 - So today was another God Encounter day, as we received very clear direction on next steps for K (and by extension the Bukenator). I toured the two finalists for Kaitlyn's kindergarten and elementary education on this day, and God blessed us with a clear winner.
My day started at CIS (Carolina International School). It was okay, but there were plenty of things I didn't love about the place - the facility size, some of the philosophy, and the grounds in general. I had read quite a bit online about it, and by test score and prep standards they had been CRUSHED compared to schools around the area (this was particularly alarming given the progress CMS is making on all fronts re: college prep). Couple that with a lukewarm feeling about their educational offering, and you have a guy who wasn't sold on driving past the local elementary school every day (as well as Cox Mill elementary) just to have the charter school experience.
That evening we went to Kindergarten welcome night at our local public school - Highland Creek Elementary - and let me tell you: it was night and day. We LOVED it, and there was NO comparison. We walked in and saw bees and hornets everywhere, and the floor was green and yellow - just like my elementary school! Every teacher was super well prepared, the classrooms were honestly state of the art, and the principal did a GREAT job sharing their vision. They did have great test scores, so it was AWESOME to also get such a good vibe from the place that is 1.3 miles to the house (JT actually delivered the registration forms in person on a WALK in the neighborhood - how awesome is that!). JT and I walked out of there confident and very much at peace with our decision - THANK YOU, FATHER!!!!!
Oh, and random note - K is currently calling us "Momel....Dad-o....." anytime she addresses us. We honestly have NO IDEA what that means, but we're just rolling with it. :-)
4/20 - Today was parent-teacher conferences at UCUMC, and I am THRILLED to report that K is officially Kindy ready!!!! She received a very good report from her teachers, with comments like "fantastic listener, great at retaining info, very self aware and does well putting her feelings into words." They continued to say that she is "very thoughtful with her words and actions and has come out of her shell so much since the first of the year!" They did mention that she tends to play with one friend (can't image who that is...). :-)
Seriously - the report was wonderful and made us very, very happy. Having someone say that your child is "an absolute joy to have in class" really makes you feel good. She is a super sweet girl, and I am really, really proud of her. Can't believe Kindergarten is here!
In the afternoon I participating in towing the girls around the neighborhood in "the wagon" (courtesy of the Hollis family), and they seemed to enjoy it. Cora sat good for about 10 minutes, but after that she'd had enough and kept trying to stand up in the wagon (suboptimal obviously).
That evening was another big milestone for her matriculation - the end of year Preschool Dance! We arrived early (just before 6:30), and it really was a fun evening (Buke even made the trip!). There was food for the kiddos (especially sweets), Kate was there (as was Ryann and most of her classmates), and K did have a good time. Honestly, she doesn't really enjoy dancing (she even said, "I don't like to dance"), but she did enjoy running around with all the other kids (the place was PACKED by the end).
For me, it was just another reminder that we've reached the end of an era, as preschool is truly ending. All of those kids running around, having so much fun together...soon to be dispersed to different schools all over the county, likely to not speak again (in many cases anyway). Watching them play, thinking of what's to come, dancing with K, singing "Under the Sea" while dancing with her - it was an emotional moment for me: happy, sad, and a bit bittersweet. It was a great time, but it was also a reminder of how quickly things change.
4/21 - HUGE milestone at the park today: Kaitlyn asked me, "Can I go to the bathroom by myself?" First time ever! Sure enough, she puttered over to the bathroom by the pool, went in by herself, and took care of business. Way to go, kiddo!
Also, this morning I came home from my run to find her doing GREAT controlling the figure on Wii Ski. It was the best she'd ever done, and now she said that she wants to try it for real. So LOOK OUT, APP SKI!!!!! Come January, we are putting our oldest on the Bump!
We did our last swim before test out today, and K did really, really good. She's definitely ready - it's just a question of whether or not she's willing to do it at the tryout. Jenny and I are very optimistic, so watch this space for updates. :-)I had the nugget in the afternoon (went for a walk with her) while JT and K went to Brielle's for her birthday party. K had an ice cream with EVERY CONCEIVABLE TOPPING ON THE PLANET, so between that, pizza, and a bounce house, she was in HEAVEN.
4/22 - The Nugget is 16 months old today!!! How in the world did that happen?!?!?!? It is CRAZY how quickly she's changing. She is moving SO FAST now - practically running from place to place. She's also starting to realize when something is about to happen and is reacting accordingly. Case in point - she KNOWS when you are about to grab her for bed or to put her in a clipped in seat, and unless she's a) really tired or b) super hungry, she will turn and RUN in the other direction. She's getting stronger and quicker, with the end result being that, once she gets a head of steam, she will CRASH into your legs (and bite your kneecaps for some strange reason). But she is continually improving her balance, ability to turn, and ability to pop back up quickly without any assistance. Love that kid!
And on the K front - SHE MADE THE SWIM TEAM!!!!! K is now a Highland Creek Hurricane! Next up - the latex swim cap and black suit - too cute! Swim team practice starts on May 14th - can't wait to see her in action!Seriously - she was a ROCK STAR in the water and absolutely CRUSHED her try out. She's a fast little swimmer, and I am excited to see how much she improves during swim season. She was also a great little cheerleader, sticking around to cheer for her friend Luke. And best of all, Kate was there practicing for the swim team! So K got the chance to swim with Fiona and Allison while Cheryl worked with Kate on swimming (she's really progressing quickly, and I feel very confident she'll make the team).
Full disclosure - Having had the benefit of time to think about it, I think I was really stressed about getting K onto the team. It's not because I think she's going to be an Olympian, gonna be a scholarship athlete in college, or any of that. It's because I see tremendous value in the exercise, stroke work, and learning how to be part of a team that I was so keen on it. And now that she's part of the team and I know that she'll get some quality instruction (which should solidify a lot of her knowledge - especially when we add in all the "fun swims" this summer), I am feeling much better. I had the swim team as another tool to promote health, fitness, social interaction, and learning how to respond to authority, so this was a huge win (for all of us). PROUD OF YOU, KID!!!
One other item to note for me (a spot where I struggle as a parent) - K was a little stubborn when playing with Kate's sisters. They were happy to include her and wanted to play tag, but K didn't want to play that game in particular. I tried to explain that it wasn't always about her and that she had 2 options: either play with them or play on her own. I find myself focused a lot on how K interacts with older kids. Most of the time those kids seem great, but I don't ever want to be the parent who's not aware if older kids want to play on their own. I was certainly one of those kids who didn't particularly like playing with younger kids (until middle or high school anyway, at which point it didn't matter), and I just find myself constantly watching to ensure she's giving older folks their space. The flip side is that I want her to learn how to "figure it out" with other kids, which I actually think she's doing a really good job at (more to come on this later in the post). Bottom line - they had fun, but I want K to realize that sometimes older kids either a) need their own space or b) aren't always going to conform to the younger kids wishes.
The afternoon was good with one miiiiiiiiiinor hiccup. :-) JT was out somewhere, which meant that I had the girls for din din. Well, I was making their food when suddenly I heard a HUGE crash on the other side of the counter from the kitchen sink. I just assumed that Buke had crashed into the table, but admittedly it was louder than any of her previous crashes. Well, after I hear the blood curdling scream, I go around the counter to see my youngest bawling on the floor with blood in her mouth. In a word...sub-optimal.
Now I honestly have no idea what she did, but Jenny thinks she likely stood on the Dory chair and then fell off, catching her lip on the table. This girl had an INSTANT fat lip, and getting the blood out of her mouth was no easy task. Poor little thing! She didn't cry too long and did manage to rally, but her lip was seriously swollen (and stayed like that for about 24 hours). Rough and tumble!
K's funny moment came when I was at work. She walked into my office just as I was about to start a call and noticed a large plastic tub (we were going to use it for clothes storage). She asks if she can stay in there and play in it (we are talking literally climbing into and sitting in the tub), and I say yes, so long as she doesn't make a sound since I've got a conference call. Well, I look over a minute later and she's dragging it out of the room. I ask what she's doing and tell her she can't make noise in here, and she says, "I want to play in it, but I know I'll make noise!" Her solution - just drag it to her room! And sure enough, after the call I found her in the tub at the foot of the bed playing with stuffed animals. Give the girl credit - she came up with a workable solution!
General note to comment here since another father mentioned their daughter does this: when we do lotion and brush K's hair at night, she typically watches YouTube kids. However, she no longer watches movie clips or songs. Instead, for the past few months she's watched adults playing with toys. Sometimes the voices are good. Sometimes they are terrible. It's always a little strange. But hey - I used to spend HOURS watching other people play video games at Tilt, so who am I to judge? :-)4/23 - Buke said "More book!" today while reading! She often does the more sign when eating, but today I really think she said "More book!" while I read to her in the morning. She is great about hopping off the seat (she likes to sit in the breadbasket now vs. on my leg), picking the book she wants, handing it to you, and then raising her arms for you to pick her back up. And make no mistake - if you select a book she doesn't like, she has NO PROBLEM knocking it out of your hand. too funny!
And just like Kaitlyn, she has started turning the pages as soon as they pop up (we are still largely on board books with her). Today was a big day for turning pages, however, as she finally managed to separate two pages that she'd flipped at the same time. I remember when K finally learned to do that, and it's crazy to watch a second child figuring it out as well. Very cool.
And speaking of K - that girl did a ONE HUNDRED PIECE PUZZLE ON HER OWN TODAY!!!! Seriously - her spacial reasoning skills are off the charts.
4/25 - Cora did a TON of body parts when asked to identify them today! She can do ears, eyes, teeth, tongue, and especially....her belly button! That's her favorite, as she loves to lift up her shirt and point to it.
K and I drove to TN today, as this weekend was Pattie's Senior Day at MTSU. Given all the driving involved, my goal was to break it up as much as possible and let her see as many folks as possible. We started with the drive to Vol Nana's, which was smooth and went great. We had a classic moment in the car while driving to Asheville. I asked K, "Are you a mountain girl or a beach girl?" She thought a second before responding: "I'm a kitty and a doggy person." I mean, you can't really argue with that...
That girl was SO EXCITED to see Sweetie Pie and Vol Nana, and she LOVED her time at her house. The highlight was having 3 cats in her bed at the same time! Oh, and her quote of the night came at Bath. I was sitting in there with them ready to just chat, when K suddenly says, "Daddy, at bath time - you get out." I told her I just wanted to hang out, and she replied: "Dada, I have a deal for you. Bath time is girl time, so get out. I want to talk to my friends we came to visit in Tennessee. I will chat with you on the drive home and when we are back in Charlotte. Okay?" I mean....WOW. She does know who pays the mortgage, right? :-)
But seriously -she had a great night, and her pottery from the pink pig was just ADORABLE! She did a really good job, and I was really, really proud of her. We now have it displayed downstairs in the kitchen - it's really, really good!
4/26 - Today was a GREAT one for K, as she had girl's day with Vol Nana! They started at the Tea Room for High Tea, where K had a great little lunch (mac 'n cheese, fruit, etc) and her own little tea pot (filled with lemonade). Mom said she LOVED drinking out of the tea pot, and the pics were very cute. Next up was a pedicure, where K got to pick their colors (she chose purple - looked adorable!). She also got to watch the My Little Pony movie (have I mentioned I'm now invested in these characters and want to see where this story ends...sad, I know). 
That afternoon mom was slated to go over to Nanny's to drop off some food, and I was going to take K to a playground. However, when she realized that Vol Nana was going to be gone for several hours, she got really sad (I was upstairs for all this, but mom said she could see the lip quivering and her eyes watering). Mom asked if she wanted to go, and she JUMPED at the chance. And what's funniest - she had a BLAST! Apparently all Nanny's sisters and cousins (who were over visiting) chased her around the house and played with her, and she was happy as a clam. She came back and informed me that she had 2 bowls of ice cream, a brownie, 2 hershey's kisses, and a piece of cake (which she didn't like). Mom told me it really wasn't much at all. I expect reality was somewhere in between... :-) But the cutest part - at the end of the night, she wouldn't hug anyone except Nanny, which obviously tickled her to death. 
4/27 - Before heading to Murfreesboro, Mom took K out with her to show property. K must be a good luck charm, as they sold the property on the spot! She then dropped K at Dad's, and shortly thereafter we were en route to the Boro! K rode with Cindy and Alice, and the story I got was that she watched her tablet the entire time (they said she didn't make a peep). I didn't love hearing that, as my hope was that they'd interact some, watching the tablet to break things up. However, I didn't make that clear, so that's on me (mental note for next time!).After checking into the house (which was great), we rolled over to the "must do" on my list - Mayday Brewing. Things started out really well - I had my first beer, we were playing Headbandz, K was smiling, the sun was out...all was well. Then I went to the bar to get my next beer...and the wheels fell off.
So I turn around with my beer, and I hear a DEAFENING SCREAM in the brewery. Someone is crying, and I have the only child in the place capable of that volume. Sure enough, I see K walking toward me crying. What's worse, I look down and see that her toe is COVERED in blood! Apparently, she'd sliced the top of her toe on the bottom of the door. I instantly carried her outside and got her away from all the people and distractions so we could focus. All I had was a napkin, and even then getting her to let me put pressure on it was tough. She didn't want me touching it, but I knew we had to stop the bleeding, as it looked bad. 
Luckily, Cindy had band-aids and wipes, but K wanted NOTHING to do with that wipe (she knew it would sting). Finally, I just had to use it despite her protests, and I was able to keep enough pressure and elevation to staunch the bleeding (before that I couldn't tell if she'd ripped her toenail off or what). Turns out she'd shaved a layer of skin off the toe - it was nasty! But she was a rock star, and by evening she was putting her toe completely in the bath and saying "this doesn't hurt." We got it cleaned and dressed, and the next day (wearing tennis shoes, of course), she was right as rain. Rough and tumble!
It should be noted that dinner was mac 'n cheese for the FOURTH STRAIGHT MEAL (luckily we didn't have it again). Also, after the cut, K definitely changed who she wanted to be with. Once that happened, she only wanted to sit by and be with daddy. I actually failed her that evening, as I didn't realize how scared she was and how much she wanted me for support when we went from the brewery to the restaurant (only 1.6 miles away). I thought she was just tired and trying to make things confirm to her desire, but truth be told - she was hurting and wanted me there to support her. In retrospect, I was disappointed I didn't make that connection. However, I apologized to her the following morning for not realizing she needed me, and going forward I moved the carseat back to the Elantra. After that, everywhere I went - she went. :-) And it worked great. 4/28 - So I am pleased to announce that K woke up FINE AND DANDY this morning. In fact, that girl was READY to get some exercise. Her morning started off walking down the street to the Oakland Plantation with Chris. It was SO sweet to see them walking together holding hands. Chris is 6'3", so you can imagine the contrast. They also played some Connect 4 - they were really cute together!We hit a playground near campus before the games started, and K performed a new first - moving forward on the Monkey Bars! Seriously, y'all - this was a BIG deal. Previously, I'd always held her while she put her hands on each one, but this time as we started I just said, "I'm gonna let go, and you hang there for 2 seconds, okay?" So we tried that. Then we did 3 seconds. Then we did 4 seconds. Then we did 5 seconds! Then, as if suddenly realizing her power, she actually went and did FIVE RUNGS ON HER OWN!!!!! She did fall at one point (and landed on her wrist, which she said hurt yet didn't cry), but she was a rock star and bounced back up to try it again. In fact, she did it repeatedly to the point of exhaustion. Way to GO, kiddo!
Her favorite part of this playground was the tire swing that rotated. She'd never been on one of those before, and she LOVED the spinning and getting dizzy. We had a good 40 minutes at the park before we had to shuffle, but that was a good thing given that none of us had sunscreen on at the time (I promptly went to Wal-Mart and bought some).The day at the softball field was AWESOME. K was a BOTTOMLESS PIT, eating non-stop the entire day! Luckily most of the snacks were healthy, but there was a bag of Doritos, a hot dog, and a bag of popcorn in there. :-) However, I am not complaining, as that girl DEFINITELY burned it off. She was ALL ABOUT running the entire time we were there. We ran down the sidewalks, ran up 4 flights of stairs in the parking deck, ran the stairs in the student union (she did them 3 times - twice for time!), you name it. It was AMAZING how active she was! Add in the fact that the Raiders got 2 wins, amazing weather, and a great evening of laughs with friends, and you have a perfect day. And then you add in pizza, and it's EEEEEEEEEEEEVEN better. :-)
We got her in bed late again this night (about 8:30-9; it was 9 local the night before as well), but she was in the back bedroom to keep her away from the party noise, which worked well. She actually much preferred the back bed. It was much lower, and when she climbed in she said, "Ah, this is so comfortable..." Cute.4/29 - This day started with a walk over to Oakland plantation, where K played on their playground. I witnessed another first, as she pulled up on a bar, put her legs over it, and then hung backwards - never seen that trick before! Gymnastics is really making that girl stronger...and more adventurous!
This wasn't the morning highlight for me, however. About 15 minutes after arriving, a pair of kids showed up at the playground, and one of them immediately cut Kaitlyn off and jumped in front of her on the bar. Chris tried to get his attention so that he would go somewhere else, but I told him, "Let them figure it out." Sure enough, after she let him play, she hen politely asked, "May I have a turn?" Sure enough, he did let her have a turn, and then they started rotating. WAY TO GO, MUNCHKIN! It really was cool watching her figure it out and solve the problem with another kid - I was well and truly proud.Also, another big win for the Raiders today, and another fun (but PACKED) day for this half of Team Taylor. We did lots of running again, although we did less because a) her legs were sore and b) there was only 1 game. But man, what a game it was...
So today was a HUGE milestone for the Taylor family - Pattie's last home game at MTSU. It has been an incredible experience, and I have been so proud of her for so many reasons and on so many levels. K and I got to join the rest of the family on the field when they recognized her, and it was just such an emotional experience. I honestly can't even remember what the PA guy said about her because I was fighting back tears and just trying to take in the moment.
The Raiders got a victory and assured themselves their first ever birth in the conference tournament - which is a HUGE deal and such a great accomplishment in Pattie's Senior season. Now add in the fact that it's in Charlotte, and it just feels perfect (dare I say...scripted :-)). But day was perfect for more than just that. The weather was amazing. Everyone was healthy. Everyone was happy. It was such a reminder of the importance of family and the reality that every thing passes by SO FAST. Pattie's softball career is almost over! How in the world did that happen!
As for Pattie, she had SO MANY friends there to support her, which is a testament to the young woman she is and the legacy she'll leave in the Boro. Her friends were amazing in their support, just as they were wonderful with K. She particularly loved Diesel (a friend's dog), and a highlight for me was her yelling out before we left, "I wanna hug Cuccia!" Cuccia heard it, hopped off the dugout, and gave her a huge hug. It was perfect.The drive to the Rice's was easy (courtesy of My Little Pony), and we pulled in just before 6. The highlight of the drive for me was K asking to hear Despacito...and then singing part of it! Seriously - she sang the chorus when it came on every time - AWESOME!!!!!! It was classic.
Regarding our time with the Rice's, we knew it would be short, but K ran in and the kids got on like a house on fire, making every second count. They got in bed about 9 (I didn't bathe K but HAD to do a quick wipe given all that sunscreen and ball field dirt!), but they were still talking at 9:40 when I went up there and told them they had to go to bed (Johnny's kids had school in the morning).Oh, and exciting news - K COUNTED TO 100 ON HER OWN DURING THE DRIVE TO KNOXVILLE!!!!! That's a HUGE accomplishment. Milestones are falling daily at this point!
4/30 - It was a quick goodbye to Sam and company (Sam brushed her hair - too cute), and K asked if she could play in the basement a little before we left. She played for a bit while I packed up, and then it was an easy drive for the first hour. When we got to the NC border, however, the wheels finally started to come off. Poor K was exhausted and sad, and eventually it just got the better of her. She cried for about 40 minutes en route to Asheville, screaming at me because I wouldn't pick up a puzzle that she'd thrown on the floor (keep in mind I'm driving). She then refused to say please when asking for her sunglasses (we are talking deliberately saying everything but - when I said, "Say the magic word," she said, "Abra Cadabra" and then told me she didn't know what polite word she was supposed to say.
It all culminated at King Daddy's (my favorite breakfast spot), when K just went mental IN the restaurant. We had actually already been seated (she was gonna get a waffle - I was going to get my usual), but then she became uncontrollable, and I wasn't about to ruin anyone's breakfast. Consequently, I picked her up and carried her out the door, literally KICKING AND SCREAMING (she was shouting "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" over and over, but the damage was done. The punishment was heavy (and progressive as this continued) - a spanking, no shows in the car, no tablet or phone for the rest of the week, and loss of all animals (friends) in bed. 
Unfortunately I had to make it a teaching moment, and she had to know that I was wiling to keep my word and that I wouldn't tolerate her foolishness (I am giving you the abbreviated version, as a) I know you hear stories like this form me a lot and b) poor thing really was exhausted). On the drive home, she told me that I was the worst father in the world and that none of this (meaning discipline) would have happened if "we hadn't gone on this stupid vacation." That part didn't bother me. Neither did the screaming, kicking her seat, and shouting at me to turn around (she also unclipped her seatbelt once and crawled out of it another time). The absolutely refusal to say please when I was offering her food, however, bothered me a lot. 
Eventually - AFTER ANOTHER 40 MINUTES - she was starving and finally, in a small, timid voice, politely asked for the pouch. She ate in silence (2 pouches, 2 halos, and a snack pack), and then, finally, the truth came out. She started crying, and when she could find her voice again, she yelled out: "Sam! Granny A! Vol Nana! Sweetie Pie!" There it was - the truth laid bare. I had driven the poor girl over a thousand miles in 5 days. She'd slept in 4 different beds. She'd seen all her favorite people, only to be pulled away from them day after day. She'd stayed up WAY later than normal. She'd sliced her toe open at a brewery. She was exhausted and sad, and she just needed to let that out. The good news - as soon as we got home, she was an angel, and she's honestly been GREAT (we are talking UH-MAZIN') ever since. But that's a story for May, as it's time to wrap April.
That's all the news that's fit to print - talk about an EPIC month! Chat soon!
Love,
Sam and Jenny
