Just to make sure I have it committed to the archive - setting up the nursery...

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  9 Days

Family,

Muffin Puffin dressed like an extra from "Contagion" before
Team Taylor and Team Tacy get cracking on painting.

And a good morning to you from the Queen City, where Team Taylor is exhausted but now fully functional (thanks to 2 AWESOME English muffins from Team Brothernides and our Keurig) and ready to tackle the day.  We have just reached the 24 hour mark in "Project Fatten Kaitlyn," and so far all parties are still accounted for and charging forward.  I will say that poor K is EXHAUSTED (at least that's how it looks to her papa) from all this new eating (more often each day and now with an extra bottle after the feed with Jenny), and you can actually hear her gasping for breath between each series of sucks.  As a father it kills me, because we're torn between a) letting her get the sleep she needs as a preemie and b) ensuring she's getting 480 ml's a milk each day.  That being said, she is definitely taking in additional calories, which is an absolute plus.  All other "bodily processes" are working - in fact, they are EPIC.  I mean seriously - HOW DOES SOMEONE WITH A STOMACH THE SIZE OF A MARBLE PRODUCE SUCH COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF WASTE?  One word for you sports fans - TOXIC.  But the sweetest poop in the world...I mean...

Today's post is actually the first in a series of "memory blogs" which I plan to intersperse over the course of the next month or so.  The memory posts are what I consider to be the "milestone moments" on the journey with Kaitlyn that I wasn't able to capture at the time.  Today's blog is the nursery - the project that took place over the weekend of January 4-6, and then later throughout Q1 as we rolled in the furniture.    The above shots are from that first weekend in January, where Jenny's folks rolled in and we spent all day Saturday (and a bit of Sunday) transforming the nursery from Carolina blue (don't worry - daddy plans to get that color back on the walls eventually) to Comforting, mine and Jenny's favorite color from our old condo.  

Jenny's dad is a math guru, and her mother is quite the planner.  Put them together, and you have a 2-man crew that comes in full steam with a purpose and knows exactly what needs to happen minute by minute.  I learned more about painting (and taping - WTF!  That takes eons!) in that 12 hour span than I ever thought possible, and the biggest learning that I took from the event was, in the event Team Tacy is out of town when we next need something painted - CALL A PROFESSIONAL CREW.  But with them there it went quick and looked amazing - thanks so much guys!

I mean, Da Vinci WISHES he had this type of artistic flare - how cute is my wife?  I love you, pumpkin!!!!

The Bull gets in on the act, painting for the first time since his mum allowed him to paint his closet when he was 7.    Not surprising, neither my form, stamina, attention span, or ability to paint in a straight line have improved in 3 decades.  Oh well, at least I wasn't painting robots this time...yet.  Also, check out Jan (Jenny's mom) in the background - props go to her for ALL of the edging in that room - the lady is a painter!

A few components for the nursery from Grammie and Grand Pooh (my mom and step dad) - the mobile, the lamp, the bumpers, and a blanket (as well as the other 97,000 things my mom has bought for the child, averaging about 47 purchases for every day of gestation.

The Tacy clan in action...and I'm sure Jenny's mother will HATE me for this.  But hey - it's all about the action shot, right?  And besides, we gave you a grand baby - you can't stay mad at me for too long...just saying'...

Over the course of January and February, we did a bit more work around getting the crib and some additional furniture in place.  And by additional furniture - HEEEEEELLLLLLLOOOOOOOO IKEA!!!!  That's right, baby - why pay $14,000 for Pottery Barn when you can pay $7.95 for an entire room of furniture at Sweden's Wal-mart.  We rocked over there in January (had the customary Swedish meatballs and Mountain Dew, of course, as shopping there will leave you FAMISHED), where we picked up a rickety (yet very stylish) bookcase and a stylish (yet less stable than VX poison gas in its string of pearls configuration) chest of drawers.  We then commenced with assembly, and as most folks will tell you, here are my observations:

Muffin Puffin starting to lay out the decorations that now adorn Kaitlyn's room.  Well, minus this curtain, because we don't yet have a valance on EITHER window.  Details - that's why they invented shutters...

CUTEST.  PHOTO.  EVER.  The proud mama-to-be thinking about bathing our child and then drying her with our "Dilly the Duck" towel, courtesy of Kim and Matt.

Um, don't let that smile fool you - it took OVER AN HOUR to get that top drawer in there, and that is SKIPPING what has now turned out to be a crucial step - bolting this little piece of particle board to the wall.  Currently if you pull on it, it tips over.  Details...I enjoy stuffed animals flying at me when I'm semi-conscious at 4 AM looking for another burp cloth.

T-Rowe - that is one SEXY glider - just sayin...

Sam installing the side rail...for the 3rd time...

Finished product - up to code!!!!  Jenny and I both cried when we heard the mobile play its lullaby.

1.  Don't think for a second you will be able to assemble the crib correctly the first time.  Or second.  Or third.  They are designed as labyrinths, with the sole goal of keeping that child imprisoned within.  Try as you may, you will make a mistake.  I mean, let's fact it - SuperMax prison facilities are easier to assemble, and even they have flaws.

2.  IKEA instructions use only pictures, and by pictures I mean some fat dude who is the Swedish equivalent of the Family Guy.  It all fits and it all works (as they say, "Happiness comes in a flat pack"), but ensure you a) dedicate 3 hours uninterrupted of your life, b) are prepared to have a few "unfinished edges" visible to the public, and c) have a six pack of Fat Tire handy.  Failure to comply with any of the above will leave you a broken individual with nothing but an addiction to meatballs and cheap glassware, making frequent trips to exit 43.

3.  All joking aside, there are few things more rewarding than sitting in your planned nursery with your soul mate and mother of your child, working together to make something for your future child.  It was not without its frustrations, but there were more than enough laughs and quality time spent together to more than make up for it.  As with so many things in life (including these incessant feedings), the journey is the destination, and often times that is what makes the memory that is so special in your heart.  I have no lie to tell - feeding Kaitlyn right now is BRUTAL, but seeing her sweet face when she's asleep, laughing with Jenny when we see "milk drunk coma" face, and knowing that I'm finally able to help feed her has been such an incredible experience.

It should be noted that, in the second week of Lady Kaitlyn's life, Team Taylor STILL has yet to procure a crib mattress.  That's about to change, however, as Team Taylor is about to rock BBB's website!  And speaking of, it's time to feed the rug rat and then hand the PC over to the missus for some long overdue shopping.

Chat soon!

Love,

Sam and Jenny

Absolutely, positively COVERED in shit...and couldn't be happier...

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  8 days (Happy 1 week birthday!)

Family,

And a good evening to you from the Queen City, where we've just given the rugrat her second ever bath, and the only words to describe her father's efforts would be EPIC FAIL.  For starters, no sooner had the bath commenced (on a waterproof sheet on our bed), then K proceeded to empty THE FLOODGATES KNOWN AS HER BLADDER.  Seriously - this child has been alive 7 days and has peed on me EIGHT TIMES.  It's almost becoming a bond we share - I clean her, and then she sterilizes me.  Quality bonding - who needs kangaroo care when you've got potty humor?

I then moved her to the floor and placed her on a towel (as all father of the year candidates would do), where I proceeded to bathe her in what I thought was warm water.  As fate would have it, the Titanic actually sank in warmer water than I was using.  But I thought I had finally righted the ship when I put on body lotion, only to realize that I had coated the child in soap - AWESOME.  Luckily Muffin Puffin came in and saved the day.  Otherwise, poor Kaitlyn would still be screaming (and make no mistake about it - those lungs are fully formed).

So a VERY noteworthy experience to write about from Saturday:  the newborn photo shoot.  I'm sure anyone who finds this has probably heard of Anne Geddes, the gal who poses newborns into all sorts of hilarious poses.  Well, following the advice of Beka Rice, Team Taylor decided that photography was definitely going to be a spot where money would be spent to commemorate this special time.  Consequently we booked in for a newborn photo shoot.  In a word - WOW - truly one of the most hilarious and entertaining things I have EVER done.

So picture this - you rock up to the photo studio, where you promptly must breastfeed your child for 30 minutes.  Why do this, you ask?  Well, it's simple - so you can put them in a MILK COMA.  I mean, with Kaitlyn, her eyelids get heavy after about 5 minutes, and by 15 her arms are just lifeless.  The end result is that you have a six day old carbon based life form who is totally naked and PUTTY in the hands of a trained professional.

Our photographer was AMAZING, and the way she could control that child (who didn't stir for more than 2.5 hours post feeding) was just beyond description.  Funny poses, cute outfits, amazing, colors, a bit of photoshop magic, and a whole lot of other stuff (all proprietary, I'm sure) went into it, and Jenny and I cackled for the entire session.  Kaitlyn, however, clearly had seen enough of our foolishness, as she managed to pay me back in spades.

Just before the "daddy-daughter" pictures (where I take my shirt off and flex my ginormous muscles...and then the photog airbrushes in a six pack and a jailhouse tat that reads "I heard Muffin Puffin and the Munchkin"), K was starting to get fussy, so we took a break to feed.  Faith (the photog) suggests putting a diaper on her, but we opt for a burp cloth instead.  Faith goes ahead and puts a towel under here, which is a good thing, since about 45 seconds later she EXPLODES with an epic performance.  No problem - we have a good laugh, and then we put another towel down.  2 minutes later?  FIRE IN THE HOLE!!!!!  Yes - deuces wild.  Twice.

But she then lapses back into deep sleep, at which time we commence with the daddy-daughter session.  So I put her on my chest, bum between my nipples, and Faith counts down "3...2...1..." Kaitlyn clearly thought this meant something else, as she proceeds to BLAST FECES ONTO MY CHEST LIKE IT'S SPRAYING FROM A ROCKET LAUNCHER.  My chest hair was a mess of, well...you know.

So we clean me off, at which point we move to photo #2 - me holding her upright, bum in my palm.  Faith counts down "3...2...1..." at which point, Kaitlyn BLASTS FECES THROUGH MY FINGERS.  Seriously?  SERIOUSLY!?!?!?  The kid is a machine!

I laughed until I thought my ribs were broken, and on the whole those 3 hours COULD NOT have been more fun.  Can't wait to see the pics!

On other fronts, at present we can't get K to gain weight.  She's holding at 5 pounds & 15 ounces,  and so we've officially ratcheted up the feeding schedule.  It's rough for JT, as she's having to feed and pump, but so far she's been an amazing trooper and an even more amazing mother.  Honestly, could my wife be any more perfect?  As for me, I'm finally getting the chance to feed her, which is making me feel good because I feel like I'm contributing/helping to this most crucial of tasks.  We're on a strict 3 hour schedule at present, and Jenny's getting 90 minutes of sack time as I write this (I opted for food instead because, well, I'm fat).  We've got 2 doctor's appointments this week, as well as two next week to continue tracking progress, and all doctors seem very confident that we'll start moving in the right direction soon.  I'm not concerned either, as so far our child has been the very definition of resilient.  I am a proud papa. :-)

Love,

Sam and Jenny

A fun post - the time capsule...

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  5 days

Family,

So I know that I just posted, but something I've been meaning to do is create the "time capsule" blog so that, when Kaitlyn reads this 30 years from now, she'll know what were the huge moments, people, and activities of 2013.  A lot of folks put this in Baby Books, and I will probably do that as well.  However, just so I have the record, some of the big ticket items that I can think of (written for Kaitlyn's benefit):

1.  Barack Obama was elected for his second term.  Yes, I did vote for him.  Yes, I am the only person at my company (and perhaps in the state) who did.  No, I have no regrets.

2.  There was a horrific school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, killing almost 30 children.  The NRA then demanded that armed guards be placed in all schools.  The topic raged for months.

3.  The DOW (stock market) hit it's all-time high the week before you were born (14.2K).  That's a good thing, as that's where your college fund is as I type this.

4.  LeBron James and the Miami Heat are the defending NBA champions and the team to beat, but Kobe Bryant is still the man. :-)

5.  Your Aunt Kim and Uncle Matt will get married later this year (July 13).

6.  Argo won best picture (it was really good).

7.  North Korea declared the armistice with South Korea invalid (by the time you read this, I don't even know if the country of North Korea will exist, but I shudder to think about the world and the implications if it doesn't).  Their leader, Kim Jong-un, has threatened to test missiles with the capability of striking the US mainland (Alaska), but the US doesn't believe the threat is viable at time of writing.

8.  Your parents will celebrate 1 year in the home you will grow up in.

9.  Your maternal grandmother (Grammie) successfully beat breast cancer.

10.  Private space companies and NASA have commenced drawing up plans for a manned mission to Mars, scheduled for take-off in 2018.

11.  US Airways and American Airlines merged (but it was really a US Airways takeover).

12.  The Baltimore Ravens won the SuperBowl in Ray Lewis' last season (filled with Deer Antler Spray).

13.  Lance Armstrong was stripped of his 7 Tour de France titles.

14.  Your parents will celebrate 7 years of marriage.

15.  Big musicians of the time:  Justin Bieber (HORRIBLE), Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift

16.  Big books of the time:  50 Shades of Grey, Killing Lincoln

17.  Big TV shows:  The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Homeland, Dexter, House of Lies

18.  Your first cousins (no doubt Gator fans and UF grads by the time you read this) were born

19.  Your Aunt Pattie graduated high school

20.  Your cousin Zachary got married

21.  Alabama repeated as the NCAA college football champs (third time in four years)

22.  The Big East Athletic Conference dissolved into "the Catholic 7" (who took the Big East name) and the ACC - the C-7 took the Big East name, and the old Big East is still trying to confirm it's new nickname.  Update as of 10 April - the old "Big East" is now the AAC - the American Athletic Conference.  No doubt the name is a plan in advance to lure West Coast schools to compete in the conference (after Boise State and San Diego State opted NOT to join and decided to remain in the Mountain West Conference).

23.  There is uncertainty about the sustainability of the EURO as a consolidated currency for Europe.

24.  The country is experiencing an oil and gas boom as part of a new process called "fracking" (hydraulic fracturing).

25.  UNC-Charlotte played their first ever college football game.

26.  We elected a new Pope - Francis.  The previous pope retired - the first priest in over 600 years to do so.

27.  Syria is still embroiled in a Civil War that some believe has now claimed upwards of 50,000 lives.

I am sure there are 10,000 other items I could include, but these are at least a start. :-)

Side note - I have now realized that I have to make peace with the fact that I will NOT have as much time to crank out these blogs as I did in London or Singapore.  It's funny, as I KNOW I am writing this only for myself, Jenny, and Kaitlyn, but at present I still feel the need to try and make each post witty for a phantom reader population that doesn't know this site exists.  One of my 2013 goals - constantly prioritize as needed, and remember the original purpose of this site - record the moments as they pass...any way you can.

Love,

Sam and Jenny

So few days, so many changes...

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  5 days

Family,

And a good afternoon to you from the Queen City, where Team Taylor is now settled back into the Mountain Fortress after our first foray out into the great wide world since becoming parents - Kaitlyn's first pediatrician appointment!  The appointment was set for 8:45 AM, and Team Taylor had laid out this EXQUISITE plan to ensure a) Kaitlyn was fed in time, b) the parents had plenty of time to change, and c) everything was packed and ready to go by 8:15.  It should be noted that our destination was a whopping 1.2 miles away, but the game plan was elaborate enough to travel around the world in 80 days without the use of airplanes. However, Team Taylor apparently forgot to share the game plan with our newest member, as she had other ideas.

My little Tarheel beside Rameses (which mom
refers to as "my little lamb" from college).  It's
a RAM!  The Tarheels are ferocious, damn it!

Last night was her first rough night sleeping (and granted we'd only had 3 other nights against which to compare, but details...), and Jenny and I were up all night worried that she wasn't getting enough air (she was hacking up phlegm all night - you're welcome for that image, and every breath was ragged).  I reckon I got a single hour of restless sleep at best, and you gotta love it when the alarm goes off and you grab every electronic device in an 8 block radius before realizing that it's the ALARM CLOCK that's actually ringing.  Two words:  BABY BRAIN.  I must give credit it wife muffin, as at one point she noticed the buildup, grabbed the squeeze-sucker thing, and began pulling snot out of K's nose.  I'm telling you, MY WIFE IS A NATURAL.  It's amazing to watch her maternal instincts just take over.  BEST.  WIFE.  EVER.

Despite a mad scramble, we were out the door by 8:20 (I think the bag packing scramble on delivery day prepared us for this), and we made it to the location by 8:30.  We filled out some paperwork, and by 9 AM we met our doctor (recommended by a friend - this gal was fantastic).  The good news:  Kaitlyn's very awake, super active, and those lungs are working fine (how do I know?  Because she SCREAMED BLOODY MURDER FOR 20 MINUTES DURING THE APPOINTMENT).  The bad news:  she's a wee bit jaundiced, and she's still losing weight.  However, as of 3 hours ago she's now on a strict 3 hour feeding/gorging schedule, and the Senior Members of Team Taylor are going to ensure this kid weighs over 6 lbs come Monday.

It's definitely still a unique experience writing our daughter's
name on forms and documents.  And yes, I'm well aware that
every photo you've seen (and most likely will see for the next
few weeks) features our daughter passed out.  I can assure you
it's not always like this. :-)

Looking back on her first 5 days of life, it is INCREDIBLE to see the changes that we're already seeing.  For example, within the last 24 hours her eyes have gone from deep, deep brown to a shade of blue, and for some reason her focus is constantly fixated to her left.  I'm not sure if she's seeing the Ghost from "3 Men and a Little Lady" in the corner or what, but there is definitely something that grabs her attention in that direction, regardless of what room/location we're in.

Some other early observations:

1.  She LOVES to have her hands free.  If you try to swaddle her, she will grunt and wiggle until those arms get free.  She will then PASS OUT.

2.  It's early, but my prediction (and Jenny's noticed it more than me) - this gal is gonna be left handed.  Middle Blockers of Mecklenburg County:  BEWARE.  Before her volleyball career takes flight, however, the target most in danger would be Jenny's breasts, as Kaitlyn wants to ensure she's got both hands on the prize before she latches (it is HILARIOUS!).

3.  She is a coo'er, grunter, and big time noise maker.  Seriously, watching her breastfeed is just about the cutest and most hilarious thing I've ever seen.  Picture a vuvuzela attached to the end of your wife's boob, and then picture that same vuvuzela alternating between sliding off your wife's breast and attacking it like a cheetah chasing a Wildebeest in the Serengetti grasslands.

4.  She is stronger than a bull moose.  Already she's able to raise her head (even if she can't control the landing), and getting her arms and legs into their slots in her onesies (which are about 19 times her current size given that she's a preemie) and keeping them there is about as easy as hiking Everest buck naked in mid winter without the aid of Tenzing Norgay (T-Bone - that was for you if you ever read this).

Our little snuggle bug in the hundred year
old bassinet made by my great-grandfather.

5.  She is a WONDERFUL, beautiful, perfect child.  Yes, she fights you when you change a diaper.  Yes, she refuses to be swaddled.  YES - she is absolutely perfect in every way.  Granted, I am a wee bit biased, but I am already so in love with this little snuggle bug that I just can't help myself.

We just finished our second marathon feeding session of the afternoon - props to Jenny for testing the theory that "ice cubes will ensure adequate stimulation to keep your child focused on the latch." :-)

Love,

Sam and Jenny

And suddenly...there were 3...

Team Taylor Countdown:  27 days until due date...oh - wait...

Family,

And a good afternoon to you from the Queen City.  Honestly, I CANNOT believe I am typing this, but the moment we've all been waiting for (and expected next month) has arrived.  That's right, sports fans - WE HAVE A DAUGHTER!!!!!  It feels SO SURREAL to type this, but may I present to you, for the first time in public:  Kaitlyn Elaine Taylor (the first :-))!!!!!!  She arrived 30 days early, weighing in at 6 pounds, 8 ounces (20 inches long).  But I am getting ahead of myself - let me give you the play by play of how this all went down...

First off, last weekend was PERFECT - we had Friday off, during which time we had lunch at Chik-fil-A, had a GREAT 60 minute massage, went to the movies (Argo - brilliantly done), went uptown for dinner (Fitzgeralds, where we had GREAT bleu cheese sliders and I found that OMB Copper isn't as bad as previously thought - but NOT worth $6 a pop), and then went to see Green Day's American Idiot at the Belk theater.  We PACKED it in - good thing!

Saturday and Sunday were busy with baby tasks, and by Sunday at 6:30, I was BUSHED and just wanted a beer.  Jenny, however, says, "We HAVE to do the Pack 'n Play."  I will be honest, I was a grumpy bugger about this, but we put it together.  THANK GOODNESS WE DID - MUFFIN, YOU ARE A GENIUS.

And now, to March 11th...also known as D-Day:

1 AM:  Jenny is snoring like a banshee.  Sammy the Bull is getting ZERO sleep but refuses to nudge his prego wife.

5:10 AM:  Jenny gets up to pee.

5:12 AM:  Jenny says, "Um, Sam...."  The silence that follows is deafening.

5:13 AM:  The bathroom floor is wet.  Very, very wet.  Helloooooooooooooo ruptured "bag of waters" (why the @#$# is it called waters?  There's only ONE water in there - just saying'...)

5:14 AM:  Sam realizes what is happening.  He is no longer sleepy.

5:15 AM:  Sam realizes he has about 94,000 items left on his to-do list pre-baby...which puts him SOL.

5:16 AM:  Sam looks at the "baby bag" he has packed and realizes that he's got a shedload of stuff for himself (books, PC, connections, etc.).  For his wife, however, what has he packed?  That's right - 2 PAIRS OF UNDERWEAR - FULL STOP.  Yes, I am nothing if not selfless in my dedication to others.

5:20 AM:  Jenny calls the hospital and tells them what's happening.

5:21 AM:  The hospital tells Jenny to drive to labor and delivery.

5:22 AM:  Sam lets off a string of expletives in an attempt to express his exuberance, excitement, and terror (not necessarily in that order).

6:00 AM:  Bag packed, Team Taylor runs out of the house.

6:01 AM:  Sam realizes he has left lights on.  Team Taylor decides to keep driving.

6:02 AM:  Jenny realizes that she has left her blood sugar checker.  Team Taylor decides to turn around.

6:05 AM:  Back to the house - I pull Katie my Lady into the garage.

6:12 AM:  We are on the road.

6:13 AM:  Not even Richard Petty on his best day could catch me.

6:30 AM:  Team Taylor arrives at Presbyterian Main.

6:35 AM:  Admitted into triage (with the look of collective deer in headlights)

6:40 AM:  Some lady feels Jenny's stomach.

6:41 AM:  Same lady says "You aren't leaving this hospital without a baby."

6:42 AM:  Rinse repeat on Sam's expletive display.

My perfect pumpkin - 9 hours before moving adding the
title of "mother" to an already impressive resume of best
friend, amazing wife, and soul mate.  I love you, muffin!!!

6:43 AM:  Since they are out of small and medium gowns, Jenny is placed in a gown large enough to cover the Red Army.  She walks down the hallway with robes flowing like the new Pope.

7 AM:  We check into our Labor and Delivery (L & D) room.

8 AM:  Contractions begin in earnest - irregular, and not painful.

8:30 AM:  JT and I begin walking around the floor to "allow gravity to help."  It doesn't.

9:15 AM:  Dilated 2 centimeters.

9:45 AM:  Next phase of walking to "allow gravity to help."  It does.

10:30 AM:  contractions are regular.  So is pain.

It is AMAZING how the heart rate goes up and down for
a baby - at this point, "Baby T" was anywhere from 175 to
112.  Doctors assured me that was good.

10:45 AM:  Pitocin is introduced to stimulate contractions.  She's at 3 centimeters.

11:00 AM:  Jenny climbs onto the birthing ball.  Contractions accelerate.  So does her discomfort and general dislike of me (but she's a trooper!).

11:05 AM:  First scream of pain.

11:06 AM:   First request for an epidural.

11:10 AM:  We are told we're 3rd in line for the epidural and still need the doctor's permission.  JT's stare could make Kim Jong-Un sign a peace agreement with South Korea.

11:25 AM:  Lots of pain and I feel as worthless as tits on a boar hog.

11:30 AM:  Epidural arrives.  Collective sigh of relief is breathed.

11:34 AM:  Epidural catheter is inserted into Jenny's back - the scream is something you'd only hear in Azkaban.

11:36 AM:  Peace.  All is right with the world.

12 PM:  Doctor says, "You'll deliver at 7 PM tonight.  I will be back in 2 hours."

2:25 PM:  Sam says, "I'm gonna go get lunch - will be back in 30 minutes."

2:30 PM:  Sam is walking to the register to pay for his lunch when Muffin Puffin calls him and says, "we are about to start pushing - I am 10 centimeters."

2:31 PM:  RINSE-REPEAT ON THE SWEARING

2:35 PM:  Sammy the Bull scarfs down food in 4 minutes and sprints back to L & D.

2:45 PM:  I am assigned the task of "holding the leg."

2:46 PM:  Jenny begins pushing.

2:55 PM:  I SEE THE HEAD.

3 PM:  Mirror in place, Jenny sees the head as well.  We are told to take a break and wait for the doctor.

3:02 PM:  I am asked if I'd like to cut the cord.  I say yes and realize THIS.  IS.  HAPPENING.

3:06 PM:  Jenny begins pushing in earnest - there is a large enough staff to treat the whole of North America in the room.

3:20 PM:  Round 2 on the pushing begins.  After 3 pushes, Baby's head is FULLY crowned.

3:30 PM:  Round 3 of pushing begins.

3:31 PM:  The head is fully out - AMAZING.

3:32 PM:  MY WHOLE WORLD CHANGES FOREVER.  Baby T SHOOTS out of Jenny (not joking) and the doctor catches her.

The moment that changed it all - my ladies, my life, my universe - all in this one picture.

3:32 PM:  Dr. says "It's a girl!"

3:32 PM:  Jenny and I begin sobbing uncontrollably.

3:32 PM:  Baby is on Jenny's chest.  I cut the cord and kiss my life.

3:35 PM:  They take Baby T (now Kaitlyn Elaine Taylor) to the table for assessment and cleaning.

3:45 PM:  She's clean and returned to Jenny.

3:52 PM:  Jenny and I have a moment's peace and we thank God for the most amazing miracle we've ever witnessed.

4:00 PM:  Jenny breastfeeds for the first time.  She is a COMPLETE natural and feeds for AN HOUR.

5:00 PM:  They take the baby for some cleaning.

5:30-45 PM (I honestly can't remember):  I am handed my daughter for the first time.

She's a Tarheel born, She's a Tarheel bred...

5:46 PM:  I tell her I love her for the first time.  My cup runneth over and I can't speak without crying.

7 PM:  We move into Post Partum recovery.

9 PM:  I realize I have to change the diapers and try to change my first.  Kaitlyn's bum is covered in enough of some tar like substance to feather every traitor from the Civil War.

9:01 PM:  I have smeared feces all over the blanket.

9:02 PM:  I have smeared feces all over the bassinet.

I mean...it was something out of the movie "Alien."  Just saying'...

9:03 PM:  I frantically call for a nurse.  I realize I am the worst father EVER.

9:05 PM:  Nurse enters, cackles at me, and changes the diaper.

9:06 PM:  I allow myself this one mistake before reporting myself to social services.

When I look at this, I can only thing of 2 things:  1 - this was
just about the happiest I've ever been.  2 - of all shirts, why
the #$@# did I wear my Golden Gophers t-shirt into the
delivery room?  GOOOOOO GOLDIE!!!!!!!

9:30 PM:  My life descends into a blur of happiness, thankfulness, gratefulness, and sleeplessness.

I'm sure some of those times might be a bit erroneous, but there you have it.  If someone were to ask "what's the best day of your life?" there are only 2 contenders - the day of Kaitlyn's birth and my wedding day.  To say that I was in shock would be the understatement of the century.  However, as I sit here typing this 4 days later, all I can think of is that I can no longer image my world without her in it.

I am going to follow this blog with a ton of others around my current emotions, Kaitlyn's amazing growth and learning, the days in the hospital, etc - but I at least wanted one blog that focused on the facts of the day as I remembered them.  I'm not sure if it all actually happened this way, but this is certainly how it was seared into my mind.

Kaitlyn - welcome to the planet!

Love,

Sam (and Jenny)

Life goes zero to sixty in the blink of an eye...

Team Taylor Countdown:  36 days until due date

Family,

And a good evening to you from the Queen City.  First off, some excellent news - Jenny had her (almost) 35 week checkpoint today, and everything looked great.  Heartbeat was 140 (dead center of the road, so still no clues as to boy or girl), Jenny's blood pressure and blood sugar were terrific, and Baby T measured about 35 centimeters.  Starting next week the appointments are weekly - we're now officially in the pipe (5 x 5 for all of those "Aliens" fans out there :-)).

Also, as I'm sure you're all on pins and needles wondering (even though the site has yet to receive a hit), last night Team Taylor FINALLY commenced with "packing a bag."  Granted, all that's in there is a stick of deodorant, 3 pairs of destroyed, hole-filled boxes, 2 pit stained t-shirts and a pair of pajamas my mom bought me 30 pounds ago, but it's at least a start.  Jenny and I will add a bit each night over the next week or so, but I can at least say that I think we've got enough in there to get us through 24-48 in the maternity ward.

As for the focus of the blog tonight, it's actually one that I've been meaning to write for several days - truth be told since last Thursday.  It's true that, throughout the pregnancy, I've been an emotional train wreck (I mean seriously, those Dick's Sporting Goods commercials are KILLING me - both of them have torn me up so far).  It feels like daily I'm discovering an endless well of new emotions, none of which I have any experience processing except for my mother's prophetic words "Oh, just you wait - you'll understand someday."  And that's part of why I started this blog - an (admittedly difficult and possibly futile) attempt to capture all of these moments and feelings as they rushed past, knowing that even if my prose didn't even so much as the surface of how I felt I at least had some token of the moment upon which to hang my memory.  And I'd always planned one (or fifty) of those "make each day count" posts, trying desperately to remind myself that these times, like so many other amazing ones before it, go by in the blink of an eye, and soon all you're left with are the photos, the memories, and the question "did that really happen?" (and don't get my wrong - all of that is amazing, so I'm not complaining!).

But last Thursday something happened that moved me from a desire to enjoy the moment to a resolve to truly make each moment count.  Chances are most of you reading this (should anyone ever read it) don't know a fella named Chad Rogers, but he was buddy of mine growing up.  My mom taught him in school, we had a lot of the same friends, played Little League against each other (I actually beaned him with a pitch twice in the same game - only guy I ever did that to).  He was a great, gentle, fun loving guy.  Last Thursday a freak accident at an interstate construction site took his life, and I've spent the last week trying to process that.  And now I realize that you simply can't.  You can try, you can think on the frailty of life, but the reality is that life is so immense and we are so fragile that if you try to grasp not only life as you live it but also the possibilities of one's future, you quickly become overwhelmed.  And so that day I simply tried to control what I could - enjoying those hours.  I realized that too often I've cooked dinner, Jenny and I have sat down, we've prayed, and then I've turned on House Hunters.  I realized that too often she's asked me a question and instead of answering I'm watching a movie trailer or trying to finish a chapter in a book.  That's when it hits you - you live with the most amazing, most beautiful, most perfect creature in the world - who is now carrying your child - and that should have been all I was focused on in that moment.  I think I did better Friday, as we met some friends and had a great evening.  Same with Saturday - I truly felt like I took in the moment (the birthing class - on second thought, perhaps it took in me...) and even the pizza that night. :-)  Same with Sunday - it was a great day surrounded by friends, and I felt truly at peace.

I don't know if Chad had a wife or children - we hadn't kept in touch over the years.  But what I do know is that his passing made me realize how fleeting life is and that I have to find a way to slow down and enjoy every second.  Thinking about everything he will miss in the next 60 years was heartbreaking, and when I considered my own future - all my hopes, dreams, expectations - the thought of missing out on all that lies ahead terrified me.  I feel so sorry for his family in their loss, and I pray that they can make it through this horrible time and find solace among friends, family, and God.

 I am hoping that some dedicated time at home with my wife and child will help me constantly to remember the importance of enjoying every moment, but I'm under no illusion that the next 18 years will be anything less than a blur.  I am just thankful my wife is such a good historian and always remembers to take photos. :-)  And I know this resolve will fade from time to time, but my hope is that, when I look at my wife, my child, my friends, and my family, I can remember the commitment I made writing this and take in that time with them.  And by striving for that, I hope that in some small way I'll honor the memory of Chad and the person he was, as he did bring out the best in people, and he's certainly helped me to refocus my life on what's important.

I know this blog has been a bit of a ramble, and in re-reading it I don't feel that I've done an adequate job expressing how I'm feeling.  So rather than me say it, let me quote my best friend John Rice who wrote a group of us after Chad's passing:

"This may sound sappy, but I just didn't want to go to bed tonight without telling my friends how valuable you are to me.  The events of the past week have made me aware of the fact that life is short, and I take much for granted.  I love you, and you have made my life more rich and exciting.  Thank you for being so awesome.  Again, I love you."  I love you, too, man.

So hold those you love a little tighter tonight, and tell them you love them.  Baby T - I will hold you tight very soon, and I already love you more than you can possibly know.

Go rest high, Chad.  You will be missed.

Love,

Sam

P.S.  In case anyone's wondering about the title, that's my favorite song from my Uncle Benny - his best song EVER.  Love ya, Teen Titan.

The best way to BLOW YOUR MIND - a childbirth class...

Team Taylor Countdown:  37 Days until due date

Family,

And a good afternoon to you from the Queen City.  So I know I've been out of pocket, but it was quite the busy weekend.  Friday night and Sunday nights both involved Dinner with Friends, and Saturday was a quiet dinner in.  The day was a milestone, however, as Jenny and I went to our first ever childbirth class.  In a world, well, WOW...

We woke up at 7:15 to find it SNOWING and 28 degrees outside - seriously?  SERIOUSLY?  It's MARCH, for crying out loud!  When does the spring get here?  Did that damn gopher see his shadow or something?  Never before in my life have I been so ready for spring.  I think it's just the fact that I've actually got trees, flowers, bushes, and a yard this year, and I want to see if I actually did anything right with all of my pruning, shearing, pinching, edging, mowing, raking (basically everything but seeding and sowing.  You know, the two things you are ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO DO TO YOUR YARD IN WINTER).  No matter what, it should be entertaining.  And it's not like the appearing is going to keep out the ants, so that's guaranteed to be a party...

We're out the door by 8:15 and into the parking deck at CMC-Main (Baby T, if you're reading this in 2043 and curious, that's where you were born), where we wander over and head up to the 8th floor (the maternity ward).  Jenny and I had previously done a tour of the ward and were quite impressed (my favorite aspect of the floor is the fact that the baby gets LO-JACKED at birth.  If anyone passes certain sensors, the entire floor goes into lockdown ("Elsa, the knight warned us not to break the seal!") - it's quality.  Think of it as a SuperMax facility with diapers and fresh air.  :-)

The class was from 9-4 with an hour for lunch, but the majority of the day was spent preparing mom's for "the miracle of child birth."  Let me try and summarize what I saw of how the miracle breaks down:

1. You drop something called a "mucus plug" into your panties at some point, and then your nether region basically becomes a faucet.

2. A few minutes/hours/days after that, your "bag of waters" breaks, drowning any household pets sitting in your lap.

3.  You then begin screaming uncontrollably as your uterus starts cramping and trying to force a watermelon out of something the size of a garden hose.

4.  You cuss your partner incessantly for "doing this to you" while you a) walk around the hospital with an IV (screaming), b) slow dance in the hallway with your partner (screaming), c) roll around on a birthing ball (which is really just a sit-up ball, and oh, by the way - you are screaming, or d) lay in bed with tears flowing down your cheeks (you guessed it - screaming).  

5.  You then watch the delivery, something to quote Jefe Donkey "you can never un-see."  Yep - that sounds about right.

6.  You start a recovery process that includes zero sleep, zero sex, tons of worry, some depression, and lots of dollar signs.

But then, luckily, all the girls breathe a sigh of relief when the instructor says, "Now let's watch a sample birth with the epidural."  And behold, what do we see?

1.  A woman in mild discomfort.

2.  A woman asleep for 12 hours.

3.  A husband asleep for 12 hours.

4.  No shouting.

5.  A few pushes.

6.  A crown (WOW).

7.  A Happy, drugged up family.

Seriously, of the probably 200 questions we had, at least 197 of them were about "when can I have the epidural."  Honestly, I might even request the thing myself - it looks AWESOME.  And on a complete tangent - why has NO ONE ever told me that the mother has to "pass the placenta" as well?  Dude - I was NOT ready for that.

All I can say is "Nine Fine Irishmen"...and DOLLAH, YO!!!

We packed our lunch (not sure how I was able to eat), and we were treated to a group of violinists playing in the lobby.  They were fantastic, and I have to admit that I had quite the good morning.  The afternoon was filled with massages (even I got one), some breathing techniques, and a list of about 48,000 things you need to know when the Baby arrives at your house.  Yeah, the word overwhelming doesn't quite cut it.  That being said, the class was FANTASTIC, and I really, really do think I learned a ton.  The most interesting tidbits for me were around how to keep the baby warm (whatever you have on plus one layer), what the house temperature should be, how to properly swaddle a baby, and all that jazz.  Granted, I still have NO CLUE how to change a diaper, but something tells me Granna and the nurses will help me figure it out.  Side note - my mother says that she LOVED changing my diapers (insert the "well, I'm sure she got plenty of practice, because you are certainly full of shit" joke here) - not sure if I'll share that genetic disposition.

CPR this week, and then that's it for the classes.  However, all the baby clothes are now washed, so we're continuing to make progress!

Love,

Sam and Jenny