Kaitlyn's First Thanksgiving...

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  8 months and 3 weeks

Family,

And a good Monday evening to you from the Queen City, where the fire is blazing in the hearth, the weather outside is chilly, and the Munchkin is down for the night after crying out from her crib for the first time since JULY.  We're not sure what the problem was, but she now seems settled - kudos to wife muffin for getting Munch Munch settled back down.

What a week to recap!  It was definitely one filled with firsts, starting on Monday night when I turned on the fire about 6:30 PM.  Normally I don't turn it on until later, but this time Munch Munch was awake and saw flames for the first time.  Now granted, I don't think she fully grasped what I meant when I said "Look, K - Prometheus' greatest gift!", but I think she was intrigued all the same.

The Munch loving her first snowfall - look
at that beautiful smile!  Love my ladies!

On Tuesday, Team Taylor packed up Ellie the Elantra and headed "over the mountain" to the great state of Tennessee.  A few side notes here:

1.  For starters, it is AMAZING how much longer packing takes with a rug rat.  We spent THREE HOURS packing on Monday night, only to spend ANOTHER three hours on Tuesday morning getting everything in place and ready to go.  Between us, JT and I had 1 suitcase.  By her 19 pound lonesome, the Sneetch had the following:

1 stroller the size of a Sherman tank
1 suitcase full of clothes
1 bag full of food
1 cooler filled with refrigerated milk and food
1 diaper bag
1 infant carrier
1 high chair
1 bag of toys
1 bag of additional accessories (monitor, etc)

AMAZING!  But hey, that's life with a baby, and I was just impressed we managed to pack it all into a Hyundai sedan. :-)

2.  The weather was ATROCIOUS for the entire drive.  It was 22 and raining when we started, and the interchanges along the interstates were just horrible.  Luckily the weather was above freezing in Asheville, but still - the 20-35 mile stretch where I-40 crosses the border was ROUGH.  Ultimately what was a 3:45 trip pre-kid was a 6:15 trip on the way over, but I am happy to report that we all arrived safe and sound in Whitesburg, TN about 3:30 PM.

K petting dad's dog, named Helen Keller (YES - the dog is deaf and has
glassy eyes due to juvenile diabetes.  NO - I did NOT name her...)

Tuesday was a totally chill, relaxed day at home with Mom and Steve.  We didn't manage to get in a "nil dog" (code for Spades), but we had an absolute blast hanging out and eating like kings.  Steve and Mom pull out all the stops when we show up, and this was no exception.  Also, the addition of memory foam to our bed was a nice touch... :-)  The munchkin went down about 7:45ish, and we followed suit about 10:30.  You will notice a theme for this week - we definitely, DEFINITELY got lax in the schedule.  However, our angel baby proved quite flexible, and all worked out better than I could have dreamed.

Wednesday was over at dad's, where K got another first - her first time seeing snow fall!  We awoke that morning to a nice dusting on the ground (JT said it was her first snowfall in TN), but by the time we got to dad's it was well and truly snowing.  I really do think K loves being outside - she smiles every time she sees the trees blowing in the wind or feels the wind on her face.  This was no exception, and it was so cute to try and watch her process what she was seeing.  K also got the chance to touch a dog for the first time - she petted Helen!  And of course Jenny couldn't resist the temptation to play with Helen's new puppies - all of which were VERY cute.  We dropped K off about 6:30 or so back home before returning for an early Thanksgiving dinner with dad.  We ate like KINGS, and there was nothing but a vapor trail left of that turkey by the time we were done.

Thursday was the big day - K's first Thanksgiving!  As usual, Team Taylor rolled over to Nanny's, where K slept in her 5th crib in 5 days (such a trooper).  The meal was nothing short of FANTASTIC as always - Steve definitely outdid himself with the brined turkey, and all the sides were their usual version of Heaven.  It was a fantastic (and lazy) day - complete with 3

A dream come true (and a stroll down memory lane) for mum -
K's first bath in the kitchen sink (which, considering it's at
Nanny's house, is probably the cleanest surface she's ever sat on).

pro and 2 college football games.  And now that Nanny gets ESPN (thank you, DirecTv!), I was able to catch the Egg Bowl and lots of NFL action.  As for K, she was SUCH a great baby, and watching her bond with Nanny really was something special.

Grand Pooh holding the munch for the firs time - he's a natural!

On Friday, Team Taylor stayed at Nanny's, and the highlight for me was another first for the ages - watching Steve (aka Grand Pooh) hold a baby for the first time ever.  They were so cute together, and K was absolutely mesmerized by him.  We took it easy all day (with a few visitors coming and going), and about 6:30 Team Taylor drove to the urban metroplex that is Surgoinsville, TN to watch Benny play.  THIS was a hoot!


So here's the deal - Benny (now 62) started his musical career about age 12 in a band called "the Missing Links."  This group morphed into another band called "The odds and ends," and for the past 14 years they have performed a reunion concert at the old Surgoinsville Hardware Store (NO - you CANNOT make this stuff up).  I had no idea what to expect, but let me tell you - it was PACKED.  The venue was SO CUTE, and when I drove past it an hour before showtime there wasn't a seat in the house!  Seriously - every possible spot to park a car had been taken, and people were streaming toward the only building of any size in downtown.  When we arrived with Benny (shoulder in a sling thanks to recent surgery), the only thing left was a bench on the back row!  But the acoustics were great, the show was a blast, and the entertainment was lively for 3 hours!  And the funniest part?  The drummer was also the current mayor of Surgoinsville - classic.

K LOVES Nanny...and LOVES that gray hair.

Saturday was back to dad's for a delicious breakfast and some football (including the most epic Iron Bowl I have ever watched), complete with a 2 hour stop at Grandmother's.  She was in great spirits, and it was so good to catch up with her.  I hadn't been home since May, and so

97 years meets 9 months in a home that's 65 years old -
pretty amazing stuff.

it was very important that I get some time with her (especially since I'm not sure when the next visit will be).  We left dad's about 7:30 (after the craziest finish ever to the Iron Bowl - one that had the whole house screaming, the result of which was K terrified and crying herself into oblivion :-)), arriving home to find that Mom had laid out a mini-Christmas festivity!  We each had a stocking and a present - how do you argue with that!  It was so much fun - complete with egg nog and more candy than any human has a right to eat in a calendar year.  We then crashed about midnight or so, waking up at 7 AM (K mercifully let us sleep that night, which I desperately needed since she'd awoken at 4:45 AM on
Friday morning at Nanny's) and having a last delicious brekkie before loading the car (there wasn't a millimeter of space left in that puppy thanks to 2 boxes of clothes from the Rice clan and all the stuff from mom) and heading home via a new (and now preferred route) - the old Asheville highway.  Whilst it's got more curves than Bear Tooth pass in some places, it was a GORGEOUS drive, and it was definitely the fastest way to Asheville.

And so there you have it - an indulgent, lazy, WONDERFUL week in the Volunteer State.  Work felt VERY far away the entire time, and we got so many great pictures of a very memorable first thanksgiving that I will have a very hard time deciding which ones to include on this blog (I do the photos after I type it up).  I didn't sleep great at any point - I always struggle when K's in the room with us, and I am finding that more and more I am sensitive to noises on the monitor - but that's nothing that a little Mountain Dew and morning K cups couldn't rectify fairly quickly.  Also, I am finding that I'm now having an easier time with other folks holding and playing with K.  Obviously I think it does become easier as she gets stronger and builds up more immunities, but I think initially I had 2 fears - one that folks didn't always want to hold someone else's child (which I have now learned is almost completely categorically not the case) and second that anything someone does for a finite period of time is not going to undo the programming of the previous 9 months.  I really do hope that my parents don't think I'm an ogre with the schedule I impose on K (and by extension them) or the rules I have in place, but hey - it's a work in progress - I will do better. :-)

OK - time to start trying to wedge in 600 photos.  Chat soon!

Love,

Sam and Jenny

The Munchkin crosses off state #8...and her first ER visit...

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  8 months and 2 weeks

Family,

K - quit checking Marshall out.  He's too old for you...

And a good Monday evening to you from the Queen City, where the Bull and Striker are FREEZING and the Munchkin is bundled up in her PJ's to stay warm.  The temperature in this city has PLUMMETED in the last 24 hours - consistent with the rest of the US.  And the worst news is that a major winter storm is apparently rolling straight for us and will be perched nicely on top of us whilst driving tomorrow.  The words "wintery mix" typically don't bother me, but I'm not altogether thrilled about what's potentially in front of us tomorrow.  But let's not focus on what's in front - let's focus on where we've been!

So last week was full of big milestones - the happy, the sad, and the ridiculous.  The chaos started on Monday morning with an email from our daycare saying that, "Due to a robbery at the local Bank of America Branch" (which is literally 2 tenths of a mile away), the daycare was on LOCKDOWN."  That's right - LOCKDOWN - until further notice.  Now in and of itself, this wasn't so bad.  However, the school's email program wasn't built for the number of emails on file, meaning that it didn't send this notification out to every parent.  So imagine the confusion when some parents later received an email saying only, "the police have cleared the area and the school is no longer on lockdown" (which I never received, for the record).  So long story short:

1.  Armed gunmen robbed the banking center I visit (I saw the photos - they were wielding automatic weapons like a scene in Point Break)

2.  The new email system now has no limit on the number of recipients (but let's hope they never have to test it again)

3.  My daughter is safe

4.  My mother will NEVER hear about this incident

And so it ends...the last of the breast milk
(NOT a novel by James Fenimore Cooper).

The next big milestone was Thursday night - a sad one for the Bull and Striker.  After almost 8.5 months, Team Taylor went into the outside fridge for the last time to retrieve a bag of breast milk.  That's right, sports fans - as of last Friday, Team Taylor is now 100% formula.  And whilst a) we knew this day would always come and b) we made it 2.5 months longer than either of us had anticipated, it was definitely a little sad to see that last, lonely bag sitting on the counter, ready to be thawed out.  In fact, all last week I found myself thinking of reasons to NOT use it and instead go with straight formula, keeping that last bag in reserve.  Don't ask me why, but as that last bag heated up and was poured into K's bottles for daycare, I had the unmistakable feeling that a chapter in the Book of Kaitlyn had just closed, as that was a thread that connected us to those early days of her life (and to our first foray as parents).  And please don't get me wrong - formula is SO MUCH easier to travel with, and it's certainly made our lives easier (just as it's made our wallets a little lighter).  And also, I cannot brag enough on my wife for how AMAZING she was with feeding, pumping, and storing - especially when she went back to work!  I knew this day would come, and I'm sure you're all thinking "if you get weepy over that, you're in for a long road."  But hey - that's the Bull.  Cast iron one minute - wet noodle the next. :-)

The ER ROCKS, daddy! 

The other item to report from Thursday and Friday involved the munchkin directly.  On Thursday, we noticed that Kaitlyn was sitting up playing when suddenly she just dropped her head forward.  She cried for a second, and truth be told we didn't think much of it.  However, it then happened a few times in succession and was much more noticeable in the high chair feeding.  We attributed it to being tired (she was exhausted that day), and so the next day we agreed to monitor it.  Well, sure enough, it happened several more times in succession - enough so that we decided to call the Peds.  We received the after hour nurse, who proceeded to ask us quite the series of questions.  Now we'd dismissed any concern up until the point where she said, "is she sleeping more than normal and still irritable?"  I answered yes, and they requested a temperature check.  Jenny then took the phone (the thermometer requires more skill than I have), and the nurse asked "has she fallen lately?", and we flash back to her falling backwards in Pittsburgh.  Well, the next thing the nurse says is "You need to go to Urgent Care now."  INSERT IMAGE OF FATHER FREAKING OUT RIGHT HERE.

So we make the drive to Urgent Care (at 5:45 PM), all the while the Bull beating himself up for not realizing there could have been an issue and fearing he's giving his daughter a concussion.  This feeling is not helped when Urgent Care stops us at the door and says "You need to go to the ER right now."  INSERT IMAGE OF FATHER WELL PAST PANIC HERE.

Buuuuuuut since we're here, we're going to go ahead and
work on Tummy Time - those gold medals don't win themselves!

And so we make the journey to University hospital (at 6 PM), where by a miracle from God there was no wait in the ER.  K got straight in, and she was even lucky enough to get a doctor with a 6 month old.  He listens to the story, checks her pupil dilation (normal), checks her ears (no blood), checks her skull (no depressions), and then says that there's no way that fall could have anything to do with her dropping her head.  He said that it was most likely a combination of neck weakness (which we already knew about) and being sick (she was draining more yellow snot than usual).  My relief was palpable, and when he said, "she doesn't need a CT scan - the risk isn't worth exposing her to that much radiation," I felt even better.  Then add in the fact that K LOVED the ER and wanted to do tummy time on the bed, and all was instantly well.  I feel much better now, and K has improved SHARPLY since then.  However, it is something we'll continue to watch over the coming weeks in the run-up to her 9 month appointment on 12/13.

The snitch bonding with Elijah - they did hold hands a few
times whilst sharing the playmat.  Guess I better start
polishing my rifle and buy a Cracker Barrel rocker...

The last item of note for the week was K crossing off state #8 - the Commonwealth of Virginia!  On Saturday, we loaded the Elantra and drop up to Floyd, where Cuz Michelle and her 2 rug rats were visiting from Colorado.  Cuz Megan made the trip up as well, and so we had a GREAT day of bonding with all the tiddlywinks and the fam.  Their parents have this GREAT place along the Blue Ridge Parkway (cell phone reception = ZEEEEEEEEROOOOOOO), and it was terrific to just hang out, eat some good food, and relax with family.  K got a chance to play with Michelle's 2 boys (Marshall and Elijah), and she was SUPER active!  She had her best round of tummy time EVER on Saturday night - she even (FINALLY) rolled to the other side with her head lifted correctly!  It's all about the "foot" that Michelle gave us - this little plastic toy that has kept K in RAPT FASCINATION for the past 72 hours.  Hilarious!

JT and K with Aunt Joyce during a rare
moment of levity amidst such palpable grief.

The Munch with uncle Arthur - quite possibly the source of
those beautiful blue eyes.

There was 1 tough part of the weekend, and that was the visit with Aunt Joyce.  Her mother had just passed away (2 weeks ago), and our time with her was tough because you could see the physical pain her emotions were causing her.  She was a trooper for us, but there was no missing the emotion swimming just under the surface.  I had tears myself as she pulled out "the box" of items that had been passed down through the generations which were now Jenny's to keep for Kaitlyn.  And as I stood there, watching Jenny look at the lace that had been in the family for decades and the candelabras that had been in the family for centuries, I was reminded of the poem "Spring and Fall to a Young Child."  There is a line that has haunted me since I was 15 (when I first read it):  "It's Margarite you mourn for." The poem is about the child understanding the mystery of life and the certainty of death, and her tears in that moment aren't for the people she will lose, but the things she herself will not see when Death comes calling.  As I stood in that house, so fresh with grief, memories, and the essence of someone who made that house what it was, I couldn't help but think how fast life passes, and ho

JT and K with Aunt Joyce during a rare
moment of levity amidst such palpable grief.

w much I need to hug Kaitlyn and Jenny every day.  Because eventually I, too, will just be a memory - and I want to make sure those memories are the kind that sustain faith, hope, and love.

So many babies...so much dirt...and the cleanest person I know
sitting by the fire, surveying the damage in her own home...
Thanks for letting us stay, Aunt Connie!!!

So as you can see - an emotional week for Team Taylor!  But tomorrow we're off to the Volunteer state for the first time since May to eat, sleep, and bond with my half of the family.  I cannot WAIT - provided we don't get stuck in snow. :-)  Fingers crossed!

Chat soon, and Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Love,

Sam and Jenny

The Munchkin crosses off state #7...and FINALLY gets a tooth!

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  8 months and 1 week

Family,

I wanna go to Pittsburgh, mommy!!!

And a good evening to you from the Queen City, where Team Taylor is back from a FANTASTIC weekend in the Steel City.  But hey, let's not get ahead of ourselves, as it was another terrific (and busy!) week in the life of Team Taylor (party of three).

First time facing OUT in the Bjorn!

In terms of the work week, K had 3 big events worth recording.

The first was that K met her first "international man of mystery" this week - the Reverend (and Y Parchedig) Owain Morgan!  Owain is a buddy of mine who works in our London office (but he's a Welshman - be careful how you label him! :-)), and we have worked together across the Pond since 2006.  He is without a doubt one of the most genuine and flat out best guys I know, and we had a great dinner (even if I did accidentally tell our other buddy Matt the wrong restaurant...details...).

Ychida!  Cymru am byth!!!

The second was that she had her first follow-up appointment with the pediatric physical therapist.  Now JT and I had been working our poor daughter like drill instructors during the Navy SEALs hell week, and so we were curious to see what progress she was making.  We certainly felt that she was exhibiting more strength, and we hoped the expert was going to concur with that assessment.

As fate would have it, the appointment (which we thought we'd planned perfectly) coincided with her nap period (she'd managed to get a bit off that day), which meant that she showed up sweet as can be and with the biggest smile this side of Mercury, but our little girl was a sleepy cutie bootie.  Consequently, it took her a bit of time to rev the engine. :-)

You wanna win the cross-fit games?  You
better start 'em young...just sayin'...

Just like last time, the PT was terrific.  She was very patient, answered all of our questions, and did an amazing job of not only keeping K focused but also smiling and laughing.  For my part, I thought the session was an absolute riot, as there were so many "too cute" moments where K either refused to do what the PT wanted or just flat laid there, taking in the world.  The early prediction for our daughter is type B introvert - which is completely and totally 100% fine by me. :-)

This pose is a familiar one.  It's called "why
would I move when you bring everything to me?

In terms of progress, K's sitting is NOTICEABLY better.  She has definitely elongated her spine, and the PT noted that she's doing a much better job of engaging her hips.  She also did a nice job on the exercise ball, adjusting as she was leaned forward and to both sides.  She didn't like it at first, but she definitely got the hang of it pretty quick (and started engaging the muscles).

So JT is actually doing one of the prescribed
exercises - carry her at an angle so she'll adjust.

In terms of rolling, however, it was HILARIOUS!  The PT said, "let me see you roll," and K looked at her as though she were an alien who'd just landed speaking Mongolian.  It didn't matter what toy the PT brought out - K wanted none of it.  The gal even brought out a sloped surface to encourage her to roll WITH GRAVITY - nada.  Instead, she clung onto the top for dear life, and when the PT took her hand away, she simply "shimmied" down the slope on her butt.  The message was clear - I will roll when I am DAMN GOOD AND READY.  Too cute...

Our next appointment is in 3 weeks, which I think is good, as it will give us time to work with her over Thanksgiving (lots of dedicated time then!).  And we were encouraged, as the therapist a) said that she could see improvement and b) gave us new stretches and exercises to further improve her, which to me is a good thing.

Georgeanne helping out during play time.

Milestone #2 is one that's been MONTHS in the making - K has her first tooth!  We wondered why she'd been a bit fussier than normal over the past week, and now (as of Friday) we know - she's joined the tooth club!  JT and I found this HYSTERICAL, as we've had people tell us she's teething since she was 3 month old.  In fact, every time my mum has seen her, she's said that she was teething.  Well, she's finally in the club - it's such a teeny little nub!

The weekend was just perfect, as we took Friday off and flew to Pittsburgh to watch UNC vs. Pitt and visit with our friends - Team Brothernides!  They have 2 girls as well (Georgeanne and Ivanna), and all week they'd been talking about how excited they were to play with baby Kaitlyn.  Sure enough, they were like two big sisters - they took GREAT care of her!

The weekend was a blast - great food, new beer, a Heels victory (and a babysitter to boot, which allowed for a bit of tailgating - booooooonuuuuuuuus), and plenty of laughs & fellowship.  The only hiccups were:

Pre-gaming outside Heinz Field - GO HEELS!!!!

Cheering on the Heels to a 34-27 victory over the Panthers.  What a beautiful day!

The gang, fresh off a victory (and ready for some cheese at the post-game tailgate).

1.  Friday night when I took my eye off of K for ONE SECOND (not kidding, it was ONE SECOND) and she fell backwards, slamming her little bone head onto the floor.  Yes - father of the year (and now minus one cochlea, as she screamed her lungs out).

2.  Saturday night when we returned form the game.  The babysitter had said (and I quote) "she is the happiest, most perfect baby ever.  I want one just like her" just before handing her over to us...at which point K went COMPLETELY MENTAL.  She started screaming and crying - sub-optimal.

K slept in the laundry room - which she LOVED.
A constant hum, pitch black - she actually slept
12.5 hours one night!

All the gals!

3.  Sunday afternoon on the flight home.  K slept on me all the way there and all the way back, but with 10 minutes until landing in CLT, she woke up and decided to tell the world she was hungry.  K has a very unique way of crying in that you get the first salvo (the fore shock), then a deep breath, where silence ensues (the eye of the hurricane), and then the full force scream (the Shuraka winds of the Apocalypse).  Well, in this particular episode, she sucked in so much air that she almost de-pressurized the cabin - WOW.  But hey, we got her fed, and soon enough all was right with the world.

We got back about 6, and it was a power hour of feeding, bathing, and unpacking.  Team Taylor's adult contingent got in bed too late last night, and we're paying for it today.  But I must fight through, as the Panthers are on Monday Night Football!

No one gets out of making K do tummy time!

AC, Jeebs, Georgie, and Ivanna - thank you all SO MUCH for such a PERFECT weekend.  Burgatory is pretty much the greatest place EVER. :-)

To everyone else - have a great week!  We'll chat next Sunday. :-)

Love,

Sam and Jenny

Lady Kaitlyn rolls 8 months

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  8 months today!

Family,

And a Happy Veteran's Day to you all from the Queen City.  The Munchkin officially hits 8 months of life today!  Aunt Pattie turns 19 today as well, so we've got multiple reasons to celebrate!

What a week (and month!) it's been.  The change in K from month 7 to month 8 has been meteoric -

truly incredible to watch how she's growing and changing every single day.  When we hit the 7 month milestone, K couldn't sit up on her own, had just started eating solids, and was just beginning to babble.  Now she can sit up on her own (and her posture has noticeably improved), can roll front to back and back to front (albeit with a bit of gravitational assistance still), has tried LOADS of new foods (we introduced apples and bananas this week), and is babbling (and squealing) all the time.  On the growth front, she's definitely transitioned into the 9 month clothes, as our little girl definitely seems to be lengthening.  And weighing in at 18.5 or so pounds by now, the Bull can confirm he is no longer using the infant carrier to take her into daycare.

The most common nickname at this point is "sneetch" (as in sneetches in my breetches" from Dr. Seuss), but Jenny has aptly also taken to calling her the squealer monkey, as this girl does high pitch squeals constantly.  And here I was thinking she was going to be an alto...

In terms of routines, the munch is still waking up about 6 AM every day, but this weekend has seen the rather unexpected turn of her waking herself up about 5:58 vs. us having to wake her.  JT and I think it's because we've introduced more fruits and veggies (vs. cereal) lately, so today we've added a bit more oatmeal into each meal.  It is amazing to watch the effect on her excretory system - she was unbelievably constipated on Friday and Saturday (poor thing was solid red and straining half of her waking time), but the last 2 days have been nothing shy of COLON CLEANSING.  And we just made the VERY smart decision to order some prunes...good times, they are a comin'...

K's now feeding consistently 7 times daily - 4 with the bottle, and 3 sit-down meals for solids.  She's essentially getting 4 tablespoons of single grain cereal per day, as well as 3.5 oz of 1 fruit and 3.5 oz of 1 veggie.  She's actually become less and less interested in the bottle.  In fact, we're down from 7-8 oz of breast milk/formula per bottle to 5.5 oz per bottle, which she can manage to finish (if you burp her 3 times).  The peds said that we shouldn't be below 24 oz of formula/breast milk, but luckily we're right at it (when you factor in the 2-4 oz required to mix in with the cereal).  However, we're not concerned about K failing to get her nutrients, as that girl LOVES SOLIDS.  Seriously - it doesn't matter how tired she is or when she last took a bottle - you put her in that high chair and she starts pounding her fists against the tray in excitement.  And the sounds she makes whilst eating - hilarious!  She is SO EXCITED for every bite, and you can shovel something watery like carrots into her in a matter of seconds.  Her mouth is CONSTANTLY open - too funny.

As for the week and weekend itself, this one was very special for 2 reasons.  For starters, it was a 4 day

Cutest.  Photo.  EVER.

weekend for me and Jenny (we both took off Friday).    But secondly, GRAMMIE WAS HERE!!!  That's right, sports fans - Team Taylor was SPOILED ROTTEN by my mom yet again.  I am pleased to report that our fireplace now looks flat black (no more brass), 4 of the chairs in the dining room have been assembled, the leaves in the front yard have been blown (yes - BOTH my parents have now worked through the leaves in the front yard - K, I hope you're not expecting this kind of treatment :-)), several meals were made (all consumed already), and we were showered with presents (mom took care of our Christmas and birthday presents - oh yeah, baby!!!).  We even had date night on Wednesday (the show - Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty - was HORRIBLE - who knew it was going to be a ballet), and Friday we managed to hit up Fiesta Maya for an early dinner.  It was SO MUCH FUN, and I've decided that I am definitely taking off on Friday's when mom comes to visit going forward.  This time I actually feel like I relaxed and let her help vs. trying to make her take it easy, and I must say - it was SO NICE to have a third set of hands to leverage.  She was great to feed, change, tend to, and love on K, and there is NO QUESTION that K loves her Grammie!

On Saturday we also had a special treat - K's "6 month" photo shoot!  Granted, we're about 2 months late, but Faith had always said it was important that K be able to sit up for this shoot, and so we wanted to ensure that was the case.  We spent a good hour there, running through 4 outfits and poses (including 1 with a tutu and pearls - TOO CUTE!!!!!), and much like the newborn shoot - it was a laugh a minute.   Jenny and I were on both sides of her during the shoot (she was on a different chair or couch each time), and I'm pretty sure her time in the rocking chair shortened my life, as it was SO STRESSFUL to watch her rock back and forth.  However, there are few things in life cuter than K in her dress from Panama, sitting on a pink couch.  The only thing that might be cuter, in fact, is K eating her tutu and pearls whilst the photographer says, "Wow - I've never seen a baby eat tool before.  That's a desperate cry for food."  HILARIOUS!

Physical Therapy Step #1 - engage the shoulders and work the tummy.

Physical Therapy Step #2 - do NOT let her roll over - keep her on her tummy.

Physical Therapy Step #3 - keep objects at eye level to encourage proper posture.

Physical Therapy Step #4 - put objects slightly out of reach so that she feels compelled to crawl.

The only other item to report for the week is that we did visit a pediatric physical therapist this week.  The appointment was on Thursday, and it was a terrific experience.  The staff was incredibly friendly, and as is the case with pretty much all medicine in Charlotte, the facility was amazing.  The trainer took a full hour with K, watching her roll and move around on the floor, as well as interacting with various toys and stimuli.  There was a funny moment when the PT said, "I just want to watch her roll over," and Jenny and I looked at each other before I said, "I hope you have about 6 hours to kill."

To Infinity...and beyond!  Actually, I LOVE
this photo, because K is now actually reaching
for the 2 dangling critters vs. just watching
her daddy bat them into oblivion.  But now
That the jumperoo is on hold for a bit, we'll
have to await the day where she actually
grabs hold of it.

In terms of a diagnosis, we received good news - her spine and bones are fine, and she does NOT have tortichollis.  However, the PT does think she's a bit behind on her gross motor skills (largely identified by her not raising her head when she rolls), and she feels that her trunks/ab muscles are a bit under-developed.  Consequently, we were given a series of exercises and the very explicit instructions to cut back on all Bumbo and Jumperoo usage (apparently both foster poor posture and can delay muscle development).  The good news is that we now know the issue, and the better news is that strengthening muscles is just about the easiest thing you can do on a growing baby.  What hurts is that a) we felt both the jumperoo and the Bumbo were HELPING her posture and development, and b) it is frustrating when you feel you've been so diligent about all the activities you're supposed to do for proper development, only to be told you've missed one.  I must confess - between the exercises, the "discovery time," 7 meals, naps, diaper changes, outside time, reading time, and "block/play time," it's getting tough to keep it all straight and ensure it all happens every day.  And whilst I know the right answer is to draft a daily schedule of activities, I just can't bring myself to further regiment our lives, especially given all of the standing tasks already in place.  Plus I do think we're keeping it together at this point, and so we'll just keep rolling with the flow, with the caveat that we are now a lot more focused on "floor play" (and YES - when the PT told Jenny and I that our daughter needed "as much floor play as possible," I about fell out of my chair laughing).

And so our daughter is now 2/3 of a year old - how is that even possible?  2013 has definitely been a year to remember, and I must confess that I have NEVER been so excited for the holiday season.  I'm not sure what's in the water this go around, but I am definitely, definitely, definitely looking forward to getting the decorations out of the attic, the lights strung up, and ornaments on the tree.

Okay, that's it from the Mountain Fortress - chat soon!

Love,

Sam and Jenny

The Munchkin's first Halloween

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  7 months and 24 days

Family,

"I'm picking up a baby bumblebee..."

And a good Monday evening to you from the Queen City, where the Bull has just finish bottle washing, making, and labeling.  And before tucking into dinner, I thought I'd try to get caught up on what was a GREAT week for team Taylor, highlighted by another first for the rug rat - Kaitlyn's first Halloween!!!

Monday through Wednesday were a blur, as I was down in Santiago with work, abandoning wife muffin and the munchkin here in the QC.  As usual, Jenny was a rock star, and she made it all work by herself (K - you have NO IDEA how lucky you are and how much your mommy loves you!), and by Thursday when I touched down in Miami International at 4:27 AM, all I could think about was getting back to my girls.

Luckily all flights were on time, which was important for 2 reasons.  Not only did I want to make it back for my ladies, but Team Taylor had a BIG activity slated for 12:30 PM - selling our condo!  That's right, sports fans, it's official - as of last week, Team Taylor no longer owns "the Way Station."  Now I have no lie to tell - we are THRILLED to have it off the books - the debt, the hassle of being a landlord, the stress of something happening to the unit - all of it was rapidly taking a toll on me.  That being said, there is a twinge of sadness to know that Jenny and I will never again set foot in the 994 square feet that was our first home and the first place we returned to as a married couple from our honeymoon.  That place helped make our dreams of living abroad a reality, and I will hold nothing but the fondest memories of it in my heart all my days.  Congrats to the buyers, and we wish them all the best - it was a special place for us, and we hope the same will be true for you.

K's first "school picture" - annual portrait from Primrose.  I mean...HOW.  CUTE.  IS.  SHE?

Christmas Card Pic - Sneak Peak #1

And #2 - I mean...ANGELIC.  And in case you're curious - wardrobe courtesy of Alice Taylor!

The closing was SUPER easy (so easy, in fact, that we didn't need to be there, as we'd already signed everything), and there was much to celebrate on Thursday (not the least of which was being reunited with my girls.  Jenny and I had always promised that, once the condo was off the books, we would crack open the bottle of Artesia that Kim and Matt had brought us back from Napa.  However, as the Bull had just had 2 overnight flights in 4 days and the Striker had been full-time with both work and the Munch, the LAST thing either of us wanted was booze.  Consequently, it was an AFD, and the bottle is still awaiting consumption!  Not a bad problem to have, really...

The munch gearing up for her 1st Halloween.

A modern day Addams Family...

The highlight of the day was not just the closing, however, as we also had K's first Halloween Costume  Parade at Primrose.  Family, this was just TOO CUTE.  So awhile back, Mom/Grammie had called us, telling us that, if it was ok, she'd gone ahead and purchased K's first Halloween costume.  As it's all about the Benjamins with us, we said "FINE AND DANDY," and the following week the CUTEST little bumblebee costume landed on our doorstep.  Well, we didn't try it on her beforehand, and so when we showed up at daycare for the parade, we had no idea what to expect.  In a word - HILARITY.

"Wow - all my aunts have yummy hair..."

So picture a little black and yellow diving bell in the arms of a witch walking out into the parking lot.  The diving bell looks quite comfortable and was later described as "a big ball of puffaluffiness."  Everything SWALLOWS her - especially the hood.  It was just TOO FUNNY.  And K looked, well, less than amused.  She didn't cry at all - it was more the look of "what on EARTH have you put me in?"

We put her in it again later in the evening during the annual Halloween cul-de-sac party, and I gotta admit - she could NOT have been cuter!  But we had no idea how tricky that thing was to put on - I'm pretty sure I almost suffocated her 11 times.  And needless to say - she was NOT impressed with my (lack of) skills.

"Um, dad - is that what you're gonna look like at 65?  Ouch."

The weekend itself was terrific.  It was my birthday weekend, and so Pattie, Dad, and Alice all came down for a visit.  Everyone arrived Friday, and we had 36 wonderful hours of hanging out, eating plenty, watching football, and outsourcing yard maintenance (dad was INSISTENT that the yard needed to be mowed a final time and the leaves raked.  As I didn't share his passion, I just let him have at it.  The way I see it - everybody won. :-)).

And one more for good measure...

Sunday rolled around too quickly, leaving me 1 year older (36 now in case anyone's counting) and my family pulling out of the driveway heavy a few bottles of wine from 201 Central.  But hey, this guy wasn't complaining.  And then Jenny's folks rolled over, allowing JT and I to have a date night (we hit 201 C for a pint before having din din at the Eastfield Grill - that place is GREAT!) whilst they bonded with the munchkin.

For my part, I couldn't possibly have asked for a better birthday - especially knowing that I've got mom coming this week.  I am married to THE MOST wonderful, beautiful person on the planet (both inside and out), I have the absolute CUTEST baby girl, and I am blessed beyond measure.  To say that my cup runneth over doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of how I feel.  But if I had to sum it up in 3 words, I'd just say "Life is good." :-)

Okay, that's it for this guy.  Sorry for the whirlwind tour through the week (oh, and did I mention that K tried peaches for the first time on Saturday?  She ate them, but peas and green beans remain the 2 faves!), but I wanted to get this committed to the server before chaos ensues later in the week (meaning in 48 hours when Grammie arrives!).

Chat soon!

Love,

Sam and Jenny