The poster child of cuteness...

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  13 months and 4 days

Family,

And a good Tuesday afternoon to you on this uber-rainy afternoon in the Queen City.  Apologies for not getting to the blog on Sunday or Monday, but trust me - it's been a manic last couple of days.  For starters, I was in Costa Rica all last week with work,which means that I didn't get back until late Thursday night before a weekend road trip with the fam.  But I get ahead of myself - let's get amongst it, shall we?

Ok, so the BIG HIGHLIGHT of the week is that our daughter was QUEEN OF THE SCHOOL PICTURES!  That's right, sports fans - Kaitlyn Elaine Taylor's photo was selected as THE BEST of the entire school and was the featured picture for the "order your prints" poster!  It was crazy - I was in Costa Rica, back at the hotel after a MISERABLE day (we'd just delivered some very bad news, and I'd shed more than a few tears), when I got on wi-fi to check my personal messages.  Well, I get an email from "Heather Gaydeski Photography" telling us that prints are ready, and when I go to the website, lo and behold - K's picture is the cover and what you click to go into the site!  Now granted, I'm more than a little biased, but let's be honest - this child is SOOOOOOOOOOOO CUTE!!!!  We ended up buying 3 of them, all of which are displayed on this blog for the world to see. :-)

The winner - a cropped version of this was the featured shot on the poster.

The other big milestone is that, as of last Monday, the car seat is now forward!!!!  We flipped both carseats this weekend, and I must say - the difference is AMAZING.  There is SO MUCH more space in the car now, K seems to fit so much better in the seat, it is fastened so much more securely, and we can actually move our seats back enough now that we aren't eating our patellar tendons.  It is a whole new world (especially for K, who now passes out INSTANTLY when you get her in the car), and I am so glad that we did it.  The infant carrier is officially retired until the next installment, as we have a "big" car seat in both of our vehicles (Katie and Ellie).  It should be noted that the Britax car seat (given to us by the Parkhouse clan) definitely fits more securely and seems more comfortable, but the el cheapo that the Bull purchased seems to be a passable seat for the sneetch as well.  We put the Britax in JT's car because a) that will be the car for long trips, b) soon she'll be the chauffeur, and c) we already had el cheapo in my car.  K looks so grown up riding back there!

This one is actually JT's handiwork - AMAZING!!!!  Way to GO, Muffin!

Other items on the development front - for starters, she's now saying "Uh-oh" at random times.  Granted, I don't think she actually knows what it means, but they are saying it at daycare, and I think she's trying to figure out what it should be associated with.  It is SO CUTE when she says it (notice a pattern forming here?  Not that I'm biased or anything) - much like how she instantly starts with "buh" the second she wakes up (whilst also pointing at the bookcase and the stuffed animals contained therein).  She definitely did a lot of vocalizing in the car this past weekend - she could have some howler monkey in her DNA...

Also, she is now quite the squirmer on the changing table.  I didn't realize this was "a thing," but apparently it's a very normal behavior for kids when they hit 13 months.  Now I'm not sure if that means she's officially "caught up" or just doesn't like being confined, but I can confirm that changing her is now very much a 2 person job.  Add in some exhaustion at the end of the night, and it is QUITE the adventure.

Also, K got her 3rd incident report this week.  On Thursday we got the call from daycare saying that K had fallen whilst standing in her crib.  She must have whacked her head pretty good, as a faint bruise is still there!  The treatment was a "cold pack followed by lots of hugs and cuddles," and she seems none the worse for wear. :-)

As for the weekend, Team Taylor took Friday off and made the 5.5 hour journey (including a stop at

K's first dance with the straw cup.  It went...about as expected...

Wendy's, as we refused to stop at McDonald's yet again) to West Knoxville, where we spent the weekend hanging out with the Rice clan!  My best friend "Uncle Johnny" is the baseball coach at a high school there, and I had never seen him coach.  Knowing how rushed TN weekends always are (and that we normally don't get to see each other since he's got 3 kids), we made some dedicated time to watch his team in a tournament this weekend (we caught 3 games), see his new house (FANTASTIC AND HUGE!), and meet their newest addition - Henry Dean (HD).  It was SO MUCH fun - filled with tons of laughs, lots of great stories, and - as per standard - TONS of great food.  Beka and Johnny are quite the chefs, and so we had ribs, hash brown casserole, ice cream pie, and deviled eggs.  Yes....good...mmmmmmm....

K meets Henry...and immediate wants to
put her fingers in his mouth...

"I wanna watch the Orange & White game, daddy!"

On Sunday we stopped on the drive home and met Grammie and Grand Pooh at Perkins for brekkie.  It was a quick catch-up, but it was great to see them, and very much an added bonus/nice ending to our TN weekend.  I so so so so so SO love getting back home to the Volunteer state, and so it's always great to pack it full of so many friends and family.  The weather was phenomenal as well, which definitely helped the experience (we spent a lot of time on Rice's deck - which is AWESOME).

The Rice clan strolling with K.

"Take...me out to the baaaaaall game..."

Lastly, it should be noted that K has yet another nickname - Tinybomb.  Taken from the hopped pilsner brewed by the Wise Acre Brewing Company in Memphis, this is the nickname I ascribed to K after watching a couple of feeding sessions where ALL THE FOOD IN AN EIGHT BLOCK RADIUS ended up on the floor around her.  It serious looked like a bomb went off in a refrigerator - hence the new name.

Okay, that's all the news for this installment.  Chat with you next (Easter) Sunday!

Love,

Sam and Jenny

"Bubbles, bubbles, all around..."

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  1 year, 26 days

Family,

And a good Saturday afternoon to you from the Queen City, where the Munchkin is at the 2 hour & 15 minute mark of her "post swim, post bath" nap and the Bull is on the screened porch, soaking up this AMAZING weather.  I am very pleased to report that, after a tough winter (for Charlotte anyway),

Hark!  Skiers in danger!  Never fear, UNDERDOG IS HERE!

spring is officially in the air.  Flowers are blooming, leaves are returning to the trees, and the sound of lawn mowers blazing fills the neighborhood air.  And the best news is that it's not scorching yet (although we did hit 88 this week!), so you can really maximize the outside time.

And speaking of maximizing the outside time, the sneetch definitely did that this week.  She was an ANIMAL at daycare, spending almost every waking moment outside (excluding sleeping and eating, of course).  Daycare acquired a new "tunnel" this week (one of those nylon-slinky looking things), and whilst at first she preferred to just slap the outside of it, we got photos later in the week that showed her plowing through that puppy like the drill they used in Ocean's 13 - way to go, sneetch!

As for the week, K has just been TOO CUTE.  She is now waving at EVERYTHING.  Animate.  Inanimate.  Made of Carbon.  Made of plastic.  Made in the USA.  Made in China.  Familiar face.  Total stranger. Robin in the yard.  Flag in front of a building.  Swim lane for a pool.  Brick veneer of daycare.  IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE.  But she will NOT, mind you, wave hello or goodbye on command.  The funniest thing for me is that, the SECOND she wakes up and you enter the room, she does the following:

K's first round on the floor of the screened
porch - WOW.  The filth, the dirt, the future
conversations with social services...

1. Smiles a mile wide

2. Points to her book case

3. Waves at her books

4.  Says "ba"

Yes, the ubiquitous "ba" - the one syllable that K has TRULY mastered.  She says "ba" constantly right now, and whilst I was initially tricked by my daughter into thinking that she'd said her first word (I tried EMPHATICALLY to convince Jenny that K had pointed at a robin and said "bird"), I soon realized that "ba" was more a conceptual statement of "oh, that's interesting - please direct my focus that way, oh slightly chubby caretaker that wants to be called father."  (Side note to finish the "robin" story. No sooner had I told Jenny that "K DEFINITELY knows ba is bird - she knows that's a robin," then she pointed to our chandelier and said - you guessed it - "ba."  She then proceeded to rinse-repeat this with the window, door, table, my wife/her mother, a sippy cup, the staircase, the coffee table, all of her books, and her crib.  Needless to say I will NOT try and claim another milestone without Jenny present again...

Lovin' the splash, baby!

K was definitely tired this week (even had 2 one hour naps at daycare on Friday, which NEVER happens), and I think she's still working through a cold (shocking, that).  However, she's been very happy and very active both at daycare and at home, and so I am (sincerely) hoping that the tubes are working.

The sneetch decked out in her first
international t-shirt - courtesy of the Webbster
and her hubby Matt.  Thanks, guys!

Around the house, we've noticed that she's starting to entertain herself a bit more.  Now don't get me wrong, that girl LOVES to be picked up or walked with (two activities which mommy and daddy are still more than HAPPY to condone and oblige), but this week I did notice that she was more content playing with the toys in the living room.  The favorite of which is "bubbles the learning whale," a gift from the Parkhouse clan.  So here's the deal - this thing is
supposed to go in the tub and attach to the tile.  However, because bath time is so quick and K LOVES PLAYING WITH IT, we've just left it in the box and down in the living room.  It's VTech, so there are plenty of lights and sounds anytime you push something.  Her favorite button to push is the orange starfish (who, incidentally, is playing the triangle - HOORAY!), and after any 2-3 minute period of inactivity it begins

Purple Easter grass is AWESOME!!!!!  And so is shredding it - one blade at a time.

singing:  "Bubbles, bubbles, all around, popping bubbles up and down, bubbles popping to and fro, bubbles put on quite a show!"  And whilst the vocals won't win next season's "The Voice," K actual sways every time she hears it!  It is honestly TOO CUTE.  I push the button just to watch it.

Grammie came this week so Jenny and I could have date night (went to see "Ghost the Musical"), and once again my mother was AMAZED at how well K goes down for the night.  Her text to us at intermission was just priceless.  Fingers crossed #2 will be that well behaved!

It was mom/Grammie's birthday, and she got to keep K that afternoon and the following morning before she had to roll back to Tennessee.  It was a whirlwind visit (as was my father's the previous week), but we had a blast, ate some good food, and got to relax a bit - all good things. :-)

The only other news to report was that K had her school pics this week, and rumor has it that she stole the show!  She was apparently all smiles in her "St. Patty's Day" dress, and the photographer said that she got some great photos of her smiling and standing - two things we definitely did NOT get at Faith's for the one year.  I hope to see them next week - can't wait to see and hopefully have a new shot to post here soon!

The weekend has been great, as swim lessons went well again today.  Tonight we'll have dinner with our neighbors, and so if you're reading this and see a photo here, then you'll notice that I wrote ahead for that portion. :-)  Oh, and we also have K's passport photos on the docket for this weekend - that should be QUITE the adventure.

Okay, that's it for this guy, so I'll sign off for now.  Chat soon!

Love,

Sam and Jenny

The Munchkin becomes the "Bionic Baby" - K gets tubes...

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  1 year and 3 weeks

Family,

No more cutting bananas for this girl...

And a good Monday evening to you from the Queen City, where the Bull has just returned from calming a SCREAMING daughter in her crib.  Not sure what was going on tonight, but all now seems well (insert sigh of relief here).

So last week was a big one, as K took the next step in her evolution to fight off ear infections.  As you no doubt know by now K's had infections for the better part of 5 straight months, and truth be told we think it's just been one long infection.  Well, after the Peds said that she was hesitant to put her on another round of antibiotics and felt that she was definitely a candidate for tubes, we scheduled an appointment with the ENT.  And whilst this was the same building as last time, this was a different doctor - Dr. Lovejoy.  It wasn't completely different, however, as we kept it in the SEC (he is a Gamecock, whereas the fella who clipped her tongue tie was a Gator).

I mean seriously, who is EVER this happy
to be in a doctor's office?  LOVE this kid!

The appointment was on Wednesday, and the doctor was GREAT.  He gave K a tongue depressor coated in cherry, and K chewed on it for all it was worth.  She was great throughout his inspection, and he rather quickly gave us the diagnosis we'd been expecting - K's ears were still filled with fluid, and she was basically teetering between the "full of fluid" stage and the "ready to rupture" stage.  That then pushed us into the conversation of options, and the doctor said that he didn't really think the antibiotics by shot would help.  From his perspective, there were 2 options - wait, or go ahead with tubes.

Check out the side pony tail - work it, girl...

He was very personable and talked us through the pros, cons, possible side effects, and the specifics of the procedure (which is the most common procedure performed on children), answering all of our questions.  I will say that, whilst I thought both Jenny and I had already expected and accepted that tubes would be required, Jenny definitely seemed reluctant as we discussed the procedure and potential side effects.  That being said, she asked great questions and certainly helped us to make an informed decision, which was that we should move forward with tubes.  Between the lack of progress, the potential issues it was causing with hearing (and by extension speech), and the fact that it would be cheaper on her insurance (given the change about to take place), it definitely felt like the right move.  The shock, however, was when they scheduled us in for Friday!  Again, I was happy, as I wanted it done with (and the follow-up on JT's insurance as well :-)), but I could tell JT was a bit hesitant.  However, knowing that she's got another 6 weeks of daycare in front of her, we both knew it was the right move.

Friday was quite the whirlwind, as we were up at 5 AM and out the door at 5:35.  We had to have K admitted at 6 AM ahead of a 7:30 surgery, and we showed up at 5:56 (only cars on the road it felt like).  And whilst those 90 minutes were a bit rough for K (she was quite fidgety but never really complained or seemed too hungry), she was a trooper the entire time.  Also, the staff was AMAZING.

When we entered pre-op, they had a CUTE little gown for her and a baby bear.  We then proceeded to speak with SIX different nurses, the anesthesiologist, AND the doctor all before surgery.  As K would receive gas and go under, they explained that she would wake up fussy and need a bottle, but they did say that she would rally quickly.  They also warned us that she would be fussy because she was hearing things that she'd never heard before.  Lastly, they told us the surgery would be quick - they were NOT kidding.

It's Go Time, Mommy!

They came in and scooped her up at 7:35 (the anesthesiologist had her in a blanket), and just like that our daughter was taken down the hall and out of our site.  We then went into the waiting room, but no sooner had I used the bathroom and come back to my seat then the doctor came out and told us he was finished!  AMAZING!  The procedure was literally 5 minutes long.  K woke up shortly thereafter, and as expected she was quite fussy.  Between all the new sounds (there was a constant beeping from the monitor attached to her finger), her being hungry, and the anesthesia still in her system, you could tell that she was very uncomfortable.  We managed to get her settled, and she then proceeded to CRUSH 5 ounces of milk, after which time she was a bit better.  She was still a little off, but we got her home and let her take a nice 2 hour nap, which definitely helped.  We kept her out of daycare that day to ensure she got plenty of rest, and throughout the weekend we did notice that she was still more tired than normal.  However, her balance from the moment she woke up was GREAT, and I really do think she's hearing better.  YAY!

Opening the Easter basket from Granny Alice.

As for the rest of the week, K's new activity was (finally) learning how to splash in the bath!  Suddenly bath time has become quite fun, and she LOVES pounding the surface of the water for all it's worth.  I think that's a bit of the swimming lessons (which we had to miss) coming out of her - it is SO cute!

Our little lady before her 1 year photo shoot.

Also, K developed first a fear and then a love of my big red exercise ball.  Originally she was mesmerized by it, but when it suddenly started rolling at her one day she FREAKED.  For the next couple of days she wouldn't even go in the formal living room - she'd just stand there and stare at the ball (and point at it on occasion).  However, the other day Jenny pulled it out, sat on it, and started beating it like a drum.  Suddenly it didn't seem quite so intimidating, and K proceeded to crawl over and BASH THAT PUPPY, laughing and smiling all the way.  She still seems a bit timid at first (as she should - it's twice her size), but once mommy or daddy sit on it and bang on it, she starts laughing and instantly chimes in.  We did the Seminole War Chant today, and KJ - you'll be happy to know it was a BIG hit. :-)

The only other item of note was that we told daycare this week.  They were GREAT about it, and so many of them said how happy they were that we had the opportunity for Jenny to stay at home.  K's teachers were particularly wonderful, and the whole staff made a point to say how great K was, how they would miss her, and how she would be welcomed back at any point.  For my part, I am very glad we've got another 6 weeks with them, as they are a simply WONDERFUL group of people.  We have been truly blessed to have had them in our lives and as part of K's first year, and the foundation they've helped us to lay should make K's childhood and Jenny's time with her even better.  I can't WAIT to start that next chapter in our lives.

Parenting essentials.

As for the weekend, we had a blast, as Granddaddy came for a visit!  Aunt Pattie was playing softball down at Winthrop, and so dad and I drove down Saturday to see her and watch Radford in action (they won - I'm 2-0 when watching!).  We had a great visit to 201 Central with K, followed by a delicious lunch at Eastfield Grill, and we even got home from the game in time to watch some hoops.  All in all, a VERY successful Saturday!  K then had her 1 year pics with Faith on Sunday.  She was a bit fussy (we think tired, hungry, and cold), but she was a trooper, and we hope we've got some really good shots in there - fingers crossed!  We will be picking up her 6 month photos soon - can't wait to see those!

Okay, quite a week as you can tell, but we've put another one in the books.  Speak soon!

Love,

Sam and Jenny

An adjustment for daddy - no more bottles...

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  1 year and 2 weeks

Family,

K says Go Cardinal!  Beat the Jayhawks!

And a good Monday evening to you from the Queen City, where the sneetch has just gone down after her bath (she's on a Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday morning bath schedule now due to the swimming lessons).  What a great week!  Lots to report, so let's get amongst it!

Monday was St. Patty's Day, and I am pleased to report that the adult contingent of Team Taylor remembered to don the green apparel for the occasion.  We put her in quite the cute little green dress and headband (if I do say so myself), but alas - the weather didn't cooperate and meant that she couldn't go frolic outside in her emerald.  Truth be told, the weather was quite a bit like the Emerald Isle itself, but hey - no complaints (after all - she is our little pot of gold :-)).

The biggest item to report this week is probably more for me than anyone else, as K has officially moved away from the bottle.  In fact, her schedule changed quite a bit this week, and that has definitely taken some getting used to.  For starters, no more bottle means no more bottle washing.  And whilst it is GREAT to have that 20 minutes back in my day (no more labeling either!), I must confess that it took some getting used to.  It's funny - I never complained about bottle washing.  In fact, I quite enjoyed it and some nights even looked forward to it, as it was a task I knew I could do that would help the family and, by me doing it, ensure it was one less thing Jenny had to worry about when she got home.  But as much as I enjoyed it, washing, assembling, and labeling did get tedious at times, and I said at least a basquillion times to Jenny, "I am not complaining at ALL about doing this, but this is one thing I won't miss."  It's funny, though, as now I do miss that little ritual, with me neck deep in soap suds while the sneetch pulls at my pants leg and pulls herself up on the cabinets.  If nothing else, it's a taste of what's to come - a certainty that the winds of change are blowing, and the move from infant to toddler is well on the way, riding the inexorable wave of time.

Munch in Motion!!!!

The other piece has been tougher for me, and that's no more "daddy time" in the morning for brekkie.  Up until this week, K was still taking at least something out of the bottle, and she was still drinking vs. eating her calories.  But since that changes with the one year appointment, it's important that K think about solid food first vs. drinking her calories.  Consequently, when I wake her up it's a race against time to get her changed, dressed, and out the door so that she can make breakfast at daycare.  It's so cute that she gives me the sign language for "feed," which a) makes me super proud that she's learning to express herself and b) reminds me that I'm on the clock.  Now again, this is GREAT NEWS all around, as it means a) she's learning to express herself, b) she's eating good, and c) is still thriving at daycare.  However, it also means that daddy just became a little more expendable in her life, and it also means I don't get those precious 10-15 every morning with her in my lap, squeezing my finger whilst she finishes her bottle.  I have made peace with it, but the photo I took of "the last bottle" does bring a twinge of sadness, as another chapter in our lives that has existed since she was old enough to recognize me how now closed.

But in much happier news, K is now walking like CRAZY with both us and her little "doggie walker!"

Early days with Scout - 24 hours later
she was basically a sprinter.

 Seriously - this all happened in the space of the last 72-96 hours, but the Munchkin has suddenly started motoring EVERYWHERE in 2 legs.  We moved the doggie walker (which I will henceforth call "Scout") downstairs to the hardwoods on Saturday, and she has been a FORCE OF NATURE ever since.  She absolutely FLIES on that thing!  She's pretty quick when we hold her hands as well, but she is constantly looking over her shoulder to find the other parent (who's chasing her in the "I'm gonna get you" game), which does slow her down a bit.  At first we were worried about her energy levels (between being sick and not drinking enough fluid, we were worried about dehydration), but she's been very active around us.  Now granted she took a 3 hour, 20 minute nap this weekend, but when she's up she's pretty active climbing our stairs (under our supervision, of course), using Scout to walk about, and walking with both of us.  I don't think there's any question that she's not 100% due to the infection, but she's still all smiles, so we aren't arguing!

LOVE PINK, BABY - all shades of it. :-)

As for the week itself, 2 nights were VERY rough in terms of K getting to sleep.  Part of it was certainly congestion, but we can confirm that she was also teething!  That's right, sports fans, 23 March saw K's 7th tooth (lower right cuspid) pop through, which I definitely think was a factor in her inability to sooth herself this past week.  In between those two rough nights was a 13 hour sleep, and she was great this weekend as well.  Hopefully she's back to normal this week - stay tuned. :-)

Friday was the Primrose Bonnet parade, where all the kids make their hats and each classroom has a theme.  The infants are the one exception, as the teachers just ask us to bring in a hat for the kids.  You can see my handiwork in the photo, as it was the only hat I could find day of (sorry Sneetch - but you sure did look cute AND brought good luck to the Vols!).

Saturday saw the Munch tackle the stairs for the first time.  She got almost to the top before giving out, and she was really motoring up those steps!  It was amazing to watch her go, and I definitely think the exercise was good for her.  Her motor skills are really developing (we think), and she's putting more blocks into containers now (oh yeah, baby - another milestone in the books!).  She tackled the stairs again on Sunday, and she burned plenty of calories over at our friends the Wetzel's, whose daughter Avery is in K's daycare class.

So there you have it - another GREAT week in review.  Chat soon!

Love,

Sam and Jenny

The bomb drops - Wife Muffin is coming home!!!!!

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  1 year, 1 week

Family,

The Sneetch playing with one of her birthday gifts (courtesy)
of the Markham clan.  She is GREAT at pulling the puzzle
pieces out - it's putting them back in that's proving tricky.

And a good evening to you from the Queen City, where the NCAA Tournament has just kicked off and Sammy the Bull is ready to watch some hoops.  But before we devote 100% focus to the epic battle between Mount St. Mary's and Albany, let's turn first to an AMAZING week in the life of Team Taylor - truly one that will change Team Taylor's (Party of Three) for the good forever.

So let's just start with the BIG NEWS.  On Thursday, Jenny dropped the bomb and gave her 6 week notice at work.  That's right, sports fans - WIFE MUFFIN IS GOING TO STAY AT HOME WITH KAITLYN!!!!  We are SO thrilled about it (and consider ourselves so blessed to be able to do it), and it really does feel like a dream come true.

Now before anyone goes thinking that this was a "willy nilly spur of the minute" decision, I can confirm

that this has been something in discussion for 7 months.  Originally, during JT's maternity leave, we considered it.  However, after running the numbers, we just thought it was too tight.  I remember Jenny breaking down and crying on the screened porch thinking about leaving K and going back to work, and it just about killed me.  However, at the time we still had the condo on the books (without renters) and her new car, and the reality is that it would have been a bridge too far to make it happen.

Munch Munch in her new bathing suit, ready
for session #2.  I'm sure Missy Franklin sucks
her thumb before each meet as well.

Fast forward to February, however, and you have a sold condo and no car payment.  Now I had been running numbers on possible scenarios for awhile (some more dramatic than others in terms of lifestyle changes), and I knew that it was possible.  However (and she will verify this), Jenny just didn't think we could do it.  There were a lot of factors in the mix, but the more we discussed it, the more we knew it was the right decision.  Key factors:

I can't wait to play at home with you, mommy!

1. Jenny was concerned that she was a "weekend mom."  Whilst this has NEVER been the case (as JT is an AMAZING mom), Jenny felt bad about having to split so much time between her daughter and a job she wasn't passionate about.  Now don't get us wrong - the company has always taken care of us (and certainly did once again with this role), but there was a reality that Jenny was spending the majority of her time somewhere she didn't want to be.  The tipping point on this was a Facebook article titled "They're growing up and I'm missing it."  I want to thank whoever wrote that, as that really set the wheels in motion.

Tell me this isn't a "ceiling of the
Sistine Chapel" moment.

2.  Jenny was concerned about perception, which is fair (especially given some comments that we've heard from not to be named members of family).  We talked about it and continually came to the conclusion that people would always judge us in some form or fashion, but that should NOT rule our decisions - especially when family matters were concerned.

3.  There was also the guilt of walking away from a good job and playing with K whilst I was at work.  I had to assure her that a) there was no job better than the one she would be taking, b) we have enough money, c) I like my job, and d) she will be a rock star "stay at home," whereas I wouldn't be.  This was a pretty easy sell given all the work she'd been tackling later, with mornings getting earlier and evening work creeping into the equation at least once a week.

4.  Financials were obviously a concern, so Jenny and I ran multiple scenarios and tested them out against my income.  The EXCELLENT news was that we came away in the black on all scenarios, which was another factor that set her mind at ease (especially when those scenarios didn't include lifestyle changes and - I hope - factored in all possible expenses).

Somebody is quickly becoming a
MASTER of the sippy cup.

5.  Socialization for K - now it's no surprise that I'm a fan of daycare, as I very much approve of the socialization aspect (as well as outsourcing some childcare to trained professionals).  However, between  Montessori books, mommy groups, and all of our other friends who are at home with the kids, I feel VERY confident we'll be able to raise the Sneetch as good or even better than if we'd left her in a school with a curriculum.  We did toy with the idea of part-time daycare, but then we reverted to our original decision - we gave life to this little miracle, and we intend to raise her.

6.  EXHAUSTION.  Seriously - JT was (and still is) getting up at 5:30 in the morning every day, settling in at her desk by 6:45.  This was wearing us both out, as getting workouts in was tough, we were losing sleep every night, and by the weekend we were zombies.  The reality was that something was going to have to give soon, as neither of us could keep up this pace (and kudos to all those out there who do it - you have my utmost respect).

After a few rough weeks at work and K continuing to be sick at daycare, Team Taylor finally reached the tipping point and called it.  And consequently, here we are with less than 6 weeks to go before JT hands in the laptop and picks up the Sneetch from daycare for a final time!  SO EXCITED!

On the sneetch front, this past week was one that saw her REALLY cruising.  She pops up SO QUICKLY now, and she is definitely working her way down furniture when she sees something she's interested in.  Now granted, crawling is still a bit faster for her, but she is ALL ABOUT pulling up on daddy's pants and standing there.  When she sees me, she will just put her head down and come at me like a rocket, stopping to grab my pants and pull herself up. TOO CUTE!  And there is nothing like picking her up and kissing those sweet little cheeks - man, I love that kid.

In terms of activities, this week was K's 1 year doctor's visit.  The good news - she got a GLOWING report from the doctor.  The Peds was very pleased with all of her motor skill progression and didn't seem concerned that she wasn't yet talking.  Part of her lack of concern was tied to the less than stellar news, which is that K's ears are still infected and look back despite completing a THIRD round of antibiotics.  Consequently, we now have an ENT appointment on 26 March, and the Peds feels that K is a prime candidate for tubes.  We have no problem with tubes, as we are desperate to get her on the mend and get that fluid out of her ears for good.  The doctor said that it could be affecting her balance (which is probably true, but we have noticed that is improving), but the bigger concerns are around hearing and speech, as fluid in the ears continually can affect hearing and can ultimately lead to hearing loss.  We were instructed to continue reading and speaking to K, which is something I think we do very well.

She weighed in at 21 lbs, 9 oz, putting her in the 70th percentile.  Height-wise she's climbing up the dial a bit, now in the 25th percentile (so yes, still a setter vs. an outside hitter - but hey, that means she can play back row libero as well!), and all other developmental milestones looked good.  Her iron levels were good, and she was AMAZING during her 3 vaccinations (literally 1 big cry - that's it!).  That girl is rough and tumble like her mama. :-)

Our next appointment is in 3 months, at which time K should have 3-5 words (other than mama and dada), be walking, and should still be growing like a weed.  She's certainly been eating like a champ over the last week, and that's been an interesting transition for us, as she's officially moved from Formula to whole milk (can someone say windfall savings?).  I was in Vegas this week, and so JT was on bottle/baby duty.  The interesting thing is that she was able to phase out formula in about 2-3 days, and the bottle vanished by the end of the week.  K is now 100% on the sippy cup!  That has actually been a bigger transition for me than her, but we'll talk about that part next week. :-)

After K's appointment, she was treated to a 1 year birthday cupcake.  Unlike the cake that was apparently too intimidating for her, K LOVED the cupcake.  Seriously - JT took about 600 GREAT shots from the feeding - they'll be great for her wedding someday! :-)  The recap:

Part 1:  Kaitlyn wonders why this particular pastry is so much smaller than the previous installment.

Part 2:  Investigation and Analysis - what exactly is this white thing on top of the good stuff?

Part 3:  Icing.  Is.  AWESOME.

Part 4:  And so is the paper the cupcake comes in.  You guys gotta try this!

And lastly, Part 5:  I mean, the icing was good, but the wax is EPIC!   

Other than that, not a lot to report.  JT and K spent Saturday at her folks' house, and then we had all day Sunday together (although I wasn't good for much considering I'd just come off a red-eye from Sin City!).

That's all the news that's fit to print in this first blog of Year Two.  Chat soon!

Love,

Sam and Jenny

And so it ends - Year One as a Parent...

Age of Lady Kaitlyn - ONE YEAR!!!!!!!

Family,

And a good evening to you from the Queen City, where the Bull cannot believe what he's typing. 365 days, 8 states, 2 weddings, 2 daycares, and 1 exhausted set of parents later, Team Taylor (party of 3) has closed a year as a family.  Don't ask me how it happened.  Don't ask me where the time went.  Don't ask me what happens next.  The only question I want you to ask me is "Is it everything you thought it would be?"  The answer to that question is not just "yes" - it's "more than I could have ever hoped for, dreamed of, or deserve."

Kanga care - look at those peppy cheekies!

Fatherhood.  Parenthood.  Family.  All of these are abstract, ethereal concepts that many of us dream of and, more often than not, realize.  Prepare as we might, none of us are ready for this.  How could anyone be ready for this?  How do you prepare for sleepless nights, endless worry, and going from weekends starting at noon to weekends starting at 6 AM?  The truth is that knowing how hard it is might scare folks away from making this leap, and that would be a shame - because as hard as it is, it is infinitely more rewarding than it is difficult.

For my part, I will say that I didn't truly appreciate the adage "having a baby changes everything" until probably the 4 month mark.  The first 120 days were an absolute blur, but between the newness of everything, the adrenaline from having to learn so much on the job, and the 12 weeks of leave, it was almost more of a "vacation meets implementation"than a "new normal."  Once we started to prepare for Jenny's return to work and put K in daycare, however, a routine did emerge, and with that a sense of what "the new normal" would be.  I think a lot of folks thought Team Taylor might go crazy with the change in pace, but the truth couldn't be farther from that perception.  Having a baby does change EVERYTHING - but in all the right ways.

You priorities change.  You get smarter about money.  You get smarter of the "to-do list."  You take time to enjoy things (cup of coffee, 20 minutes of silence, etc).  You no longer take any "adult time" with you spouse for granted, because its so rare and precious (date nights for the Broadway Lights Series, baby!!!).  You make more of an effort to engage family in your life (not that Jenny and I were bad about that, but given how much we want K's grandparents to be involved in her life, we've definitely stepped up the efforts).  But most importantly - you realize how blessed beyond measure you are.  I think this realization surfaces when you notice that there's even more love in the house.  Mine and Jenny's love and relationship is stronger than ever, and there's no denying that K is a large part of that.  Add in how much we love the sneetch, and the truth is that I am, without a doubt, happier than I have EVER been or thought I could ever be.

To Jenny - my queen, my wife, my love (and my Lionheart of course :-)) - I love you SO MUCH.  This year has challenged you so much, and each time you have not only risen to the challenge but smashed through any obstacle in your way.  From all the time spent pumping to making the tough decision to go back to work to all the love you've shown to both me and Kaitlyn to being so wonderful about letting Husband Bear have his "me time," I cannot say thank you enough or tell you how proud I am of you and the mother you are to our daughter.  I know that this year (especially the last 6 months) has been incredibly tough on you, but you have handled all this adversity with the same quiet strength that has pulled you through so many other tough moments.  Rest assured that you are NOT a "weekend mom" but rather an amazing wife, mother, companion, and best friend.  We made it through year one - can you believe it? :-)

The sneetch - exactly 1 minute old.

And lastly, to Kaitlyn - there is SO MUCH I want to say to you in this post.  I want it to be your first birthday card from daddy (but you'll have one of those as well), a love letter to you for being the best, most perfect, most wonderful child ever, a list of how you've changed mine and mommy's life in all the right ways and forever for the better, the record of my promises to you - you name it.  But as is often the case when trying to express emotions of such magnitude, words fall woefully short of capturing the true feeling behind them.  And so instead I will try to sum it up the same way I summed up year one as an expat - with the collection of our best memories from the last year.

1.  Sammy the Bull walking up to the register at the hospital canteen at 2 PM on D-Day and preparing to pay when he received a phone call from Jenny saying "it's time to push"

2.  The first time I held you in the rocker, your eyes barely open and less than 1 hour old

3.  When I broke down crying before my first work trip, afraid you might forget the fleeting memory/concept of "daddy" by the time I returned (you were 4 months old at the time)


4.  When I broke down crying singing "Swept Away" to you at Kim & Matt's wedding (in our hotel room) - sense a pattern forming here?

5.  January 2 - the day you officially went mobile - I have never been prouder of anyone in my life

6.  "Kanga care" - you asleep on my chest while I watched March Madness and the Masters - never been happier than having you right there passed out

7.  Your "special delivery" to me during your newborn photo shoot

8.  Walking you back down the aisle of the flight from Seattle after you had WRECKED your diaper...AND the outfit we'd put you in...

The poor Steelers onesie - which was soiled
on FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS...

9.  My first attempt at a diaper change...which resulted in me ringing the call bell for the nurse

10.  The first night home from the hospital - your first time breathing (cold) air, and the crying that ensued...all to be followed by me ringing "Uncle John and Aunt Beka" to confirm you could sleep in the bassinet (it was slightly slanted)

11.  The first time leaving you with a babysitter and coming home to find you asleep but with your bib still on - I'm sure it was all fine, but I freaked out at the time.

12.  Your smile EVERY MORNING when you wake up - it could melt a glacier

13.  The smile and head shake you started doing around the 8 month mark - simply too cute

14.  The look on my mom's face the first time she saw you (Grammie had gout and had just driven 14 hours from Miami after getting off a cruise through the Panama canal)

K enjoying her first Christmas.

15.  The look on K's face at the end of the Iron Bowl...when I was the only person in the room who knew a blood curdling scream was imminent

16.  The first time K "slept through the night" - and her blatant refusal to eat breast milk the following day (fueling fears that we'd consumed too much wine...which I still don't think was the case, for the record)

17.  "Animal crackers, one two three..."

18.  That first trip to the pediatric physical therapist, just hoping that everything was a-ok

19.  "Headin' down South to the land of the pine..."

20.  "Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Indianapolis, Indiana, and Columbus is the capital of O-HI-O..."

21.  Shaking the "graduate puffs" before feeding time and watching you get so excited you couldn't contain yourself

Year One - talk about an adventure!

22.  The little "clacking sound" that has become your "language" with daddy

23.  The way you try to find my finger so you can hold it while you settle before bed on my chest

24.  Your first visit with Santa - priceless

25.  Your first road trip...which saw us make it a whopping 45 minutes to the South Carolina state line before having to stop for a feeding

Honestly, there are countless other memories, funny stories, and moments, but those will just have to live in our hearts and minds (and portable hard drive, of course).  This year saw us take over 10,000 photos of the sneetch, so I feel confident we can string together a fairly accurate recollection of events should we need to. :-)

Ok, that's all the news that's fit to print, and that will officially conclude Volume One.  Stay tuned, however, as we've got a "Season 2 Cliffhanger" in the works...

Love,

Sam and Jenny