Two weeks of memories, laughs, and milestones...

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  19 months and 23 days

Family,

And a good Tuesday afternoon to you from the Queen City, where the Bull is desperately trying to get
caught up on life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and most importantly - this blog.  I'm conscious that's it's been 2 weeks since the last post, and for that all I can do is apologize.  Remember the statements I've made recently about defining my limits?  Well, that has happened again over the last few weeks, as the pace of life has just been through the rough.  Between weekend travel for fun and workweek travel as well, the last 14 days have been a blur, and I am now resigned to the fact that future posts might stretch to semi-monthly on a more frequent basis.  Luckily the craziest month of the year - October - is now behind us, and I'm hoping that November will be a much easier ride to glory.  But enough whining - we've got plenty to cover, so let's get amongst it, shall we?

For starters - THE SNEETCH IS GROWING.  I'm not sure if it's just her getting taller (which is

And just like that...the world changes.

happening I think, as she looks ENORMOUS in her crib), her motor skills improving (which is definitely true, as evidenced by the fact that she can now turn on her fan and turn off her humidifier as well as walk backwards at a pretty quick clip), or a combination of both, but the sneetch has ratcheted up her ability to "get into things" to a whole new level.  Case in point - SHE CAN NOW OPEN DOORS.

Jenny warned me that this was now possible while I was in London last week, but I didn't witness it in action until she closed the door and barricaded herself in the bathroom this weekend.  Luckily she didn't lock the door (but she very well could have), but all the same we've now progressed to the next stage of the child-proofing evolution - the door handle covers.  K has NOT been able to figure those out yet, but  I'm sure that's only bought us a few months.  All the same, we'll take it!

Going back 2 weeks ago, a lot has happened.  For starters, K had her 6 months ENT follow-up, and I'm thrilled to report that things look great.  The doctor was very pleased and said that everything was progressing nicely.  Sounds like the tubes are starting to move, which suggests that her Eustacian tubes are trending in the right direction.  We've got another appointment in 2015, by which time the tubes will have most likely popped out.

The week commencing on the 20th of October was a short one for us, but JT packed it in.  We had a free week's membership at Romp n Roll, and so JT and the Munch hit 'em up twice.  K really, REALLY loves that place now.  Part of it is definitely that her confidence and strength continue to bloom, allowing her to do more physically and utilize all the apparatuses available.  Case in point, she was ALL ABOUT the slide during one of the visits, constantly sliding into a pile of balls (too cute).  She also spent some quality time with Rompy, the facility's mascot.  Even when Rompy was hidden, he was no match for the super sleuthing powers of the little Munchkin. :-)

JT also hit the library with the Sneetch, and while she's still not super-excited about story time or song time, she is now starting to learn the moves to the various songs.  She loves "open/shut them" and "wheels on the bus" now:  "open shut" is a favorite during meal time, while "wheels" is a favorite during a "dipe dipe" change.  She basically does the "false start" sign, which is mommy and daddy's cue to start singing. :-)  In the car she's now clapping at (almost) the right time for "Happy and You Know It" - definitely starting to put things together!

"Quick, mommy - put all these in your bag and
we might be able to pay for this fiasco..."

K's new fascination - climbing on top of EVERYTHING.  Full Stop.

Apparently this kid steamrolled K last week.  Consequently,
we dressed her as a bruiser this go-around.

"MASQUERADE!!!!  Paper faces on parade..."

Jenny and I had the long awaited "Haunted Half and Boo to Brew Relay" on the 25th, so I had both Thursday and Friday off.  Team Taylor PACKED it in on this trip over the mountain, starting with seeing mom on Thursday - complete with a stop at IHOP along the way.  IHOP was hilarious, as it was  all decorated with ghosts and witches, all of which blew Kaitlyn's mind.  She kept looking at the cats, cobwebs, spiders, and skeletons, all the while trying to make the "whoooooooooo" sound that a ghost would make.  I must confess - it was pretty darn cute (biased, party of 1).

The day with mom and Steve was just FANTASTIC.  For starters, the weather was amazing.  Secondly, now that K's mobile, she LOVED running around their big yard, seeing the dogs and cats everywhere (7 cats, mind you).  She tried (and succeeded) at petting a few cats, but her "petting" largely consisted her her thumping their lower backs in an effort to stroke their fur.  The one exception was Graybel (the newest cat - DESPERATE for love), as he was constantly rubbing up against her and nearly knocking her off her feet!  K didn't quite know what to make of that one, but they seemed to get along fine. :-)  The highlight for K was DEFINITELY the scarecrow hanging from a tree, and K held court in the front yard, commanding each adult to spin it in turn.  Surprisingly enough, we were all only too happy to oblige. :-)

Littlefoot and K meet. :-)

This one is precious to me because getting
these 4 folks together in a picture is a rare
thing - treasure these photos, Munchkin,
as they are few and far between.

In the house was a true stroll down memory lane, as mom had pulled out all my stuffed animals from when I was a kid.  We're talking Care Bears, Little Foot, you name it.  Throw in a newly purchased Dumbo and about 35 new books to read, and you had a wee one who was in hog Heaven - so much fun.  All in all, it was a GREAT night, even if a) it went WAAAAAY too fast and b) K did NOT sleep very well (which was shocking considering that my mom had a brand new crib for her that was every bit as large as ours).  And a side note here - since returning home, K has completely FALLEN IN LOVE with Dumbo.  She now sleeps with him every night.  Even more interesting, she gets really emotional when we read the story to her.  For starters, she always stops on the page where the kids make fun of Dumbo and points to the kid missing a tooth.  You can tell that it really bothers her, almost as if she's sad for Dumbo.  Then, when you turn to the page where Dumbo's mom is holding him outside her cell, K gets even more emotional (went ballistic today before nap time).  But the levity from all this comes from how she tells Jenny and I she wants Dumbo, as she tries to do an elephant trumpet - HILARIOUS!  I didn't believe mom when she said that K was doing it, but K even raises her arm like it's a trunk and everything - LOVE THIS KID!

The next day was another whirlwind, as we had lunch with Dad and Alice before wandering over to Nanny's for the afternoon and evening.  The schedule worked out quite well, as we got a good 3-4 hours of dedicated time with Nanny before mom came over.  As Nanny hadn't seen her walking, she was AMAZED at how much bigger she'd become (put
me squarely in that camp every week!).   K loved running up and down the hill at Nanny's house, and she spent a good 15 minutes just circling the poles on her front porch.  All those slopes were great, as they wore her out! K slept much better that night, which was good since Saturday was D-Day for the race!

My mom and Nanny were saints on Saturday, keeping K so Jenny and I could spend the afternoon running the race and then hanging out at Rockin' the Hallows.  Uncle Benny was the Headliner, and it was a BLAST!  Nothing like hanging around with a celebrity - we even got a local restaurant to open the kitchen for us once Benny showed up - BONUS, BABY!!!!!  The race was at an odd time (3 PM), but it was great in that I got a chance to see dad for a bit and even have some time with Pattie who was in from MTSU.

Sunday was an early departure, as I had to catch a flight to

London that night.  The drive was (mercifully) super smooth, and I got home in time to unpack, repack, kiss my girls goodbye, and roll out the door.  What followed was an EXHAUSTING week in the Smoke for this guy, as well as a very busy one for the ladies in my life as well.  JT spent 3 days with her folks before heading home Wednesday night.  Thursday was the Romp n Roll Halloween Bash, and K was dressed as the cutest (if not happiest) fairy in the land!  Jenny said that it was really great, and I'm hoping that I'll be able to attend a few of these next year.

Pregame - NOT excited about the fairy costume.

"Um, mommy - not this guy again..."

K discovers the bounce house...and LOVES it.

I did at least make it home in time for Halloween on Friday, which was a HOOT (or should I say an oink).  K went as Peppa Pig (courtesy of the Rice clan), and the outfit was a hit!  K loved it (nowhere near as tight as last year) and actually kept it on this go-around.  She had a BLAST playing in the cul-de-sac.  And funnily enough, she kept pointing the moon in amazement.  JT and I chuckled at this, but then we realized that this was probably the first time K had ever seen the moon and actually known what it was, as normally she's in bed long before it rises.  She was up and down the Way's driveway for the better part of 2 hours (often pushing a toy lawn mower) and even walked along the street for a bit.  However, we didn't actually make it to any houses for trick-or-treating (not that we're complaining, as she clearly had a blast).  She actually didn't want to go in - even after falling forward on a chair and SLAMMING her head into the pavement.  She had a blue knot on her forehead the size of a golf ball, which was sub optimal considering that we had professional pictures planned the following morning at 10 AM.  However, she was none the worse for wear, and the knot was nothing some Clinique and photoshop couldn't fix!

"It's GO TIME, BABY!!!!"

CANDY!!!! Well, and used, plastic lawn mowers...

"So, um...do I just stand here and destroy the scare-bunny or what?"

All smiles, daddy!!!

The photo shoot was actually hilarious, as K was ALL ABOUT this oversized snowman which she kept wanting to run around with and hand to the photographer.  I think we got some great shots, and the lady seemed really sweet (and talented, as we saw some of the pics, which were just priceless).  That got us up and out for lunch with Dad and Alice (they'd come in for my birthday weekend), and the day went by in a blur of bad weather, great football, excellent food, family bonding, and beer - no complaints here!

The fam left early on Sunday, leaving me with my girls for my 37th birthday.  WOW - THIRTY-SEVEN.  Not sure where on EARTH that time went, but I can say that, 37 years in, I count myself blessed beyond measure.  The day itself was wonderful - I had a lot of time with my girls, was well taken care of, and even got a 10 mile run in.  But more importantly, the way I feel now is just SO GOOD.  Yes, work can be a bit stressful at times.

"Lean on me, when you're not strong..."

Yes, I'm not a huge fan of the commute (but understand the necessity).  But my goodness, what on earth do I have to complain about?  I have the most amazing wife and daughter anyone could ask for, I feel in the best shape I've been in for probably 5 years, and I am genuinely happy.  Slowly I'm coming to terms with the limits we've discussed (you can't work out 6 days a week, you shouldn't worry about race times, not everything will get crossed off your to-do list every month, etc), and I think that's helping.  I do think I've been snippy with Jenny as of late, and I know I need to do a much better job about always being a supportive, active partner.  That I will continue to monitor - call that a New Year's Resolution for 2015 and, well, forever. :-)

The other big news from the last 2 weeks - we've now got a potty for K!  That's right, sports fans - as s

I mean...does it really get much cuter than this?

he's showing interest, Team Taylor is considering starting potty training.  So far all we've done is have her sit on it and identify which potty is "mommy's potty" vs. "Kaitlyn's potty."  The funny part is that she LOVES sitting on it and thinks it's a toy.  It's in the shape of a duck (or "baba" as K would say), and she goes BALLISTIC when we close the door and won't let her sit on it - too cute.  Now I guess I have some learning to do, as I don't have the first clue what I need to do in terms of getting her to tell me "when she needs to go."  Always an adventure, my friends!

Okay, so I'm conscious that was a fairly quick whip through 2 weeks, and I apologize for both a) the delay in posting and b) the brevity of the writing.  However, I didn't want to let these notes and memories get stale, so I figured it better to be short and sweet at the expense of waxing profound, poetic, and philosophical. :-)

Speak to everyone next week!

Love,

Sam and Jenny

Sweet regeneration - a weekend with my girls again...

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  19 months and 9 days

Family,

And a good Tuesday evening to you from the Queen City, where the Bull is FINALLY starting to feel

something like his old self.  I'm conscious that last week's blog was a bit heavy, but this week I'm happy to report that I'm feeling much better.  Perhaps its the detox (no football and tailgating this weekend).  Perhaps it's the additional sleep I've managed to get.  Perhaps it's the fact that I've accepted working out 3-4 times a week is still a solid achievement and it's better to be rested than even fitter yet exhausted.  The biggest factor I suspect, however, is that this weekend was a blessed return to normalcy - complete with 2 solid days of home time with my girls.  But I get ahead of myself - let's get amongst it, shall we?

Tuesday was a rough one, as Kaitlyn woke up calling for "Nana."  I mean, make NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT - she did NOT want Daddy.  Mommy was holding the silver medal, but there was no question who K's favorite was as of 10/14.  In fact, any time I've gone in to say good morning or wake her from a nap this week, her response is always the same as soon as she sees me:  "Nana."  Personally, Jenny and I think this is GREAT, as it means several things.  For starters, K recognizes and LOVES her grandparents.  In fact, before they left she was able to point out Nana and Pooh (meaning my
stepdad) on command).  Second, it shows K's becoming more comfortable around others.  We had further proof of this on Wednesday when Jenny went to work out at the Y, as K managed 45 minutes in the daycare room without going into meltdown (apparently it wasn't a rousing success, but hey - we'll take it, right?  Most importantly, however, Jenny and I feel good because these past two weekends and K's reaction to them make us feel like we are keeping the family connected across the miles and that K is really getting to know her grandparents.

Now coming back full circle to Tuesday, it should be noted that K was quite the fusspot most of the day, culminating with one of her usual "I'm angry and so I'm going to pound my head against the floor"
tantrums that she's become quite fond of.  And while normally it's just light tapping, on Tuesday she absolutely SLAMMED her head against the floor...and subsequently started SCREAMING.  Seriously - it was a KNOCK, and my first thought was "please don't have a concussion."  I mean, WHAT CHILD WANTS TO POUND THEIR HEAD INTO HARDWOOD?  But all the same, after 2 minutes of screaming, I do feel a lesson has finally been learned.  I say that because, while she still possesses a penchant for head slamming, the last 5 days have seen it reserved for "Big Bear's" chest and our area rug.  I mean, not EXACTLY how I wanted to convey the message, but you don't hear me complaining.

The good news is that, after Tuesday, she was much better and much more her normal self.  But in a continued moment of cuteness, it should be noted that every time she sees my mom's pocket book (which she accidentally left here), K runs over to it and says "Nana!  Nana!"  - at which point I have explain that Nana isn't here.  K doesn't really seem to appreciate that slight nuance of the story and looks at me as though she wants to rip my throat out - rinse/repeat about 14 times a day.

The rest of the week went by in a blur as per standard,  but this week was MUCH better than the previous week.  For starters, I'm slowing adjusting my routine to give me a better mixture of sleep,

exercise, and family time.  I cut out weights this past week, which gave me 2 days to sleep a bit longer. Also, I went in later one day, which allowed for the highlight of my work week - getting some time with my girls in the morning.  Honestly, that was SUCH a lift for me, and it made such a difference in my attitude that day.  In retrospect, I think it's the commute that's ground on me the hardest, but I'm finding ways through that as well - leaving earlier or later (both in the morning and the afternoon), calling folks on the drive home, and using the drive in to get focused on the tasks at hand or outstanding, unorganized activities at the house.  So on the whole it's moving in the right direction, and as long as I can keep the office time to 2x a week, I think I'll be ok.  Watch this space - more to come. :-)

For the week itself, K was as cute as ever.  She quite enjoyed "the ghost game," for most of the week, which basically consists of either Jenny or myself putting a muslin monkey blanket over our heads and walking around like the couple from Beetlejuice.  K finds it quite funny.  In fact, she's getting into the Halloween spirit, pointing out pumpkins during the daily walks and stopping to wave at the ghosts.  No fear of the dark for this girl!

And the other highlight - I GOT A KISS!!!!  That's right, sports fans - out of NOWHERE on Saturday, she was sitting on my lap while we were reading a book, and suddenly she turned around and planted one on me.  I've actually managed a few kisses and hugs this week - the hugs are just the best.  Basically she walks up and drops her head on your shoulder before putting her tiny little arm around your neck - TOO CUTE!  Oh, and did I mention the back rubs?  K has watched JT scratch my back enough at this point to know that I enjoy it, and so now she has started walking around behind me when I'm sitting down and scratching my back - HILARIOUS!  I must confess - at first it was just cute, but now she's getting quite good at it.  I think she enjoys digging her nails into me, but whatever the case may be - I'll never turn down a free back rub!

Also, I'm now back in my daughter's good graces and reading her books before bedtime.  That being
said, the instant I'm done with the last book and turn off the light, she is now INSTANTLY saying "Night, night."  I am milking it for all it's worth, saying, "Okay, give daddy a hug and he'll carry you to the crib," but all the same, I am getting virtually ZERO time to hold her these days.  The funniest part is that, when you put her in the crib, she goes flat as a pancake and doesn't make a sound.  Given that, you'd think that she's instantly passed out (like her mother).  However, that's not been the case lately, as she's been taking progressively longer and longer to settle - we're talking up to about 45 minutes!  This is happening some during the daytime nap as well - not sure if it's a phase or what's going on, but it's definitely been interesting to watch.  The good news is that she doesn't scream bloody murder while she's laying there.  Instead there's some babbling and rolling around - all of which is very cute, for the record. :-)

In terms of development, I've got 2 milestones to report this week.  The first is in the language

department, where K has developed a new saying in her baby language.  When you say, "Kaitlyn - talk to mommy and daddy!", the response is always the same from our wee one:  "Tuka-tuka-tuka-tuka-tuka."  Now I have NO IDEA what that means, but in K's mind that is her standard response when given that command/request.  "Dap-um-da" is now gone, forever vanished into the ether.  Oh well, long live "tuka-tuka!"  Until we can get her saying a few real words, at least...

The other item is that Jenny's now got K washing her hands!  It's really cute, as K actually LOVES to do it.  She wants to wash her hands anytime she's in the bathroom or kitchen.  I have it on video, and the ritual is adorable.  Basically Jenny holds her up to the faucet while K puts one hand in, then another, and then rubs them together before being set down to dry off using the hand towel.  Now the side note for this is that I tried to get in on the act this weekend, and given that she'd just come back from the park, I introduced a new wrinkle - soap.  BAD IDEA.  Let me give you the play by play of what happens when you introduce liquid soap to a toddler:

Step 1:  You put it on their hand and they instantly smile - this stuff is cold and slimy!

Step 2:  You rub their hands together and they are happier than pigs in muddle puddles.

Step 3:  They instantly grow board of the soap's anti-bacterial properties.

Step 4:  They decide it will work nicely as a foundation layer for make-up.

Step 5:  They decide the best use is consumption in place of the actual meal they were washing up for to begin with.

Step 6:  They realize soap tastes HORRIBLE.

Step 7:  They try to scrape the soap off of their tongues, which is great except for the fact that they are doing this with soapy hands.

Step 8:  They realize they are caught in a never-ending vortex of soap taste - frustration builds.

Step 9:  The look.

Step 10:  MELTDOWN

All the same, it was hilarious, and our daughter still ate like a champ once we'd cleansed her of all the cleansing liquid - good times.

Oh, and 1 other cute point to note - when K sees daddy in his running gear now, she IMMEDIATELY holds her nose and makes the "stinky face" - this is even BEFORE I go running.  Priceless!  And then when I come back and start stretching, she walks up beside me and tries to imitate it - too cute!  LOVE THIS KID!

The weekend itself was great, with the highlight being a surprise trip on Sunday to the local Pumpkin Patch - way to go in finding this, wife muffin!  We spent a good 2 hours there, and K was in HEAVEN.  She saw lots of horses and chicks, as well as a pig; she then spent a solid hour walking along the pumpkin patch, trying to lift every pumpkin in sight (the bigger, the better :-)).  We then pushed her out of her comfort zone and loaded her into the wagon with the pumpkin.  At first she did NOT like this, but once she realized she could travel in style without have to exert any effort, she warmed up to the concept.  Well, that is as long as daddy wasn't pulling.  Seriously - for the first 20 minutes in the wagon, any time I touched it I heard, "No, no - mama, mama."  But eventually I won her over. :-)

I really can't say enough good things about this weekend, as I felt refreshed completely in mind, body, and spirit.  The previous two weekends were both great, but there is nothing like quality family time after a rough week at work.  K was so happy outside at the pumpkin patch, the weather was perfect, my wife was smoking hot, and all was right with the world. :-)

So on the whole Sammy the Bull is feeling better about things - fingers crossed we can continue that trajectory.  Stay tuned for the next report out!

Love,

Sam and Jenny

P.S.  Foot note for posterity when people read this 30 years from now.  Let it be known that the Bull and Striker started trying for #2 this weekend.  LOOK OUT!!!! :-)

“They’re growing up and I’m missing it” – a father’s perspective…

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  19 months and 4 days

Family,

And a good evening you to from the Queen City, where the Bull and Striker are sitting on the couch during a “non-football” evening and trying to get caught up on things.  I mention that because the pace of life recently seems to have found its way into warp drive, and that is largely the focus of this blog.  And no – I don’t intend for this to be a “woe is me” post by

any stretch of the imagination, as I am blessed beyond measure.  However, given the emotions running through me at present, I do feel it appropriate (and necessary) to capture them the best way I know how – via the written word.

As of this past Saturday, the Sneetch rolled 19 months – NINETEEN MONTHS.  I just cannot believe it.  Folks, our daughter, our teeny little angel that was so small when she first arrived on planet Earth that the bassinet seemed to dwarf her, is now clearly toddling and barely fits into her crib (to say nothing of the pack ‘n play, which is now largely used as stuffed animal storage).  In fact, I’ll do one better, as my stepfather Steve rightly pointed out this past weekend – “she’s not toddling any more.  She’s RUNNING.”  It’s so true.  K’s actually now working on walking backwards and has actually taken quite a shine to that.  It seems as though walking backwards (and using the newly discovered muscles it entails) has proven quite fun, and she’s doing it at the expense of her health and safety – occasionally crashing into walls. J

She’s also made the leap to walking down the stairs (assisted of course, but she does NOT want daddy to carry her anymore).  She can’t reach the rail yet, but she’s become quite adept at using the wall to support her.  And whenever there is a rail that she can leverage, she is very capable of motoring down on her own.  She’s even taking the half step now in stride in the bonus room – a certain sign that her height, strength, and confidence are all increasing.

On the word front, it’s CRAZY to see how many words she can now identify.  We borrowed “Rocket’s Mighty Words” from the library a few weeks back, and she can now identify every word in that book.  The same is true with an ABC book from the Hitman clan – very exciting to watch this mental development.  The highlight of the week was when I said, “Where is the red car?” and watched her point at it.  I then said “where is the white car,” at which point she looked at my mom’s car in the driveway and correctly identified that – very exciting!  Apparently Bob has also taught her the number 1, and my stepdad started working on letters this past weekend.  I need to do a better job of some of that stuff, as I think I keep forgetting that it’s essential to start with the building blocks before jumping to more advanced concepts.  It seems my tendency of “accidental parenting” knows no limits… Oh, and K can now say “Shhhhhhh” – Jenny taught her this when she walks into my office and I’m on a call.  It’s pretty darn cute, I must say. 

As for the week itself, it was another great one, even if it was a whirlwind.  K is very much in a “mommy mode” right now, and she really wanted nothing to do with me the entire week.  And while that’s not been too out of the ordinary, this past week she didn’t even want daddy to read to her.  In fact, whenever JT made the move to hand her to me for bedtime stories, K would go CRAZY and start screaming “mama mama mama mama” – real tears streaming down her face the entire time.  Fingers crossed that’s just a phase – which I truly feel to be the case given that I read to her last night.  I know poor Jenny felt sorry for me, but hey – these things happen. J 

That being said, invariably it does make you think about things and how your daughter views you.  This in turn leads to self introspection about how you behave around her and how you’ve established your priorities in life.  Couple that with an increased workload, increased commute time, and two straight weekends away from K, and you have a guy who’s spent quite a bit of time lately thinking about the man he is, wants to be, and wants to be viewed by his daughter.  And while I’m not sure I’ve figured out the answers to any of these questions, they have dominated my thoughts lately – during my drive in (and out), while on the treadmill, and especially as I type these blogs.

Now don’t get me wrong – I do feel like I’m a good father.  I believe that Jenny and Kaitlyn should be the top priority in my life, and I hope and pray that my actions have reflected that (in their eyes at least).  I feel proud that, as a husband and father, I’m able to support the family, as there has been nothing more rewarding than watching Jenny and Kaitlyn grow together and forge such an inseparable bond over these past months.  I feel like we are working hard to keep K safe yet challenged, keep her growing in the right directions, and showing her what a loving home should be.  I also feel like we’ve improved our diets so that we can show her what good eating habits are (as well as stay healthier longer to make sure we’re around for many years to come).  On all of these fronts, I feel good – it’s just that nagging feeling that I could be doing more.

There is a great article that’s passed around “mommy circles” entitled “They’re growing up and I’m missing it,” talking about how difficult it is to balance the demands of work, family, and everything else in this day and age.  And while I’m very blessed to have a job that lets me work from home, offers great vacation, provides a good income, and offers an excellent health plan, there is still the reality that many things pull at my time, and there is that feeling that at times my mind drifts, taking me out of the moment when I’m with my family.  Now I think part of that has been my traveling for fun these last 2 weeks, but some of it centers around my priorities and what I choose to do with my time.

As is true for everyone, free time is limited.  JT and I have been blessed to have evenings free still for dinner and relaxation, but there’s no question that the amount of time (and windows of time) have condensed.  Some things have been easy to drop – TV shows we weren’t super-interested in, reading (because I still get some time on business trips), movies, etc – but there’s been a big one that has left me spinning:  exercise.

Long story short – if I’m going to get a workout in, it’s gotta be in the morning.  And if I have to drive into work, there will be no workout on that day.  6-8 months ago, this wasn’t an

issue, as I wasn’t training for anything and really just wanted to stay healthy.  Now, however, I’m finally back in shape, shaving minutes off my half marathon time and even increasing my weights.  And therein lies the rub, as I’m now realizing that some of these workouts will have to drop.  Unless I can fit them in at lunch (becoming increasingly tricky), they won’t make the cut, as NOTHING can interfere with my family time in the evening.  This means that my times will slide a bit, my arms will go back to being a bit flabbier, and I’ll actually get more sleep (so there are benefits!).  What has been a herculean endeavor mentally is to realize that NO ONE CARES about my times and bench stats except me, and I won’t even remember them in a year’s time.  I’m struggling with it still, as this isn’t how I’m wired.  However, I think I have finally come to terms with the fact that I have limits, and that’s ok.  I’m still doing what I want to do – I just may not ever post another PR (which let’s be honest – was NEVER going to happen anyway).

K having a reunion with the Rev.

The other thing I need to do is shoot more video footage.  I had lunch with a buddy this

week, and he told me that, on the night before his daughter went to college, they sat down as a family and watched all the video they had of her growing up.  I thought this was an AMAZING idea, and consequently I’m trying to clear as much space as possible to shoot K’s big moments that I’m realizing I DO NOT want to take for granted:  walking with “big bear” through the house, changing “baby’s” diaper, trying to jump (getting close!), laughing when she plays with mommy – bouncing on her leg, dressing as a ghost, whatever the occasion.  Her smile is SO CUTE now, and there is nothing like walking into her room in the morning when she’s just woken up and is happy as a clam.  These are the moments that I take for granted now but I know will fly, and I MUST commit them to memory and video before the moment escapes.

Rounding out the week was a visit from Grammie and Grand Pooh, which was HEAVEN for Kaitlyn.  She started calling my mom Nana, and I’m not sure if that means she’s got the 2 grandmothers confused or if she knows both are grandparents.  She can point to “Pooh” when asked (that’s my stepdad), and she is definitely comfortable with and LOVES her grandparents.  She was DESPERATE for “Nana” Thursday evening and Friday – didn’t even make a peep when we walked out the door!  She also cried out for “Nana” after she left, a sure sign that she’s now fond of her grandparents.  This THRILLS us, as it will make some future travel decisions much easier.        

So there you have it, a cathartic and long-winded epistle from a father who’s trying to find his place in the new world order and hopefully doing the right things as a husband and father.  It is a balancing act that I expect will continue all my days, and I feel fortunate and privileged to be afforded this opportunity.  Watch this space, as I expect you’ll hear more from Sammy the Bull as he redefines his limits and self-expectations in 2015 and beyond.  The bottom line for me is that they grow up fast – and I intend to have NO REGRETS about how I treated/made memories with my family.  That will take me accepting that I need to be smarter in everything I do, and I intend to make that happen – starting now.

Love,

Sam (just me this time, as the opinions of the author are solely his own and do not reflect those of the parent company J)

---

And the roles reverse - the Bull starts driving in to work...

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  18 months and 27 days

Family,

And a good Tuesday evening to you from the Queen City.  Another great (but tough!) week in the books, so let's get amongst it, shall we?

Please obey all traffic signs...

So this week was a tough one for the Bull, as something I'd been dreading for quite some time officially arrived.  For months now I've known that, for a bit at least, my job would necessitate more frequent trips uptown.  Now granted, this doesn't sound like that much of a change from the usual routine - I travel for work about once a month and go uptown about once every week or week and a half anyway, so on paper the change isn't markedly different.  What is different, however, is that the schedule on those days I'm uptown is now a lot more rigid, meaning I'm now in rush hour in both directions.  I must confess - I was NOT prepared for how long it would take to get into work (about an hour or just over), but that wasn't the biggest shock to my system.  Between getting up very early to run (4:53 this week!), working out 5x a week in the morning, having an increased workload due to myriad factors, and losing weekends due to personal travel (no complaints there - just highlighting that recovery time is pretty much nil at the moment), last week was one of those "you have reached your limits" moments of discovery.  Throw in some evening plans as well, and I was left running on empty long before I got in the car Friday evening for a 2.5 hour drive (again, that was for fun - visiting the boys in Chapel Hill for a game - but still, the Bull and Striker were exhausted).

But again, the exhaustion and realization that I might have to scale back some activities (and expectations - such as with my half marathon goals) wasn't the most difficult component of this week.  The toughest part was that, for a period of 2 straight days, I never saw my daughter awake except in photographs from Jenny taken during the day.  I would leave with K asleep and come home with K asleep.  I would sneak into her room morning and night to say goodbye and look down at that angelic little face, and each time I just found myself shaking my head.  Our schedule as a family has been amazing, and the current schedule is the first ripple that has threatened this arrangement.  Hopefully it's not permanent, but there's no question that it's rattled me.

Refueling post tackling all the slides.
Pumpkin and Spinach puree - snack of champions.

Last week was that moment when I realized what Jenny felt when she went back to work.  Just like I was last week, I remember her stories about scrambling to shut down and get out of the office so she could have some precious time with K.  I remember her trying to balance work, exercise, family, and friends (which she did an amazing job of), and I remember wishing there was something - anything - I could do to show her how fantastic a mom she was being - even if she wasn't able to pick K up or drop her off each day.  Now, the flip side has happened, and I'm the one who feels as though he's not around like he should be (and wants to be), and that's been tough.  However, it's still a good arrangement, and I need to focus on the fact that I'm still home 3 days a week.  Most folks would kill for that schedule, and I have to keep that top of mind and ensure I don't take a second of my time with K for granted.  It also means that I really do need to take inventory of my activities and either drop some or ratchet down the amount of time spent on them.  I am determined to see the racing schedule through until December (and pick it back up again in Jan or Feb), but I am now making peace with the fact that those mile times might not drop as low as I'd previously hoped.  But let's be honest - 20 seconds a mile isn't gonna put me in the money, so I need to just enjoy it. :-)

Because you're never too young for
Doritos...don't worry - we did NOT give her any.

On the K development front, she's really been babbling more and more.  And while she's not added any words to the vocabulary (although there was a rumor she added "one" over the weekend), I definitely think she's continuing to progress in how she expresses herself.  Also, in an effort to further expand her ability to play and imitate adults, Jenny bought K a stroller this week.  That girl LOVES THAT THING.  Seriously, there is NOTHING cuter than watching her push around Baby, Winnie the pooh, or another one of her stuffed animals - LOVE IT!  She's also really taken a shine to throwing things into the pack 'n play, after which time she wants you to put her in so she can chuck things OUT of the pack 'n play - talk about hours of entertainment at your fingertips. :-)  It has been interesting watching her, as she's definitely starting to entertain herself a bit more.  Looking at my buddy Chuck's daughter (26 months) this weekend, I can already see early signs of that same behavior - just amazing to watch really.



The weekend was another big milestone, as it marked Team Taylors first period of more than 24 hours without seeing K.  That's right, sports fans.  For the first time EVER, Team Taylor woke up and went

"Go Grease Lightnin', you're burnin' up the quarter mile..."

to bed without seeing the Munchkin.  Nanny and Grandpa watched her, and I'm happy to report that it went GREAT!!!!  Jenny had done the very smart thing and taken K to her folks' place last week.  K is really starting to get attached to Nanny (whom she calls "Nana"), and she was even calling for her and reaching for her last week when Jenny left their place.  Well, this past weekend they drove up to see her and stay here, and K was THRILLED to have them here.  In fact, for the first time EVER, she didn't scream when we told her good-bye.  Instead she just went about her business...which involved dragging Nanny to the pack 'n play while she chucked stuffed animals into it.

The new favorite past time - piling EVERYTHING she
owns into the pack 'n play

It was SO GREAT to watch her recognize (and enjoy playing with) her grandparents.  As Jenny mentioned a few weeks back - it's been really good to get into this schedule as of late, as we really do feel that we're getting more time with family and getting more opportunities for K to know each of them.  And I have no lie to tell - the weekend was AMAZING, as JT and I had very little responsibility (and by very little I mean NONE).  The one hiccup was the point about 10 seconds after our friend Dinger said "you guys have no worries this weekend" when the phone rang to learn that Bob had just locked everyone out of the house.  Luckily Karen had a key and got them in, but that was about the most stressful 20 minutes of my life (luckily K was outside and they were en route to the park - WHEW!).

Okay, that's all the news that's fit to print - speak soon!

Love,

Sam and Jenny