A trip for the ages: Team Taylor's "tender Tennessee Christmas"...

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  21 months and 19 days

Family,

And a good Tuesday afternoon to you on this next to last day of 2014, where the Bull and Striker are safely ensconced back in the Mountain Fortress (aka Regal Court) after what can only be described as a

whirlwind tour of East Tennessee.  Honestly, I've got so many notes and so much to type that this might end up being 2 separate posts (a la the days of Team Taylor abroad), but let's see how we progress, shall we?

I will say up front that I've thought a lot about this blog and how I want to tackle it from an emotional expression

Matching pajamas - courtesy of
Vol Nana, of course!

perspective.  That being said, I'm also conscious that some of the emotions and thoughts are impossible to encapsulate with the written word, and consequently I fear that some of what is said below won't accurately depict the realizations I made or the emotions I experienced over the course of the week.  However, all I can do is jot down the events that occurred and the thoughts I had while the event transpired and hope that, when someone else picks up this book decades from now, at a minimum they know how happy I was and how much I learned about myself, family, and Christmas during this week.

Setting the scene for this - Team Taylor alternates Christmas and Thanksgiving, and this year was "my turn" to spend the actual Christmas Eve and Day with my crew.  Going forward (beginning in 2015), Team Taylor will no longer do the Christmas Day rotation, as we're going to commence establishing our own traditions and ensuring that K is always home for Christmas Day and Santa's arrival.  Given that, we knew that this would be a special (and important) trip for our family, especially given the advanced age of my grandparents and some other mitigating circumstances (more to come on that).
The preparation was DAUNTING.  First off, the packing was NO JOKE.  Jenny was Xena:  Warrior Princess in the packing department, as she managed to fit all clothes for me, herself, and the Munchkin into a CARRY-ON SUITCASE.  Way to go, Wife Muffin!  But then there were the presents, the stroller, the toys, the high chair, kitchen sink, the aircraft carrier...you name it.  Part of the issue was the amount of relocating we would have to do, as we would hit 4 houses in 9 days - one of them twice - meaning that we wanted to keep repacking to a minimum.  We were blessed that everyone had a crib, meaning K had an actual bed to sleep in vs. the pack n play.  After Jamaica and Boone, that was the biggest relief of all!

This was Adam's Little Tykes car, and K
LOVED IT - basically played in it the whole
time she was at dad's.

Vacation effectively started about 3 in the afternoon on Friday once Sammy the Bull signed off from work and put his out of office on.  While I am working this week and have churned out a few items, that last "farewell" email effectively closed out my work for the year.  I'll reflect more on that (and the impact to my family) in the next post, but suffice it to say that I was ALL SMILES as I signed off, closed the laptop, and went downstairs to play with my family.  Jenny and I kicked off the vacation right - by giving the Munchkin her present. :-)

Now a bit more backstory here:  Jenny and I are firm believers in keeping Christmas gifts to a minimum, especially for toddlers.  We think this for several reasons. For starters, they are happier with the boxes and bows than the actual gift.  Secondly, there is no guarantee they'll play with what you've purchased.  Third, we buy what we want/need throughout the year, and so we really don't want additional clutter in the house - especially since (point #4) we knew that the grandparents were going to shower K with gifts.  Jenny and I had proactively been "managing expectations" on the "K's presents" front since about October, and I'm sure my mother (among others) thought that I was quite the Scrooge about the whole thing.  I will say that everyone was really good about it (both in the present volume and in humoring me), and I sincerely hope that I didn't dampen anyone's holiday with the tone I took when it came to presents.  However, Jenny and I really want to ensure that K understands how blessed she is and uses all the gifts that have been given to her, which is part of why we wanted to start these conversations with everyone so early.  Starting next year, Jenny and I have a vision for Christmas that she found on the internet which we really like.  Everyone gets 4 presents:  something you want, something you need, something from Santa, and something you read.  JT and I want to augment that with a) the stocking and b) an experience (TBD each year), and collectively that feels like a great plan.  For this year, however, Team Taylor spent a whopping $30 on K across 3 presents:  stickers, "Good Night, North Carolina," and Rompy. :-)

K's had been whiny all week - not sure if she's teething or what - but I'm happy to report that her mood c
hanged considerably starting on Friday afternoon.  She got off her high chair after her snack to hear Jenny saying, "Kaitlyn, what's this under the tree?  Did Santa leave you something?"  And then, as she rounded the corner, she saw Rompy sitting in the toddler's Adirondack chair from Jenny's mom (that chair is probably K's favorite thing from Christmas - she carries it EVERYWHERE, sits down in it, then moves another 10 feet).  K went over and gave Rompy a big hug, and I'm happy to report that she's been running around with him today (he didn't make the trip over the Mountain).  It was the first "gift from Santa," and I think it was a hit.  She can definitely identify Santa now (says "Ho Ho Ho" every time she sees a picture or statue), and I'm thinking by next year she'll probably realize that Jolly Ole' Saint Nick is the one bringing all the presents on Christmas morning. :-)

"You see, Kaitlyn, this is Ronda Rousey...
the master of the arm bar..."

Friday night was a very relaxed evening of playing with K and packing.  In watching K that night, I was stunned at how quickly she was (and is) maturing.  For starters, she wants to do everything by herself now - wiping her hands with the napkin, putting on her clothes, etc.  She can't do all of it, but she always wants to try - ESPECIALLY with shoes (even if they are mommy and daddy's :-)).  She's also taken a shine to cleaning, and she loves to take a paper towel or wash cloth and scrub the floor - too cute!  Also, there is no question that she's babbling more.  In fact, she's babbling all the time.  Once the dam bursts and she starts talking, I'm thinking this kid will
be reciting trigonometry equations.  Jenny has been really excited about hearing her voice as she starts to learn words, and I must confess that little voice is awfully cute. :-)

The weekend was a lot of fun.  K officially added the words "light" and "Touchdown!" to her vocabulary - the latter complete with the referee motion! I first noticed K saying "Light" when pointing to my Huntersville 1/2 Marathon hoodie, as it has Christmas bulbs on it.  She's now pointing at other lights and saying it, but wearing my hoodie is a guaranteed way to get her to say it.  Another fun activity was "Timber!!!", the game where K climbed up on a pillow and fell backwards onto the bed f

K and Bob partnering in one of her favorite
activities - trying on her parents' shoes -
getting them on the correct foot is optional.

or THIRTY MINUTES STRAIGHT.  Seriously, this child was LOVING that, cackling the whole time as she rolled all over the bed.  It did the trick and wore her out, which was important considering that this was the only time during the whole trip where she slept a) in a pack n play and b) in a loft, so we wanted to ensure she was PASSED OUT.  I will say that I think K is definitely getting familiar with the Tacy's house, as she seems comfortable there, remembers where things are, and seems to definitely know her way around.

As long as he's not showing her re-runs of
Terry Fator, I have NO problem with this.

K an Grandpa bonded a lot as well - especially on the computer.  Bob found some cartoons with
animals online, and K sat on his lap and watched in rapt fascination - too cute!  She was in there cackling, pointing at certain animals, and imitating sounds throughout the cartoon.  They looked adorable in there together, and it was great to see them interacting.  K absolutely LOVES Grandpa's chair and climbs into it the second Bob gets up for whatever reason.  The look on her face when he returns is always priceless, as she knows she's an usurper. :-)

Sunday was a big day for K - her first Christmas service, and

most notably her first children's sermon!  K was really great - she said in the congregation for 35-40 minutes (all the way until the sermon) and didn't really make a peep.  Nanny took her to sit with the other children during the Children's Sermon, and you could tell she was quite curious as to what was going on.  For Jenny and I, it was great to see her able to sit and watch all the singing, speaking, and shuffling, as we're planning to start exploring churches in the new year with the hopes of finding a permanent home to worship.

Um, yes...those are my socks she's got on
I know they look like riding boots, but we're
not quite that sophisticated.  Yet. :-)

We then opened presents that afternoon, and K was GREAT as Santa's helper.  She really did great handling out all the presents, and she was adorable to watch as she opened them. K's opening style is quite meticulous, as she very carefully unwraps each flap of the paper (before chewing on the bow, of course).  She was cute as a button and played with everything, and it was just a great afternoon of watching her witness the ritual that is the Christmas present exchange.  Throw in some football, GREAT food, and all the laughs, and it was a perfect opening weekend for our vacation.

Monday morning was another whirlwind, as we said farewell to the Tacy's and rolled "over the mountain" to Tennessee.  Monday was spent with Mom and Steve, and we rolled in about 3:30 or so for a GREAT day.  We'd decided that we'd exchange gifts on this day, and the next 8 hours went by in a BLUR of food, photos, and presents.  We had a strawberry cream cheesecake cheese ball from Biltmore, wassail, sausage balls, egg nog, and one of my all-time favorite Steve Adams dinners on the menu for the evening.  The stockings were hung by the chimney with care - which was quite a feat considering how full they were.  And then there were the gifts.  And it was at this point, dear reader, that I realized Team Taylor was probably not going to get everything home from TN.

Santa's little helper.

A big hug for Grand Pooh after opening
"Big Hugs Elmo" - too sweet.

I'm chuckling as I look back on this, because mom had agreed that we'd only spend $100 on each other.  Well, as K started handing out presents (again, a great little Santa's helper), it soon became apparent that at least one of us had NOT stuck to the proposed arrangement. :-)  Mom and Steve SHOWERED us with gifts, but we paled in comparison to what the little 27 pound bundle of joy received - HOLY MOLY.  This kid got THREE doll houses, a kitchen set, a tea pot, and a juggle Elmo.  Elmo was GREAT because K had just seen the exact same one the week before in Florida.  She walked around the living room giving it a big hug, and I quite enjoyed watching them interact (Elmo talks and sings).  The kitchen set was great as well because K has been playing at cooking a lot lately.  JT and I are going to set that up beside our kitchen so K can continue to watch (and imitate) mommy in action.  It actually took us 2.5 hours to get through all of K's stuff (because she played with each one), so we took a break to put her down and eat before resuming gifts.

I mean...we drive an ELANTRA.  Needless
to say Vol Nana and Grand Pooh are making
a trip to CLT in Jan to bring most of this.

The day was a blur, and the night was a bit rough.  K woke up at 2 AM and asked for mama and dada until about 3, but that wasn't the only thing that kept us up that night, as the dogs were merciless in their barking and howling.  All the same, we did get some rest, and I wouldn't have missed sleeping there and having that Christmas experience for all the world.  I even got to watch Jenny and K do "cheers" between their glasses for the first time.  Apparently that started in Florida - love it!

Love this pic.

Tuesday was the first of two shuffles over to Dad's place, and we had a blast over there.  For starters, K loves dogs, which is a good thing at Dad's, as there ARE NINE OF THEM.  They come and go in the house all day, and K LOVED playing with them.  Toby (the fetch dog) wasn't thrilled to have someone else vying for my dad's attention, but they made peace when K had the tennis ball and "threw" it to Toby.  It was actually quite funny, as K would just hand it to Toby and put it in his mouth - the dog didn't know what to do with it!

That day was very relaxing, as we mostly took it easy and hung out as a family.  Pattie was in from college, so she got some quality time with K.  Also, Kaitlyn got a chance to wander around "the farm," looking at our chickens, playing on

Granddaddy's tractor, and running around the yard with the dogs - one of whom knocked her over in all his excitement.  We even got a chance to walk the fields a bit, which was very special to me considering all the time I've spent walking those hills.  It was in both that moment and a moment I had alone outside, looking at the hills of my childhood, that I realized I had a very important mission in front of me in the coming years.  I want to ensure Kaitlyn LOVES North Carolina they way I love Tennessee.  While I love Charlotte and love NC, there is no question that Tennessee is my home and where a part of my heart, mind, and spirit will always reside.  I absolutely LOVE seeing that state line sign every time I drive over the mountain, and that's they way I want K to feel about the state she grows up in.  In think I knew this at least in my sub-conscious, because Jenny and I bought K "Good night, North Carolina" as her other Christmas gift.  So much of who I am came not only from my parents and friends, but also from the geography, culture, and history of the area in which I grew up, and I want to ensure K embraces that in the same way.  Charlotte is an amazing environment to live, play, work, and grow up, and I got into 2015 with the goal of showcasing all of this to Kaitlyn. Granted, as she's not yet 2, I don't think she'll fully embrace it, but hey - I already get the sense that this kid understand a LOT more than I give her credit for, so there's no time like the present to commence the education.

Tuesday was an important realization day for me as well about some of my personal behavior (which again stems some from upbringing).  Over the past few weeks and months, I feel as though I've been a bit too hypersensitive about any perceived criticism of my actions.  Normally what makes me bristle isn't a critique or criticism but simply a statement, but I've noticed that I've been a bit sharp in my retorts when responding.  Initially I'd blamed this on the increased workload, some frustration in the office, and general exhaustion from a fall of work, travel, and 5 half marathons.  However, looking out over those mountains and sitting back on Cain Mill Road, I realized that it was more than that.  In listening to conversations around the room, I realized once again both a) my father's sensitivity and b) the fact that I was still running from a ghost and trying to prove I was right all the time when I perceived other folks either wanted me to be wrong or prove how little I knew on a topic.  I think I've carried that latent chip on my shoulder a long time, but on that idle Tuesday, breathing in mountain air and realizing the sound and the fury involved in worrying about such things, I finally felt that burden lift and slide away.  I realize it's hard to explain (one of the items I mentioned earlier that I would do no justice), but it was the start of a calm and tranquil feeling that has covered me with increasing certainty over the past week and is how I hope to live my life in 2015 and beyond - truly being in the moment, and not worrying about the past or things that you know you cannot control.

Oh, and in terms of vocabulary, I should note that K officially added the words "row" and "bubble" to the word bank.  :-) And in terms of accomplishments, I can report that K actually slept THROUGH GUNFIRE IN THE HOUSE.  That's right, sports fans - Dad and Co. are building a room downstairs, and the contractor USES .22 shells to drive the nails into concrete.  Well, this was happening in the basement with K upstairs asleep - no problem for that child!  Love that kid!  Oh, and the big Facebook post was all of the clan singing "The Wheels on the Bus" to K while she did the motions at the dinner table for "Wheels, doors, and babies" - I must confess it was pretty funny.

Shot for the ages - love this one.

Wednesday was, without question, the most emotional day of the trip.  This day (and especially the evening) was, truth be told, the primary driver for our visit and the one event I wanted to ensure I committed to memory.  Wednesday was Christmas Eve, and for the past 37 years of my life (with the exception of the few married years overseas or when it was out of the rotation) that day has meant one thing - Christmas and Grandmother and Granddaddy's with the Taylor family.

Readers, I think it's fair to say that any of your who will ever read this know of my grandparents on dad's side.  I think you probably also know how big the family is on that side (9 cousins) and how many special memories we have from those Christmas Eve reunions.  There's always the tree that was cut that day in forest outside the house (and looks more like a bush than a tree).  There are the casseroles too numerous to count (although it's the strawberry salad and lemon lush that I most go in for).  There are the laughs, the crazy conversations, and the music (most notably the staple of "the Hannukah song" by Adam Sandler).  But most importantly there is the sense of family - the bond that has remained immutable despite increases in distance between us and decreases in similarities as our lives all go on different trajectories.  When you think about where you came from and to where you will someday return, THIS is what you think of.  Endless fields of hay and corn, old farmhouses that have seen too many winters to count and will still be standing after you've passed, and animals everywhere - both new and old - reminding you of the circle of life and that this world will continue to churn with or without you.  It is where the Taylor name calls home.  It is a piece of Tennessee my family has owned for more than half a century, a piece of which that will eventually be mine and then Kaitlyn's.  It is where I sang Amazing Grace 5 years ago when we laid my grandfather to rest under an impossibly blue sky, the sound of 21 guns still reverberating in my ears and off the hills of his childhood.  It is East Tennessee.

At the time of this entry, Grandmother is 98.  Knowing that this was going to be the last Christmas we traveled for Christmas Eve and Day, it was imperative we made this Christmas count.  I am happy to report that I think we did, as what transpired on Wednesday was nothing shy of a perfect Christmas Eve.

Jenny and I drove over to Grandmother's house about 11:30, where we were pleasantly surprised to see my cousin Chris in from Jacksonville.  I hadn't seen Chris in awhile, and he looked GREAT!  It was so wonderful to see him, and JT, K, and I had a good 2 hours of chatting with him, Grandmother, Aunt Susan, and even Uncle Scotty and cousin Patrick for a bit.  K was a little shy and spent most of the time clinging to me, but she warmed to Chris eventually and loved watching him play the guitar.  K wandered around the house cautiously toward the end, and following here was actually a real treat for

The flag and my Munchkin - my past
and my future in the same shot.

me, as it was quite the walk down memory lane.  Crossing into the living room, I saw the painting I made for Grandmother and Granddaddy back when I took lessons ("My Old Kentucky Home"), hanging over the couch where Chris and I had listened to countless hours of music (and made our fair share as well).  K stopped to look at the tree, and I thought about how many times I'd looked at the presents under that tree and admired the (now most likely illegal) big Christmas bulbs that radiated enough heat to warm a small city.  She walked past the flag presented at Granddaddy's funeral, the piano that has sat for as long as I can remember by the sitting room, and ultimately into the living room, where the photos that surround the old TV are almost a museum of Taylor history (including the photo of Eleanor Roosevelt pinning the distinguished flying cross on Lt. C

omm. SK Taylor, Jr).  In fact, traveling at that pace even gave me the chance to read a plaque I'd never noticed before, one commemorating Grandaddy's unit for having the highest efficiency of any squadron.  It was a moment to remember that life is not to be rushed, as things will get missed (as clearly they have been), but it was also a moment to remember the amazing stories now laid to rest, and the realization of how lucky I was to hear any of them at an age where I could appreciate them.  I know it was with great difficulty that Granddaddy recounted his tales - even the heroic ones - and as an amateur historian I know I was blessed to hear those stories that haunted him some 60+ years after their occurrence.

We headed home about 1:30 for K's nap, and later that day we exchanged presents with Adam and his crew ahead of traveling back to Grandmother's for the big festivities.  Family, let me just say how amazing it was.  We had ALL the cousins and their kids save 1 (Zach and his wife were in DC due to his schedule), and the place was crammed full of tables.  The food was absolutely incredible (no surprise there), and the night was just perfect. There was no drama - no one seemed upset or in a rush, everyone was there on time, and everyone got along well.  It was almost as if everyone could sense the reality that "this was it" - the last time that we might have this many members of the family together at



Christmas.  Jenny and I had already admitted this was our last trip, and cousin Bryan said the same thing (he's got 1 with another on the way).  With Zach's schedule and Chris now living in Florida, the writing is on the wall, and perhaps that collective sense of finality and desire to commit this time to memory was what made it so perfect.  Scotty said grace, and it was without a doubt his best delivery in all the years of him doing it since Grandaddy's passing.  And after grace, just before getting in line for food, I knelt down beside Kaitlyn (already in her high chair), and told her how thankful I was that she was there with me in that moment.  I know that she'll have no memory of that night, but it will stay with me forever.  I will say that it was tough to not cry in that moment, and I did well up a bit.   But they weren't tears of sadness - they were tears of happiness, thinking about all the memories made and the lifetime of memories still to go with Jenny and K.  They were also tears of focus, as I was determined to ensure that, 35+ years down the line, K was as thankful for her traditions as I was for mine.

The after dinner period was great as well, as Chris and I settled in for 1 last duet session.  We rattled off the Hannukah Song, Man of Constant Sorrow, Hold My Hand, and Wagon Wheel before shifting over to some Christmas carols.  It was so much fun, and God blessed me by keeping my voice strong through it all.  I'd actually been blessed the same way earlier in the day when Chris played Church in the Wildwood, and Grandmother and I did a duet on it (it was my favorite song when I went to Creech's Chapel).

Summing up the night was a moment after dinner but just before everyone got up.  The adults were sitting around their table, and the kids were sitting at theirs.  I was standing at the doorway, looking out

at everyone - my family - and thinking about how the tables and chairs had expanded over the years.  What had once been a man and woman with their 4 kids was now replete with 4 generations of Taylors, aged 98 to 1.  And in that moment, I couldn't help but think about how Granddaddy would have had a smile on his face looking out across the table and across the generations, proud of the "life in his years" and what he had left behind.  I love you, Granddaddy.  And I sure do miss you. :-)  That room is your legacy, and I sure am proud to be part of it and will make sure K knows the proud history and heritage of her family.

Thursday morning was a whirlwind of coffee, packing, and presents, but it was GREAT.  We started the day with blueberry muffins and presents at dad's place, which was a hoot and complete with plenty of laughs and merriment.  We got a chance to say hey to Adam, Brylie, Casie, and Brynnox (their youngest, and K's newest cousin!) before rolling over to Rogersville, where the festivities began with mom's half of the family.  Nanny (or Grand-nanny as K knows her) had just arrived back from 3 weeks in the hospital the day before (partial hip replacement), and she was in a wheelchair but in good spirits.  I will say that it was tough (and unexpected) to see her so inactive and in her wheelchair, but having all of the family around provided some much needed energy to keep spirits bright.  Nanny actually had to spend quite a bit of time napping, but her improvement just over the 2 days we were there was impressive.  She is motivated to get better - she wants to walk, and she wants to alleviate that soreness, and she proactively asked to walk several times while we were there.  Watching her in the chair (and especially watching her sleeping and napping in her bed throughout the day) further validated our decision to make the drive and further hardened my resolve to ensure we made every second count.

Our time there was fantastic.  For K's part, she once again made out like a champ.  However, her favorite presents weren't any under the tree but rather the "Singing Snowmen" from the Hallmark store.  This gadget (which sings "We Wish You a Merry Christmas") is an oldie but a goodie, and K could NOT STOP pushing the button to make them sing.  In fact, she pushed it all the time, which normally resulted in them stopping singing.  However, I'm happy to report that it didn't break, which meant K got the chance to enjoy it non-stop for 2 straight days.

The silver medalist was a present from Nanny - K's first American girl doll.  Now I will be honest - I had formally protested and requested that no American girl doll's be purchased for K.  My view is they are expensive and no better than the 16,789 alternatives out there.  However, when my mom called and said that "All Nanny wanted to give K this Christmas was a doll because that's what she got when she was little and she loved it," I knew I was in no position to fight it.  And truth be told - I'm glad I didn't. :-)

Best $14.95 ever spent at Hallmark.  EVER.

K LOVED her American girl doll, and she's spent the week since receiving it pushing "Isabella" around in the stroller, giving her a bottle, and trying to take her pajamas off.  Between that and the grocery cart from Granny Alice, K has got plenty of toys on wheels to keep her occupied.

I mean...CUTEST.  GIRL.  EVER.

The day itself was great but flew by too fast (as always).  It was great to catch up with Benny, Kay, and Charlie, and the food was wonderful as always (Steve has got the turkey 100% figured out - it was DELICIOUS).  K picked up 2 new phrases on Christmas Day:  "Oh boy!" and "Oh, Yeah!"  I mean,
she's nothing if not expressive. :-)  I will say that, between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, K's schedule had drifted WAY beyond my comfort zone.  Her naps were running 2-2:30 to wish, and at this point we'd woken her up 3 days on the trot.  However, JT kept me in check and quoted Old School Cool when she said:  "You've just gotta get 'em on your schedule."  Sage wisdom, as she's already bounced right back to the routine. :-)

Gout won't slow Nana down!

Friday and Saturday were less emotional and more relaxing, filled with football (including bowl losses for both mine and Jenny's alma maters), family, and sitting around.  The Friday we were at Nanny's, where I actually got the chance to take care of her some as well as mom (mom was fighting a bout of gout).  Jenny was sick for a bit as well, and at one point I was the only person in the house not asleep or requiring medical attention!  But I'm happy to say that everyone is now either well or continuing on the mend (including Nanny), and so all's well that end's well.  For my part, it was nice to have a chance to take care of the people who always take care of me, so I was quite thankful for the experience (and grateful I didn't screw it up :-)).

In terms of K's vocabulary, she added the phrase "I don't know" on Friday and repeated it OVER AND OVER AND OVER for the next 2 days.  I will say that her pronunciation improved markedly through repetition (even if her comprehension did not), and it was quite cute to watch her observing our expressions as she said it.  This trend of repetition actually kicked into high gear by the time we made it to dad's on Saturday, as K was starting to repeat more words (and enunciate them much better as well). I think very soon the time will come when I have to watch what I say around her, and more to the point I think it's safe to assume that we can no longer talk about her while she's in the room on the pretense that "she doesn't understand what we're saying."  She's a clever one, that little Sneetch!  Oh, and if you ask her what Winnie the Pooh eats, she can now reply "Honey!"  Again - TOO CUTE.

Last but not least - the Munch can now blow her own nose!  Granted, one of us has to hold the Kleenex (and to be clear, when I say "one of us" I mean Jenny 100% of the time), but K does understand the concept of blowing out (vs. in).  Also, she's really starting to understand how to work the i-Pad and touch screens.  I saw it first hand on the Friday before we departed for the Tacy's, but I also saw it at Nanny's when K was playing with mom's phone.  It's amazing how quickly kids learn, as

"Tech-saavy and I know it..."

just a month ago she couldn't stop pressing the home button.  Now the home button has little or no relevance for her, as she prefers to swipe the screen (and I think has some concept of what happens when she touches certain images in the games).

Sunday was a hurried farewell amidst packing before Team Taylor headed back to the Old North State.  We were lucky enough to catch Kim and Matt for brunch in Asheville before continuing onto Charlotte and home, where the Bull and Striker embarked on a HURRICANE CAMPAIGN of unpacking and sorting.  You should see the to-do list, people - as with Rome, this will NOT be done in a day.

It was great to see Kim and Matt, even if the visit was short.  However, we know we'll see them in February when we make our next pilgrimage down to Hotlanta, and we're very much looking forward to a catch-up then.

Okay, folks, there you have it - the recap of our Christmas week.  It has taken me over 2 hours to write this, and I'd say it will be another hour to get the pictures included.  I am emotionally spent after writing this, and I did have tears during the section recounting Christmas Eve.  However, I am so glad it's committed to "paper," and I hope I've done the retelling justice so that future readers can understand how much this time mattered to us as a family and what lessons I learned (or were affirmed) along the way.  Summing up - I am blessed beyond measure, and I want K to realize every day of her life how lucky she is to have the mother she does and the family we have supporting us.  Christmas traditions are important, as is loving who you are and where you come from, and a parent's responsibility is to ensure both of those are solidified early and maintained.  And lastly - remember the reason of the season and the value of getting together, as that is infinitely more important than any present under the tree.

Okay, that's all the news that's fit to print for this installment.  Chat soon!

Love,

Sam and Jenny

Back and better than ever - my girls are home!!!!

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  21 months and 8 days

Family,

And a good Friday afternoon to you from the Queen City, where the Bull and Striker are frantically

K LOVES this hat - she wants to wear it to bed.

trying to cross off all the "to-do's" before Christmas break starts.  For my part, I've just wrapped the last "must do" for work, and I can already feel the stress slipping away and sliding off me.  But hey, plenty to cover for this blog, so let's get amongst it, shall we?

First and foremost, let me happily affirm that the Bull is in MUCH  better spirits for this post than the previous one.  In fact, I think writing the last post truly helped me make piece with the event - dare I say the loss - and between that cathartic experience, a good run to clear my head, and - most importantly - having my girls back home, I am in a much, much better place.  If anything, I feel that my spirit is once again renewed, and I feel much more focused on making every second count with Jenny and Kaitlyn and ensuring a) they know how much I love them and b) that I can make as many memories as possible.


Most of last week was something akin to an out of body experience, as Jenny was in Florida with Kaitlyn while I was living the life of a bachelor back here.  Add in the fact that it was race week (which means no booze and an odd sleeping schedule due to nerves), and you have a guy who slept worse than normal, only to wake up to a silent house and on some days go to bed without having spoken to another human in person.  I was so desperate for normalcy that I slept with Kaitlyn's monitor on so I could at least have the familiar light pattern in the bed room (even if it focused on an empty crib).

As is the case with my work trips, I spent last week watching my daughter grow up in pictures.  And as is also always the case, Jenny was terrific to send me photos of K throughout the day.  I just cannot say enough how much these pictures always pick me up - especially when work is grinding me down.  Seeing the smile on her face and reading Jenny's captions is without question the highlight of my day when they aren't around, and given how tough the last couple of weeks have been, they were absolute lifesavers.

Jenny said that K was an angel in both directions on the flight.  The flight down wasn't full, and so K even had her own seat.  JT did say that the rental car was a bit of a hassle (particularly the car seat), but on the whole the trip was smooth and sounded terrific.  K ate like a champ - she started the trip with Italian sausage with lemon yogurt dessert! - the entire time, and I'm pleased to report that she added many new dishes to her taste bud repertoire.  She got a chance to go to the Tampa Zoo as well, and the photos were GREAT!  I think she really loved it, and I wish we had a zoo in Charlotte.  That being said, we've got lots of nice things here as well, so I'm not complaining - let's just say I'm looking forward to taking her up to Asheboro for a visit to the North Carolina Zoological park. :-)  Some of the highlights from Tampa:

"In reviewing the map, I think we should kick off our campaign of world dominance here..."

"Um, those goldfish sure look yummy..."

"This depiction of an apple is FASCINATING."

"BECAUSE YOU SHOULD ALWAYS EAT TOPLESS!!!!"

K loves her some Kona...even after the lickfest that occurred 4 seconds after this was taken.

Too cute...

Our little AD PI in training meeting Alphie.

The first half of the trip was down in Tampa with Sarah, Steve, and the twins, and I think they all got on like peas in a pod.  I think K and Mac are a little more of the same temperament, so needless to say we'll all have to make sure Malin isn't the "instigator" when they get older.  That being said, the photos of the three of them were PRICELESS.  K can even say "Mac Mac" and "Mae Mae" now, and she can point to both of them when asked who is who - too cute!  For me, it's thrilling to see them starting to get to know each other, and I know we're committed to ensuring they all grow up together.  Of course, if the end result is K saying she wants to go to Gainesville for college, then we could have some family drama.  However, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. :-)  Oh, and did I mention that Steve taught K how to headbutt?  No comment...except to say that K LOVES IT NOW.  Awesome...

The second half of the week was spent up in Orlando, dividing time between Jenny's college friends Katie and Julie.  JT said it was great to see K in action in a different environment here, as K loved the older kids toys.  We've learned a lot about "the science of play" and the importance of the right types of toys lately, and I'm very keen to see what we get at Christmas.  I'm thinking we'll have to augment some of the gifts with other toys that we've seen K play with (and enjoy), but I also want to be

JT, Katie, and Julie look at little different than
 the photo I've seen on JT's 21st birthday...

cognizant that we don't want a million new toys in the house come January 1.  Largely it takes the form of cars, trucks, or "compound activities," whereby you do something and then watch the cause and effect of further motion/transaction.  And yes, I realize that all of this might sound crazy, but as I think about 2015 and all the big milestones coming up - potty training, changing rooms, moving to a big girl bed, starting daycare, etc - I can't help but start to think about what I have to do in order to set each of these activities up for success (and can't help wondering if I coasted too much in 2014 and sat on my laurels :-)).

#Chargeon!

K and JT got home Tuesday afternoon, and words CANNOT EXPRESS how happy I was to see them.  K has been all about daddy lately, and I have LOVED THAT.  I will say it was tough on my Wednesday and Thursday since I was uptown and barely saw her either day, but we've managed to play a bit today and will for the next 9, so I take a lot of solace in that.  I've had so many hugs lately, and the smile I get from her right now is just beyond anything any man deserves. :-)  I will say that, as per standard, it's INSANE the changes that have already taken place with her in the week we were apart.  "Bath" is definitely a new word in the vocabulary, and you can tell that her syllables are definitely getting closer to describing what she's looking at.  She's taking stairs without my help now (just keeping a hand on the wall), and she's even gotten much better at using the i-Pad!  We spent about 10 minutes using it, and she gets the concepts of swiping, the home button, pushing buttons to see things move, and is even working on the "hand contraction" whereby the app closes and it goes to the home screen - CRAZY!  I was especially floored when she picked up her toothbrush Tuesday night and said "Elmo" out of the blue - WHAT!?!?!?!!?  Apparently she's a huge Elmo fan now - Grand Pooh will be quite excited to hear that based on a recent acquisition...:-)


The rest of this week has flown, and JT's been a ROCK STAR getting things crossed off the list.  She even made it to Mindy's house yesterday (yep - she's back in CLT!) to see their new munchkin Seth.  Hayden was thrilled to see Kaitlyn and tried to hug her about 5,011 times.  K, however, was NOT as impressed and never responded with an embrace.  In fact, she actually just usually ended up running away and calling for "mama." :-)

Okay, I know that was a lot, but I wanted to get this done and dusted ahead of leaving for the Tacy's tomorrow.  The next post will be December 29th or thereabouts, as we'll be away for Christmas all new week, splitting time between South Carolina and Tennessee.  Hard to believe there's only 1 more post left in 2014!

That's all the news that's fit to print - Merry Christmas!

Love,

Sam and Jenny