An adventure for the ages - Lady Kaitlyn tackles the Caribbean...

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  16 months and 17 days

Family,

And a good Monday evening to you from the Queen City, where the Bull, Striker, and Munchkin are

One for the ages - the first pic of Team
Taylor on foreign soil.

back from 8 days of fun and sun in Jamaica.  WHAT AN ADVENTURE!  Honestly - this blog should be broken into parts like the old travel blogs.  However, because I don't have that kind of time, we're going to back it all into one installment.

So first off - the summary.  I will be honest and say that, while I had no idea what I was signing up for, I did have certain expectations on the trip.  I did not expect it to be romantic, as K would be in the same room with us.  I did not expect it to be wild and crazy, as a) we have a kid and b) I am now waking up around 5 AM every morning.  I did NOT expect to do much in the way of excursions but rather planned to try a vacation unlike any previous for Team Taylor - one that involves a lot of relaxing and lounging in the pool and on the beach.  I did expect to have a lot of quality time relaxing with Jenny.  I did expect to get some extra sleep.  I did expect to finish at least two books.  I WAS WRONG ON EVERY SINGLE POINT.  But I get ahead of myself, let's start with how it all began - the arrival into Jamaica. :-)

"No, daddy - that sieve isn't the shape I need for my castle."

K enjoying her favorite snack - SAND.

So first off, the transit to the airport and flight to Jamaica went really well.  True, K did NOT sleep well at all on the flight (and, as per standard, when she did finally manage to fall asleep the flight attendant IMMEDIATELY started in on that damn MasterCard message - the one where she talks 2-3 minute straight and forgets the message at least half a dozen times) - only got 30 minutes or so and was a little fussy just before she dozed off (poor thing just couldn't get comfortable but was GREAT in retrospect - barely cried out at all) - but on the whole spirits were high and the energy palpable as we touched down in Montego Bay.  That energy was a bit deflated, however, when we rolled into customs and found ourselves stuck in line (in an unventilated room that felt like Dubai during a heat wave in summer) for 90 minutes, finally reaching an official only to be told that, since I had recently visited Costa Rica, I had to go to the health office for a check (for the record - the "office" was a desk under a dingy staircase.  Basically, if you

Lovin' the spigot!

JT enjoying a rare moment of downtime.

weren't sick BEFORE you visited the desk, you were CERTAIN to be sick afterwards - did you catch the foreshadowing? :-)).  Now, as this is a blog about Kaitlyn, I should note that she was an ANGEL throughout this entire process.  The poor thing was stuck in a Bjorn most of the time, but she rarely fussed.  Granted, we did give her about 16,000 goldfish to eat during this time - we were actually getting a bit stressed by a) the chances of running out and b) how appalling her diet had been on day 1.  But we knew it would be an adventure, and so we kept the gravy train going (she was using the cup where she could actually reach in and pull out the food, which did help).  The first real roadblock occurred at baggage claim, where ONE OF OUR BAGS WAS NOT WAITING FOR US.  Oh, dear reader - this sent us into a tailspin.

So let me paint the scene:  You have an exhausted wife who is trying desperately to keep track of a starving, tired baby running around an aircraft hangar hotter than the sun.  You have me talking to a baggage claim guy who is just saying "Ya, mon - no problem" but also telling me that the bag is here.  You have the rest of our party sweating their asses off outside.  You have Team Taylor with no baby food, no underwear, no baby monitor, and no shoes (other than those they are wearing), and no timeframe for getting anything delivered to them.  With each passing minute, K (who had still been so good) was starting to go mental, and so when we finally got the paperwork, we bolted to the air conditioned van...where we found that the pickup crew had forgotten the car seat.

"More watermelon, daddy!"

Let me paint another scene.  We are in the 3rd world (seriously - Jamaica was WAY more 3rd world than I'd expected).  Jenny is feeding K crumbled graham crackers while K STANDS ON HER LAP IN THE CAR.  I pass back more Cheerios while drinking a Red Stripe IN THE CAR.  Picture this scene for FORTY-FIVE MINUTES, at which time we finally arrive at our house...and find out that the arrival crew has neither a crib nor high chair for K.  It is at this point that I start to despair.

"Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall..."

The good news is that a pack and play was delivered.  The bad news is that the first meal was spent with K on our lap, which meant that we didn't really get to enjoy it.  Oh, and about 3 minutes into our arrival, K peed all over the bed while changing her.  So our first act after changing our daughter was to change the sheets - good times. :-)  However, by 6:40 PM, K was down, the Red Stripe was flowing, the view was gorgeous, and we had a great evening of laughs with the other couples.  All in all I was exhausted but excited, as we had made it and had over a week of good times and relaxation in front of us.

Dressed as the island beauty!

Sunday was much better - if for no other reason than the shock of all the mishaps was gone.  I got a run in (I actually ran 6 days out of 9 this vacation), the coffee (100% Jamaican) was amazing, and the breakfast was just terrific.  K loved the pool and the ocean (especially "Humpty Dumpty" off the pool wall), and it was a great, happy day.  Work felt very far away, I had dedicated time with my girls, and the weather and view were both just unbeatable.  By the time we put K to bed on Sunday night, I was feeling really good about things and confident that both my girls were having a good time.  Granted, the house was a bit more dangerous than I had expected (not sure why), but we were managing, so all was good.  The high chair arrived that day, and K proved to be a good eater out of the gate - that gal can CRUSH some watermelon (so much so that her deuces were blood red - WOW).  K fell in love with a shovel and pail on this day, and she played with it every single day at the beach.  As it was a Guinness pail, I found it quite funny.

By Monday I felt that we'd definitely settled into a routine - pool morning and afternoon, beach around the middle of the day, with K walking the house in both the morning and evening periods.  We were having to bathe her twice a day, as you had to get the sunscreen and the sand off (so she got a quick

shower in the afternoon and a proper tub bath in the evening).  I must give Jenny credit here, as she was an ANIMAL in keeping K well-covered on the sunscreen front and well lathered on the bathing front.  And I have to give K a lot of credit as well, because she took it all in stride.  In fact, K LOVED the outdoor spigot used to wash sand off everyone's feet.  She wanted to play with it ALL THE TIME - she would actually beg to go down the stairs just to play with the tap.  And for the record, she a) figured out that turning the nozzle does start the flow of water and b) managed to move the dial herself a few times.  Let's just say I'm glad I'm not the one paying the water bill...On a serious note - K could remember that, when you're under the spigot, you need to raise one foot at a time and put it under to wash the sand off - pretty impressive, right?  Well, I think so anyway.  Way to go, Munchkin!

Yes - ignore all AMAZING, FRESH FOOD in the house
and instead consume this palm seed for all it's worth.

Monday was a little tougher for me, as K woke up early.  In fact, K woke up SUPER EARLY every morning, ranging from 4:29 to 5:34 - that's right, 5:34 WAS THE LATEST SHE EVER SLEPT IN.  At first I just used this as time to get up and run before the heat of the day, but I didn't realize how much of a toll that was taking on us (as everyone else was napping during the day, but we didn't because K's nap was really the only time we had to ourselves - precious time indeed!).  Ultimately we adjusted the approach as a matter of survival, and this definitely helped us to rally toward the end.

About halfway through the trip K decided that she was
ONLY drinking water if we poured it down her gullet.

Tuesday I woke up sick.  I'd felt bad on Monday as well and knew that it was just fatigue, but I thought I might be able to shake it with an early bedtime.  In fact, this was the earliest string of bed times for Team Taylor EVER.  With K getting up so early and us not napping, we found ourselves absolutely shattered by 8 PM.  In fact, it was a struggle to make it until 8 PM most nights!  Granted, we always had a DELICIOUS meal and made room for rum cream or Red Stripe, but with each passing day Team Taylor found themselves a bit more run down and desperate for bed.  Part of it was the morning run.  Another part was the early morning and lack of napping.  The sun and booze obviously played a part as well.  The biggest reason for the exhaustion, however, was the constant vigilance we had to display with K.

My girls on the water - too cute!

I absolutely LOVE this pic - both of my girls so happy.

Now again, don't get me wrong - that child was AMAZING.  Seriously - we are talking about a kid who is resilient beyond anything I could have expected.  She took to her new surroundings great, settled into a routine quickly, tried loads of new foods (the staff was great to make her a special plate of the local food each night as well as provide tons of fresh fruit each day), and was always wonderful at the ocean (even kept her goggles and hat on!).  However, in a house that isn't baby proofed, a pool that is above her head, and an ocean that never stops pounding waves, there is NEVER  a moment where one of us wasn't chasing her and making sure she was safe.  She has an adventurous spirit (not reckless - just curious), and we certainly wanted to encourage that.  The flip side is that you are ALWAYS on the good to ensure she's not going down stairs, eating bugs, trying to drink the ocean, or the ten thousand other things that she always wanted to do as she explored the world around her.  By Monday this was already taking a toll on us (and our backs), and a realization that this trip wouldn't be all that relaxing was starting to set in.  However, we were still definitely having fun despite sickness, missed bags, and some exhaustion, and so it was really just a matter of resetting expectations.

For me, I had used the morning runs (and in fact did the whole week) as I chance to wrap my head around resetting expectations.  And once I made peace with the fact that I wasn't going to always drink that last Red Stripe or get that extra hour of sleep, things did get better.  But what ultimately perked up my spirit was looking at the first batch of photos from Monday of K and Jenny playing on the ocean.  Seeing K's smile as she charged headlong into the waves and seeing Jenny's smile as she watched made me realize that it was those moments (and the pictures that trigger the memories) that we'd remember and take with us from this trip, and it was those moments (vs. the exhaustion and worry) that I needed to focus upon.  That provided a big lift to my spirit, and having already gone through those photos, I can say that my hope of remembering those good times definitely rang true.  In fact, the hour we spent each day at the beach was definitely the highlight for me, as the water was amazing, K was so happy, and JT and I could relax a bit (when K was playing in and eating the sand, that is).

Oh, and in case you're curious - the cap
is STILL ON.  

Tuesday was perhaps my favorite day of the trip, as I got something very rare and precious - solo daddy time with K.  Jenny and the rest of the crew got off-campus to do some tubing, and I stayed back with the sneetch.  This made me very happy for 2 reasons - first off, I was thrilled that Jenny got a chance to get off campus and have some time to herself.  She works so hard day after day to ensure K is motivated, safe, and challenged, and for me it was extremely important that she enjoy her time in Jamaica.  Secondly, being along with K meant that I got a chance to just bask in the joy of being a father.  So when everyone headed out to the river, this guy picked up the Munchkin and headed to the beach!

Hold fire, social services - that is a VIRGIN daiquiri...

That hour was one of the best of the trip, as K and I had this pristine beach to ourselves on a perfect, sunny, happy morning.  K LOVED the water that day (and ran headlong into it time and time again), and as I watched her running along the beach and the sand, I realized truly how precious and fleeting this time with her is.  Hitman said it well when he was talking about his own kids, saying that he's only got 8 years left with his oldest (who's almost 10) before he's out of the house (when things admittedly change).  I had that ringing in my mind as I watched K, full of laughter and life, running up and down the beach.  And while she'll have no memory of that day, I will carry the image of her running and laughing with me forever.  I love you, little munch.

We actually went back to the beach a second time on that day, and that day also saw a new quirk from

Fingers in ears...COATED with food.
I sure hope those tubes are still working...

K - sticking fingers in both her ears - ESPECIALLY WHILE EATING!  Now we have no idea why (although some web sites suggested it was due to her teething, which she definitely was), but for some reason she started putting her fingers in her ears and continued to do this THE REST OF THE TRIP.  Luckily she's toned that down, but all the same we spent five days scrubbing papaya, watermelon, ox tail (yes - ox tail) and grease out of her ears - good times. :-)

Wednesday was one of the tougher days we had, simply because a) it was the day I was sickest and b) the day where K slept the least.  I was basically up from 11:30 PM on as K did not sleep well.  Between my illness, one of the other kids in the house being sick, and K sleeping fitfully, we realized that, in the absence of western medicine, we were officially in a race with the clock to keep K healthy.  For Wednesday she was fine until bedtime, at which point we had to introduce ibuprofen to keep her temp down and children's benadryl to keep her sinuses clean.  We also started raising the temperature in the room, as I was concerned it was too cold for her (regardless of what the textbooks say!).  I even had an AFD and went to bed at 7:30 this day (pretty much after dinner and less than an hour after K).  All the same, it was still a good day, as K loved the ocean and the pool, and we got plenty of good bonding time.

"Um, you are NOT touching my ducky..."

On Thursday, JT was an angel and let me sleep in the next morning, which saved me and left me feeling MUCH better.  I also took my first day off out of 14 from exercising, something else which helped (and since running back here in CLT, I can tell how insanely hot it was even at 5 AM in Jamaica!  That confirmed one of my thoughts about why I was sick - my core was just getting too overheated).  By this point, JT and I had figured out that, in order to have any chance at relaxation, we needed to divide and conquer time with K.  Instead of us both trying to watch her, we started working in shifts where one of us was totally "switched on" with her and watching her every move while the other had some time to relax (hammock, ocean, beer, etc).  This made life almost instantly better, as it allowed me to go back to "shift mode," which is the mode where I feel like a better, more engaged parent.  I have to give JT a lot of credit here, as she let me have a lot of time in the ocean, playing in the waves and taking in my surroundings.  I love you, wife muffin!

Our favorite time of day - BEACH HOUR WITH K!
She loved her baby banz!

Thursday was also great because we got massages AT THE HOUSE!  The gal did a GREAT job, and between that and 4 Red Stripes, I was feeling much better. :-)  K, on the other hand, was definitely sick and running a fever, but as per standard she was still a SUPER happy baby and was still playing non-stop.  She was great in the ocean, loved to play in the sand, and was fun at the pool and by our local beach.  K discovered the "hot tub" on this day, and from that moment forward that was her favorite place to play. It was amazing!  I mean, that bloody hot tub was FOURTEEN THOUSAND DEGREES, but she loved it.  JT made a smart observation - fewer waves and a smaller pool made K a happy girl.

The house - this place was AMAZING...just not the
ideal location for Dora the Explorer...

As for the rest of that day, it was great except for the back pain that was starting to creep in from

bending over K in the ocean and all the other non-baby proofed nooks and crannies in the house.  In fact, it is no exaggeration to say that we were exhausted after each trip to the beach.  Now don't get me wrong, as it was absolutely worth it (highlight of every day), but not having a stroller meant carrying 25 pounds of fury .3 miles each way in the scorching sun, and by Thursday JT and I were having to alternate carrying her.  All I can say is thank goodness we at least had the high chair, as without that creature comfort, we might have lost it.  And on that note, it should be noted that we VERY MUCH missed our changing table, as we had to change K on the bed each time (which neither of us liked - she screamed bloody murder and our backs really hurt).  I am just thankful all the sand didn't give her diaper rash, as the Desitin was in the bag we lost.  

"Play with me, mommy!  It's not like we woke
up at 4:49 AM or anything!"

Oh, and this was the day where JT's iPhone officially DIED.  Well, the phone still works on occasion, but the home button doesn't work.  So yes, as I type this, Team Taylor is planning on buying her another one (most likely a 5C tomorrow).  Made of money, baby!

Friday was another good day, as K was holding steady with the current meds regimen and I got a chance to sea kayak.  It was also the day the lobster fishmonger came to visit (hilarious...and WICKED tasty later), but this day was memorable for one reason - OUR BAG ARRIVED!!!!!  That's right, sports fans, 8 days late and after repeated calls, emails, and conversations, our bag arrived on our

doorstep.  As it was explained to us, apparently some douche bag had taken our bag by accident (as well as his own - HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?), traveled the island for a week, and then dropped it back off at the airport on his way out the door.  Luckily for us, we hadn't purchased much, but all the same - it was ridiculous.  But hey, we were just glad to have flip flops and K's cute baby Tevas again!

And while I'm on this subject, I should note the there is NO QUESTION God was looking out for us on this particular trip, as the bag we lost had almost NOTHING for K, whereas the other bag was LOADED with stuff that we needed - light dresses, all her diapers, her thermometer, and most important - her medicine.  It was almost a sign from God when that one arrived, as we should have known that we'd need to use everything on it.  Thank you, Father!

Three for the road - 1 country down, 286 to go. :-)

Saturday was a blast as well - a perfect happy day and wonderful ending to the trip.  We managed to stay awake a bit longer, and we definitely had our longest stay on the beach.  K really seemed to enjoy it, and Jenny and I took a nice long walk with her along our local beach, picking up shells and loving looking back to see 3 sets of footprints in the sand - one pint-sized. :-)  It was a perfect, appropriate ending to a trip that was full of surprises and the unexpected, but on the whole one that was truly wonderful.  The trip itself was best summed up on Sunday, however, as we finalized packing.  Earlier in the week JT and I had decided to pick up a shell and keep that for K as a souvenir of her time in Jamaica.  On Thursday Jenny found THE BEST shell - a gorgeous clam shell that was like glass and still together (although wide open).  Well, as Jenny was doing the final inspection of our room (K was asleep on my arm), she fluffed the bed a final time, sending the shell flying and crashing onto the floor. And while it did break in half (and one piece into two parts), the breaks were clean, meaning we could easily repair it.  Jenny was devastated, but to me it was the perfect summation of our time in Jamaica - not perfect, but still beautiful.  And once a little time and nostalgia is applied, it will be an even happier memory to us all (except the munchkin, that is).

"I'm a pro at this beach thing, mommy!"

As for K, she was a trooper the likes of which I couldn't have even hoped for.  I know I've bragged on her this entire post, but it's true - neither sickness, new food, heat, a cramped pack 'n play, oceans of sunscreen, nor mommy and daddy constantly saying "put that down, sweetheart, you can't eat that" got you down or dampened your sports.  We were (and are) so proud of you, and we can't wait to get you
back to the Caribbean (daddy's already planning it, in fact!).

K also had 3 big development milestones.  For starters, she started trying to comb her own hair!  Granted, she still HATES it when mommy and daddy use a comb, but she is totally fine with you using a brush (especially if it belongs to another kid :-)).  I also heard K say "mama" for the first time (in the airport on the way home).  There is definitely no question that she knows who "mama" is - especially since she yelled for her the entire time she was in the bathroom while I was in line at Quizno's.

And lastly, my personal favorite new game is when I say "Can I have a kiss?"  K always says no, but up until Thursday she was truly serious.  Now, however, she says no but then smirks, and I know she thinks it's a game.  And for the record - I actually have managed to get a kiss or two. :-)

So there you have it - a Tolstoy-esque post about our first real family vacation.  We had an absolute
blast - so many great meals, good laughs, and wonderful memories - but it was sure nice to be home sleeping in our own bed.  K didn't necessarily agree, as she screamed like a banshee for the first 90 minutes in her crib (don't worry - we did check on her and give her meds twice).  However, the house is now quiet, and it appears as though normalcy has resumed. :-)

Ok, that is DEFINITELY all the news that's fit to print.  Chat soon!

Love,

Sam and Jenny

Exhaustion and elation on the eve of Kaitlyn's first passport stamp...

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  16 months and 1 week

Family,

And a good evening to you on a rare Friday installment of the family blog.  Apologies in advance, as this will be a quick one.  However, as Team Taylor is about to pack up and shuffle out of the country for a week, I wanted to make sure I didn't leave the post for this week too long (can't let the memories go stale!).

Um, YES - you are seeing that correctly.
K was so hungry that, when Jenny walked
away for .0000007 seconds, Kaitlyn actually
BIT INTO A KIWI.  Awesome.

So, first off, let me just say it - THE MOMENT IS HERE!  That's right, sports fans, the vacation Team Taylor has been talking about for 4 months has FINALLY arrived, and I COULD NOT be more excited about it.  I haven't had a vacation day in over 3 months (which for me is a record) and even worked one of the 2 national holidays over that span.  Work has been full-on as of late, and I am definitely ready to unplug and go somewhere my phone doesn't work. :-)

K's stuff for Jamaica - it represents 89% of our total packing.

I have been on pins and needles about K, but as of right now she's feeling really good and sleeping like a log.  She is teething, which has resulted in her feeling a bit warm to the touch.  However, regular temperatures checks have confirmed she's fine and dandy at present, and so with 16 hours to go until we take off, there's nothing to do but pack the suitcases and try not to scream with excitement!

Packing has been quite the adventure, but the good news is that a lot of things we normally have to bring are included at the house - crib, high chair, toys, etc.  We'll obviously still bring some things (well, to those who don't have kids, you'd think we're going on safari), but all the stuff on site should allow us to keep to 3 (or 4) bags.  Credit goes to JT, as she's done 100% of K's packing.  We are going to do the "final inspection and walk-through" tonight, going step-by-step to ensure we've got everything.  When it was just JT and I, we basically confirmed we had passports and a change of underwear, but, well, as they say:  "Having a baby changes everything." :-)

I mean, let's face it - the caption options on this are ENDLESS.

The week itself has flown by, filled with early morning exercising, long work days, and tons of to-do's in the evening.  Team Taylor has been on a Bataan Death March through personal to-do, and I have made the decision to start each morning with a workout, as it's become tougher and tougher to find time either a) during the work day or b) at the close of the day when I'd much rather play with K and talk to JT.  It's funny - I'm actually LOVING running so much right now that I don't mind the 4:30 AM starts. I've actually woken up before my alarm most days - start time normally ranges from 4:30-5:00, but today was a gift - slept until 6:11!  MAJOR LIE IN, BABY!!!

The future Olympian in training.

As for the sneetch, it's been another fun week for her.  Thursday she and JT made the trek uptown for a play date.  JT's friend Leigh and her daughter Charlotte live near Freedom Park, and so Thursday morning was a day of walking in the grass, playing with new toys, and K's personal favorite - eating sand on the volleyball court.  I mean, it's not ideal, but hey - it was how they brushed their teeth back in Ben Franklin's day, so it's good enough for me.  And besides, she's gonna eat another twenty pounds of it where she's going.

"Out in the great wide open..."

Friday was another class at Romp 'n Roll (JT found a deal - way to go, muffin!), which K seemed to enjoy OK.  She's been a bit fussy lately (and has consequently earned the nickname Princess Frump-a-lot), but I think it's just the teething.  And let's be honest, she's an angel baby, so what I call fussing most parents would rejoice over.  Plus, ten seconds after she cries, she's back to having a huge smile.  And once she sees that ocean - LOOK OUT, PARTY PEOPLE!  A surfer is born.

Sand - it's what's for dinner.

As for cute development items, just a few to report.  For starters, K has started rapping her knuckles against the wall on the stairs and the changing table and saying, "Knock, Knock."  I have NO IDEA where she go that from, as she's prone to a lot of imitation (such as "da DA!"), but it is simply adorable.  She's also learned to sniff.  Granted, I first learned this when JT said, "Does Daddy smell?" and she made her ridiculously over exaggerated sniffing and walked away from me, but still - I was happy and called it a win.  :-)

K helping Jenny stretch - demonstrating
proper calf extension posture.

"Feel the burn, mommy!!!!"

She's repeating "DA DA" a lot now, and I just can't tell you how fun it is to interact with our daughter. One of my favorite things is when she comes barreling into the office - DEAD SET on hugging her daddy.  Who could ask for anything more?  Also, when she sees me come down the stairs randomly and happens to be eating, she'll give Jenny the "all done" sign because she wants to play with me.  I just eat that up - she's got me right where she wants me.

So that's the week in a nutshell.  Sorry this is so choppy, but I at least wanted to get the pics of the week recorded for posterity.  We'll chat with everyone once we're back from the land of Red Stripe, unlikely bobsled teams, and ridiculously fast sprinters.  Bye for now!

Love,

Sam and Jenny

The Munch rolls 16 months...

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  16 months and 3 days

Family,

And a good Monday evening to you from the Queen City, where the Bull returned from a day of working Uptown just in time to read K a few stories and put her to bed.  And, in a rather amazing turn

"And I'm proud to be an American, where
at least I know, I'm free..."

of events, I actually got a KISS!  The funny back story on this is that lately K has REFUSED to give daddy a kiss or cuddle.  In fact, any time I say "Can daddy have a kiss?", she immediately shakes her head and says no.  And if I lean in to kiss her cheek anyway, I basically get the 16 month old equivalent of bitch-slapped.  Yes, she's adorable even in frustration and flat refusal of affection. :-)

What an AMAZING week we just had - soup to nuts one of the best weeks of the year, and not just because of all the fun times and laughs we had with K.  As I mentioned in the previous blog, Tuesday was a BIG DAY for Team Taylor, as Jenny and I officially celebrated 8 years of marriage.

Now K, I know this blog is all about you, but I do feel it is important you know how important this week was and how much mommy and daddy love each other.  Your mommy and daddy have been a couple for 11 years and married for eight of those years, and it has been THE MOST amazing journey. We really can't believe how blessed and lucky we are, and just when we thought things couldn't get any better - you came along and took it to a whole new level.  Our lives were wonderful before you, but after your arrival they have become perfect, with each day being a new voyage of discovery, laughter, and adventure.  Now don't get us wrong, our minds worry about all kinds of new things now with you running around, but those concerns are only because we love you and want nothing but the best for you.  You have helped to make the house we love so much the home we've always dreamed of, as the pitter-patter of little feet on the hardwood is something that transforms a house into a cathedral of memories, nearly all of which have been better than we ever thought possible.  And while I realize some (or all) of this might sound cheesy, it is the truth and how I feel.  I love my wife more than ever, am in love with a daughter who's given me more joy than I ever thought possible, am in a job I enjoy with the freedom to work from home, and truly feel roots growing in the Queen City.  Life.  Is.  Good.

As for K, this week saw some very cute new milestones (to say nothing of the fact that she's now rolled

1.33 years of life).  For starters, she has become a shoe FASIONISTA - that girl LOVES wearing shoes!  My personal favorites so far as these UT squeaker shoes that Rice gave us (hand-me downs from Sam), but there is no doubt that the most poignant pair in the closet were given to me the Thursday Jenny returned from London - a pair that I had when I was 16 months old, scuffed to pieces at the front but still functional.  I haven't put K in them yet, but it's only a matter of time - can't wait to send those photos to mum.

K has tried on a bevy of shoes to date - sneakers, slippers, Crocs, aqua shoes, and the most recent additions as of Saturday - BABY TEVAS, BABY!!!!  Seriously - tell me the shoes in the photo are NOT the cutest things EVER?!?!?!?  $8 on clearance at REI, baby!  Granted, they look like something off a Blake Shelton video, but details... :-)

The next big update is that K tried peanut butter this week!  We gave it to her last Sunday after returning from Atlanta (so I guess technically it was last week, but I'd run out of steam recording and tracking things by that point :-)), and no surprise - she LOVES it.  JT mixes it in with some whole wheat bread, and K goes CRAZY for it when it's her main.  I have to give Jenny credit - she's really got K on a terrific mix of food, and that's helping to keep everything fresh on her taste buds.

Another cute moment is that K now officially has hair ties and sported her first pony tail this week!  It was SO CUTE to watch her walk around with her hair back, and it's amazing how much hair she's actually got!  JT bought rubber bands for her bangs (it is CRAZY how long her hair is in the front), but the pony tail holder was just too cute to not try.  The picture says it all, right?

A new favorite activity - wearing mommy's
sports bras like the world's brightest necklace.

Another fun new to do - eating crayons...
writing and coloring with them?  Eh...
not so much...

K is also loving playing on mommy and daddy's bed in the morning.  She has figured out that you can fall back without hurting yourself, and she does that pretty much non-stop.  Granted, she doesn't realize there are EDGES to the bed yet, which is the reason one of us has to be guarding her at all times.  On a similar note, she's figured out that if you fall back in the swimming pool, one of the parental units will catch you before your head goes under.  We actually made it to the pool twice this week, and K really enjoyed it.  On Sunday we even got her into her Baby Bands (the polarized goggles) - we think these are going to come in VERY handy in Jamaica.  Plus, well...they're pretty much the cutest thing EVER. I will say that K has become much stronger and sure footed in the pool - she can walk the entire pool and keep herself upright (when she chooses to do that vs. walking to the water fountain and making mommy pick her up to touch the cold water or doing laps around the ladder, that is).  She doesn't seem to like the float we recently purchased (loved it the first time, won't touch it since), but we're still gonna take that to Jamaica and see how we go.

"On the next episode of Baywatch..."

On the development front, K has 3 new teeth!  Unbelievable how they come in all together, but she's got three MONSTERS in progress at present.  Luckily all three have broken through, so that should mean less pain (and she has still been sleeping good, knock on wood).  Also, this week marked a big hygiene milestone, as Team Taylor officially bid farewell to the plastic bath tub.  K is now in the full size tub, and it makes life SO much easier.  She seems to enjoy it, and it's definitely easier to get her clean.  Lastly, that gal continues to get stronger, as this week was the first time she managed to pull herself into our brown Adirondack chairs on the deck!  They had always been "a bridge too far" until this week, but now pretty much everything outside is fair game (including the hanging baskets - which she loves to touch if you pick her up - and the hammock).

Other than that, not much to report.  I'll get a post out this Friday as well, because after that it's vacation time for Team Taylor.  Chat soon!

Love,

Sand and Jenny

Daddy Daycare week 2, Mommy returns, and a great 4th in the A-T-L...

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  15 months and 28 days

Family,

And a good Tuesday evening to you from the Queen City, where I am THRILLED to report that

K receiving a gift from Aunt Kim and Uncle
Matt - so far we've named him Owlie.  Yep.
we are nothing if not original."

Sammy the Bull and Jenny the Striker are celebrating EIGHT YEARS OF MARRIAGE.  That's right, sports fans, 2922 days ago Team Taylor officially tied the knot, and WOW - what a ride it's been.  But since this week's post is tied to the week ending 7/6, I'll park those comments for now. :-)

So last week was another GREAT one - talk about a whirlwind!  As you'll remember, I had the sneetch on my own until Sunday evening, at which time GRAMMIE ARRIVED!  We had a terrific Sunday playing with K, and it was great to have some help again.  As I said with the last post, this weekend of daddy daycare was a lot easier than the first installment when JT went to Asheville, but this guy was still thankful for the help!  My one funny note is that, while waiting for mom, I needed to pee.  Also for some odd reason, the pack 'n play wasn't set up and wasn't an option for holding K, meaning that I had to just set her in the living room and leave the door open to listen to her.  Well, as you can imagine, K did NOT want to be somewhere daddy was not, and about 10 seconds later she's standing on the threshold of the forbidden inner sanctum (that would be the powder room), watching her father use the bathroom.  While this made me chuckle (as she was quite clearly amazed), I did NOT find it funny when she started walking toward me and trying to touch "the stream" - ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!!?  So needless to say we had to "cut that session short" and get her out of the hot zone.  And the father of the year award goes to...anyone but THIS GUY.

"Daddy tell ME what to do?  I don't THINK SO."

The week itself was wonderful.  Obviously it was AMAZING to have mom and K here and to have so much quality time with them, and mom/Grammie spoiled us both rotten during her stay.  We ate like kings, K was a princess who got to play with anything and everything (but in a good way - I loved watching her and mom interact), and mom took care of EVERYTHING around the house.  Between Jenny, her mom, and my mom - I have become one lazy individual. :-)

A photo for the ages - LOVE this one.

The highlight for me on Monday was playing in the bonus room with K.  She now loves the "I'm gonna get you" game, and in particular she loves it when you "lie in wait" for her at the end of the couch.  She makes a loop around the couch and keeps walking toward you (knowing you're there, of course), and then when you jump out and "tackle" her she just cackles.  It's always funny as well when she's crawling away from you, as after a second or two she'll realize that no one is in front of her and look back to see where you are.  If you give her the open mouthed, coy "I'm coming after you" look, she will make this CUTE little smirk she now does and then take off like a bat out of hell (but never so fast that you can't catch her - by her own design).  When you catch her and pull her to the ground, she just howls - LOVE THIS KID!

Munch's first dance with chef boyar-dee...
Ravioli, baby - it's what's for dinner.

Tuesday morning K was up at 6:35, and I happened to be awake as well (I think I'd been up early to work out).  I walked into her room to pick her up silently and play with her, the goal being to let my mom get some sleep (she's had a tough time sleeping in the year and a half since being treated for breast cancer, and so I hate to wake her in those rare moments when she's out).  Well, no sooner did I get into K's room than she stood up and leaned forward to me.  I bent down to kiss her, and THUNK - K hits her head on the crib.  Two seconds later a blood curdling scream ensues, and 4 seconds later my mom is already in the room.  Oh well, the best laid plans of mice and men...

Mom working with K and teaching her
how to match shapes and colors to
the openings.  She learned most of them!

Tuesday evening wasn't my finest hour either, as I committed my biggest feeding blunder to date - I gave K a bit of black bean burger that was too hot.  She ate the first one fine, and while I thought they might be a bit too warm, she was starving and they really didn't feel too hot in my hand.  She was about three chews into the bite when she started screaming, and the poor thing didn't know how to get the food out of her mouth (it was hot so she was afraid to touch it).  I ended up pulling it out of her mouth, and needless to say she did NOT want any more of that (she is very clear about saying "no" when she doesn't want something these days).  The good news is that she isn't scarred for life, as she did have a few more bites of it on Wed and Thurs.  Insert HUGE sigh of relief here, as I wouldn't know what do to if garden and black bean burgers were removed from the food list!

Two other cute items to note during mom's stay. The first was that mom brought a teddy bear from my college graduation, and K LOVED it.  She hugged it and even carried it around.  This was interesting to watch, as to date K hasn't really associated with any stuffed animal or toy.  And while it should be noted that she hasn't picked it up much since then of her own accord, she will always hug it when you hand it to her.  More to come on whether or not the "Hassle for a Tassle" bear becomes a staple for travel. :-)

The other item was that K would say "DA-DEEEEEE" whenever I did.  She did it a LOT during those 3-4 days mom was here, but it's been intermittent since then (she did it tonight for example).  It was just so cute to hear her do it, as she would GRUNT the second syllable - hilarious!  Luckily I got a few of them on video.  And on that note, I should say that I've been trying to do a lot more video lately vs. just photos.  My goal is certainly to still have more than enough for the blog, but she's changing EVERY DAY now, and so much of her development can only be captured via live recording (movement, speech, actions, observation, etc).  In the last week we've seen her head go straight in front (vs. to the side for balance as was previously the case), and we've seen her start taking stairs with a step vs. raising her knee and using that to pull up.  JT's actually been an ANIMAL lately in working her abs - it's so cute to watch her try to sit up when she's either in a decline position, on a bed, or at an odd angle.  Most of the time she still needs to roll to the side and then use her arm to help her push up, but there is NO QUESTION she's getting stronger every day.

In terms of body parts, that kid can now rattle off teeth (she opens her mouth and gives you a hilarious smile), eyes, toes, fingers, and hair - how crazy is that?  We're working on shoulders, cheek, and chin now - just amazing to watch how quickly she's learning.  Of course, that also means daddy will probably have to tone down his language and what he says pretty soon, as this kid is switched on and VERY observant (case in point is that mom noticed she can tell that a stuffed monkey and a puzzle piece monkey are the same animal).  Granted, I don't think she's gonna drop an F-bomb anytime soon, but it's probably best if I don't take that chance.  Then again, she would certainly be the talk of Romp 'n Roll...

"You know, dad, we should really think about
investing in a lake property - returns are huge..."

JT arrived home on Thursday, and it was SO GREAT to have her back.  K had been in the car seat for awhile (and it was already 90 min past her bed time when JT cleared customs), and she was a bit shell shocked to see mommy.  However, there was no question she was happy to see the woman she's most familiar with back with daddy.  We got K home and down about 9:30, and then JT and I got to bed about 11.  But no rest for the weary, as Team Taylor was up at 5:30 on Friday morning to start packing for the ATL.  We got on the road about 8:30 and rolled straight through, arriving about 12:45 (have I mentioned again how AMAZING IT IS THAT WE CAN FEED K IN MOTION?!?!?).  It was then the start of a WONDERFUL weekend for Team Taylor and Team Hunsucker, as we had 48 wonderful hours filled with laughs, great food, fabulous wine, and a 6-pack of Terrapin Golden to boot. :-)

Friday was a cookout, which K loved because a) she had new surroundings to play in and b) had a cute little dog who was very chill and friendly.  On the food front, K tried sausage for the first time (I'd like to lie and tell you it was vegetarian, but this stuff looked straight off the boat from Prague or Munich), as well as having a bit of burger and some veg.  She is ALL ABOUT watermelon now as well, so she happily gorged on that.  Again, we didn't get her to bed until about 9-9:30, but she slept great and was a champ, sleeping in until about 7:15.

"From this range I would CRUSH this game."

"So it's grass...but not really...hmmmm..."

JT and I both got 5 mile runs in on Saturday morning before attending the featured activity of the trip - MONDAY NIGHT BREWING, BABY!  K even enjoyed herself, as she got to pet dogs, crawl on corn hole boards, and even make a friend.  We then went to another bar called Ormsby's, where K was HILARIOUS.  She crawled all over the bacchi ball area and even climbed UP the skeet ball machine - TOO CUTE!  And it was funny to watch how nice folks were about it.  They would walk up to the bacchi ball, see K, and then quietly say (I was watching the game away from K and JT which is why I heard this) "Oh, we can't do this now.  There's a baby there."  Thank you, Atlanta citizens!  You definitely made our afternoon easier.

Dinner that night was back at the casa, where Matt made AMAZING tacos.  K slept like a champ yet again, and she even slept in until 7:45!  Realistically I think the pack 'n play is becoming a little tight for her, but she's been GREAT about it to date - angel baby. :-)

We got out and about around 11 on Sunday and made it home by 3 PM.  We were then treated to the

last big milestone of the week - K'S FIRST USE OF A FORK!  Now I will be honest, I thought this would be a disaster that had the trimmings of an ER visit.  Of course the fork was plastic, but still - there are prongs on that puppy!  But as fate would have it, K figured it out in almost NO TIME FLAT. She did have trouble spearing the food (but she's already made dramatic improvements there), but once it was on the prongs, she knew exactly what to do.  It was AMAZING to watch how quickly she picked it up - so proud of my daughter!  And for that matter, so proud of my wife for continuing to work with K on trying new things and continuously developing new skills - my girls are the perfect team. :-)

This week should be a lot more chill, as Team Taylor is back together with no plans to go anywhere or do anything all week.  We have a sitter on Saturday night, but other than that we are back in the swing of things, and MAN - does it feel good.

That's all the news that's fit to print.  Chat soon!

Love,

Sam and Jenny