A first (and hopefully last) for the Bull - 2 weeks on the road away from his girls...

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  2 years, 5 months, 15 days

Family,

And a good Wednesday evening to you from the Queen City, where the Bull is actually "batching" it for the evening while JT and K spend the night at her parents place.  I'm using the night to plow through about 800 overdue items on my "to-do" list, one of which is getting the next installment of the blog in place.  Let's get amongst it, shall we?

"Um, Nole Nana?  I don't like the look of those clouds."

I think this blog will be a bit different than most, as this blog will focus more on my experiences the last 2 weeks and life as a parent watching his daughter grow up on FaceTime a hemisphere and 12 time zones away.  As a bit of back story, I was in London for a week and then Singapore for another week, meaning my travel stretched across 3 weekends in August.  And while the trip was immensely productive (plus it was GREAT to see Singapore again and reconnect with so many smiling, familiar faces), two things became VERY apparent.  First off, I am not the young man I used to be, and 2 weeks on the road wears on this old farm boy.  The bigger realization, however, is that 2 weeks is just far too long to be away from my family.

Now don't get me wrong:  I LOVE travel - especially Business travel.  To complain about flying Business class, running in the parks of London, taking in all the culinary delights of Singapore, and jet-

5:30 AM - let's rock this place!

setting all over the globe would be the very definition of a first world problem, and I am by no means whining about any aspect of the experience.  It's just that this is my first 2 week stint on the road as a dad, and it's not until you are so far removed day after day from where your heart lies that you realize how much you miss home and how inextricably linked you are to the place where your roots and family are now planted.

I think I really felt it over the second weekend, as times previous had seen me give up a Sunday, only to return on a Friday afternoon.  This trip, however, saw me give up 3 straight weekends with my family, and losing those precious hours where I really get to saturate in family time was tough.  Add in the fact that I've not had many work from home days recently, and you had a guy desperate to get back to his family.  And it didn't help that, on the night I was set to leave, K had her first every "daddy don't go" meltdown.  Oh, my heart hurts just remembering her face...

Here's how it all went down:  K's gotten quite used to Jenny and I walking out the door at this point, so much so that it's pretty much a non-event when I leave.  Also, as the suitcases had been out for the better part of a week, I took it for granted that K knew I was going somewhere.  Well, when it came time for me to head out, I bent down and told her I was heading out and asked for a hug.  When I did this, her face got instantly sad, and you could tell she was on the verge of tears.  As I then got up to leave, she grabbed my pinkie and held it for all it was worth.  When we hugged as a family, I think moved to leave her bedroom, but she would NOT let go of my pinkie.  At that point, she just broke down.  Imagine how heart-wrenching it is to hear your daughter say:  "Dada NOT leave!  Dada not go to airport!  Dada NOT go on work trip!"  She was in meltdown mode, and I was scrambling to think about how I could fix it.  Therein lies my second blunder.

As fate would have it, I was walking back into our bedroom to get the camera charger, when I noticed that the now defunct other charger was beside it.  Thinking I could make this easier, I walked in with the old charger and said, "Kaitlyn, this is daddy's charger.  It's very important to him, but I can't take it with me.  Will you please watch over it and keep it safe while dada is on his trip?"  She got quieter, and


I thought that worked.  Well, fast forward 2 hours to the point where I'm at the airport and call Jenny before my flight.  Jenny tells me that, while all was fine during bath time, she EXPLODED at bedtime, screaming, "Here's your charger, dada!!!!"  She was desperate to give it back to me, poor thing.  Luckily the next day all was back to normal, so much so in fact that she wouldn't even speak to me on FaceTime because she was watching Peppa!  But honestly, that did my heart good, as the thought of her missing me was much worse than being ignored. :-)

Getting back to the trip, I think the point where it really hit me was sitting along at Boomerang, an Aussie cafe in Robertson Quay that Jenny and I used to frequent for breakfast all the time.  Sitting here at a table for one, I just kept staring at the empty chair across from me.  All I could think about was the conversation Jenny and I would be having if she was sitting there (as well as all the conversations we'd had at that very table), and I missed her terribly.  Here was this GREAT reunion tour, and I was experiencing it alone.  Then factor in all the wee ones running around, and the realization was complete - there is no place like home, and home is Charlotte, North Carolina.  Home is Highland Creek.  Home is a great little house on a cul de sac.  Home is a beautiful red head who loves me no matter what.  Love is a Munchkin who begs for daddy to sit with her at dinner and play pinchy crab as soon as we're done.  Home is a group of friends, a running circuit, a growing microbrewery scene, a greenway, a whitewater center, a commute I really enjoy, a church that has changed my life, and a million other things that only exist together in one spot.  I can't believe I'm typing this, but in that moment travel when from something I'm passionate about to something I really only want to do with my family in tow.  And of course I'll travel some more for work in the coming months and years.  However, the lens on it will be forever changed.  London is amazing, but if I'm asked to choose between a curry in London or eating K's leftover mac 'n cheese before a salad, I am now in the camp that I choose the latter.  Love my girls!

I landed back home on August 22nd, and I've honestly been in recovery since then.  I'm feeling pretty good, but I can tell I'm still tired and catching up on sleep.  Basically we're in bed by 10, and I'm up between 5:15-6:45 every day (which is a lot of sleep for me because I'm crashing INSTANTLY and very hard).  Today is also the 5th AFD in a row, so clearly my body is trying to get back to some semblance of normalcy.

As fate would have it, I think K was in the same boat as me - ready to be home.  She and Jenny spent

the week in Atlanta (visiting KJ, Matt, and baby James!), and after 5 nights on the air mattress (as well as 8 of the last 15 total on the road), you could tell that K was THRILLED to be home.  Over the past week she's been resistant to leave the house - be it NOMAD or any other location she's normally excited about.  JT's managed to get her out, but you can tell she's just happy to be sleeping in her crib again, playing with her toys, and enjoying the familiar surroundings of home.  She actually melted down completely at Church on Sunday, as she just didn't want to get back in the car.  She was screaming "Dada, let me out right now!  TT now wanna go to church!"  She was still screaming when we walking into the childcare room.  However, I'm happy to report that, as soon as she received goldfish and saw the TV, all was right with the world. :-)

And I would be quite remiss if I didn't include the class K and Matt photo shoot from Atlanta:

The classic picture of happiness

The "I loved Poison's first album" photo

The "I ain't sayin' she's a gold digger" photo

The "life is short - live it" photo

On the Munchkin's development and cuteness front, she continues to defy imagination.  On the day I left, she did the alphabet song and said EVERY LETTER exceptionally clearly!  That was a big milestone, and we were really proud of her.  She's also singing Jesus loves me very clearly, and she's also memorized the "God is great" prayer.  She particularly enjoys saying "Amen," and last night she even wanted to do the prayer again.  I simply MUST get it on video, as it's about the cutest thing EVER.

Another cute quote was the day after I spanked her when she said, "What did dada do to my bum?"  What usually follows is an explanation of why I spanked her, to which she'll respond, "Dada, I was naughty!"  Not sure the concept is really taking hold yet, but we're getting there... :-)

A few other points to note:

1. Puzzles - she's DEFINITELY improving her ability to do puzzles.  Whether it's a mixture of memory, spatial reasoning, or pattern recognition, it's definitely trending in the right direction.  I certainly hope she's better at them than I was at that age (or am now for that matter!).

2.  "Aminal" - JT and I are curious how long she's going to say this until it gets auto-corrected to animal.  For now, I'm enjoying it, as it's about the cutest thing ever.

3.  The other day she put on her sunglasses and said, "I look faaaaaaaaaaantastic."  JT absolutely

cackled, but we then realized it was K imitating Peppa.  Still quite funny!

The last bit to note was on 6 August, when I came home to find Jenny and Kaitlyn doing Ring Around the Rosy over and over.  K LOVED it, and I particularly loved watching how she slowly and methodically "fell down" to ensure she didn't bump her little head on the hardwoods.  Right now we're really into "Tickle Time," which I'm quite enjoying (as I love that little laugh).  We've also had a lot of laughs at dinner time recently when we say "Hi" to all of the inanimate objects in the eat-in kitchen.  For example, I would say, "Hi window behind K's chair that's stained with milk and fingerprints."  K would then proceed to laugh hysterically for about 60 seconds.  Don't ask me, man - I just work here. :-)

Okay, so there you have it - all the news that's fit to print.  I'm excited to have my girls back in the house tomorrow - a fun weekend ahead!

Love,

Sam and Jenny

Team Taylor tries again and succeeds - Family vacation in Asheville and the Volunteer State...

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  2 years, 4 months, and 21 days

Family,

And a good Saturday afternoon to you from the Queen City, where the Bull is on Daddy Daycare and loving EVERY SECOND OF IT while JT enjoys a much needed and much deserved girls' weekend in

the mountains (Lake Lure, to be exact).  First off, let me apologize that it's been over THREE WEEKS since the last post, but I believe I've finally come to terms with the fact that 2-3 weeks (or even monthly) might be the new routine going forward.  While I realize that's not ideal and could result in some memories either not being recorded properly or perhaps missed entirely, the reality is that it's the best I think the Bull can do going forward.  It's a mixture of things:  the job - which I love - is busier and has seen me in the office more than expected, I'm ramping up mileage and exercise as fall race season approaches, and several other personal choices (reading the Bible nightly, planning to volunteer at church, trying for #2 :-)) are imposing limits on the amount of free time available.  I don't say this as an excuse - I merely say it as a reality to further set expectations on the

frequency of posting (and potential degradation in quality of posts) going forward.  But enough of that, let's get amongst it, shall we?

So the last couple of weeks have been absolutely AMAZING.  I feel ON FIRE with life right now, and all the cylinders are clicking.  I again give thanks SO MUCH to Freedom House, as they have helped me in so many aspects of my life to put me in this position.  I know this blog is first and foremost about Kaitlyn, but as it is titled "Raise Kids With the Taylors" and is very much about our entire family unit, I wanted to at least record how refreshed and invigorated I feel right now, as my hope is that it's making me a better husband, parent, and person.  To that end, I have segmented my areas of focus into 5 distinct groups:  Family & Friends, Staying in Shape, mental sharpness, my Spiritual journey, and work.  When I am participating in any one of these 5 areas, my goal is to be completely switched on and not let my mind wander to any of the other groups.  I think this has helped me to be a better parent, as the time with Kaitlyn is now even more laser focused.  In addition, I have tried to drop a lot of the mental baggage and worry I've carried over the years.  This has truly made a difference, and it's amazing what you can do when your mind is just focused on the task at hand vs. carrying memories of past mistakes and fears with you at every turn.  Today is a great example, as my time with K today was nothing shy of perfect, and I'm loving every minute of it.

As for the Munchkin - WOW, does she continue to grow.  Some new items to record for posterity:

7/16:  We were sitting at dinner when I coughed.  K looked up and said "Dada needs Dr. Brown Bear" (a character from Peppa).  In fact, anytime anyone coughs, K recommends they go visit Dr. Brown Bear.  Yeah, it's pretty cute.

7/18:  K was digging through some drawers and found a St. Patty's day necklace with a whistle on it.  These were actually the necklaces we bought for what we thought would be our last St. Patty's day (2013) as DINK's - something K decided was not in the cards.  Anyhoo - K picked up the necklace, put it around her neck, held the whistle to her chest, and said, "Check my heartbeat."  She'd played with a stethoscope the week before at DPK, and she's now the proud owner of a doctor playset (courtesy of Vol Nana, of course).

7/26:  K was able to put her shirt on for the first time ever!  She can pull it over her head and then get each hand through the "arm hole" all by herself.  She can also put shoes and socks on, and she can pull-up her new pull-ups (we're currently in Dora the Explorer diapers, and K LOVES THEM!  She yells "DORA!" every time we change her).  She can also now take off both overnight and pull-up diapers by herself, as well as taking off shorts, pants, and shoes.  She can't quite take off her shirt yet, but when it's time to take her shirt off, she has introduced a cute part of that routine as well.  When we say "arms up", she raises them and says "Da-da-da-DA-da."  This is in reference to the song "Rise Up" by Yves Rock, and she's got the tune down pat!  It's too cute (first observed on 7/18, for the record).  

7/27:  K did "Pat-a-cake, Pat-a-cake" from memory for the first time.

7/28:  After MONTHS of turning it off but not on, K successfully turned off the humidifier and then switched her hand position to turn it back on before bed!  Now I realize that may not sound like much to you, but I have watched this particular ritual for practically a year now, just waiting for the day she figured out she needed to invert her hand and change the position on her thumb.  This was a big mental leap, baby - critical thinking! :-)

7/28 was special for another reason - it was K's first playgroup!  Jenny had an acupuncture session, and since I was working, we needed daycare.  We'd heard about this playgroup from Renee (at least I think that's the case, as she's in the know with EVERYTHING in HC) - a summer day care 4 hours 2x weekly run out of a British gal's house (Ms. Alison).  $24 bought you 4 hours of care and food, and we wanted to try a bit of socialization ahead of starting pre-school in the fall.  Well, I am pleased to report that K LOVED IT!  She was the youngest one there, but she apparently had a blast playing with the horses, was very well behaved, ate like a champ, and seemed to enjoy herself.  Insert monster sigh of relief here!

7/29:  K was kicking JT after the bath (while we were drying her), and twice she hit JT square in the breasts.  When JT said, "Kaitlyn, we don't kick mommy in the boobies," K fired back with "Dada not have boobies."  Let's be real clear.  I. STARTED. CACKLING.  I must have laughed for 5 minutes straight - priceless!  We couldn't discipline her because we were laughing too bloody hard.  Priceless!  Oh, and in this same session, another big milestone occurred (if your a UNC alum, anyway).  Jenny had on a UNC shirt when she walked into the bathroom.  K saw the NC logo and said "Tarheel!"  WINNER, WINNER, CHICKEN DINNER, BABY!!!!!

"I'm a fairy princess!"

But coming back to the "not have boobies" moment - the big thing I've noticed lately is her ability to use negative and positive connotations when speaking.  She knows when something is "not here" or when we "are here," for example.  And while the grammar isn't always correct, there is no question she's starting to understand how to make and verbalize the distinction.  It's really cool to watch.

7/31 - K sang "Jesus loves me" for the first time.  Where did she learn this, you ask?  See below for the "Henry's ducky" story.

I promise Xavier had more fun than
his face indicates here.

8/1 - "Watch me brush, Owly!"  This weekend has been particularly cute, as K has requested Owly "watch her brush."  I think it ties to the book "I'm Not Reading!," where baby owl tries to read a story to Owly (this is the owl Kim & Matt gave her last year).  Tooth brushing with K has been hit or miss, so when she said she wanted Owly to watch her brush, I thought "what can it hurt?"  Well, as fate would have it, it's been a rousing success, as she's letting me SCRUB THOSE PUPPIES! She then announces "watch me spit, Owly!", at which point she then expectorates with renewed vigor.  All the while Owly is "perched" in the towel rack on the opposite vanity - pretty cute.  Owly has since been added to the bedtime friend list (bringing the total to 9), but I'm not fussing. Yet. :-)

Turning out attention back to the past few weeks - 7/11 was really the first big event to record, as that was Jen Webb (now Jen Brannen's) baby shower.  I was concerned going into it how K was going to react to all the folks in the house, but she was (no surprise) absolutely fantastic and at ease the entire time.  There were a few other kids close to her age (a little older), but once we broke out the bubble machine, all was good.  Also, when the kids got a chance to soak me with ice and cold water from the beer buckets, K was only too happy to soak me.  She spent a lot of time playing with a little fella named Xavier, and the 2 of them were quite cute.  Also, C-Web and the Eagle walked in with a tutu and a fairy princess want for K, which she LOVED and has worn quite a bit in the afternoon when watching Peppa.  To watch her twirl around singing either "I'm a fairy princess" or "I'm a beautiful butterfly" is absolutely priceless - love it!

The Eagle does NOT intimidate the Munchkin.

The following week (starting 7/13) marked another milestone for K - JT introduced the Potty Chart!  This was a great idea, and I definitely think it's yielding results.  Bottom line - anytime K pees or poopies on the toilet, Jt notes it on the chart.  K then gets to put a sticker there and mark the chart (both of which she enjoys immensely).  And while we're not consistently having peepee or poopy every day, I do think the cumulative effect of the chart, regular trips to the potty, and pull-ups are having the right effect.  I also think that daycare in the fall will really ratchet it up, but we're in no rush either way.  

This week saw K recite "Doing the Animal Bop" completely from memory, as well as the last page of "I'm Not Reading!"  She can also do several sections from "The Bear Snores On," and she still remembers them to this day (even though we've returned the books).  We did have a meltdown this week during toothbrushing time, and I admit the fault on this one lies with me.  Long story short, as K is over 2, she should now be using fluoride (Minnie) toothpaste.  That night she wanted the non-fluoride (Elmo) toothpaste.  Well, I refused to give it to her, at which point K refused to brush her teeth or open her mouth.  I was already down a path and refused to capitulate, and the end result was a meltdown that led to us restraining her in the tub while she thrashed about and ultimately a lot of screaming after we put her down.  JT had told me "don't argue over the toothpaste - she'll revert back," but I had blinders on and was determined to be right.  Wife Muffin - you were correct!  My lesson from this was that a) I need to listen to you and b) I need to  pick my battles, as 1 night of non-fluoride toothpaste does not a hot bed of cavities make... :-)

We actually had one more meltdown that week, and it was on Friday (7/17) - just on the eve of starting vacation.  Knowing that K wouldn't sleep in a pack n play, we had planned to use an inflatable "big girl bed" in Asheville and TN.  Well, we decided it would be wise to test it out ahead of time, and so Friday night we inflated it and put it in her room.  She's slept on this same model (and in this same location before), but this night she was still away after 45+ minutes in her Big Girl bed.  JT knew something was wrong when she checked the monitor and saw K sitting up.  Shortly thereafter, she put her animals back in her crib (we think she was trying to protect them, as she looked scared).  I then went up there, and she was clearly afraid, as she was almost on the verge of tears.  She ran too me and started crying, and when I asked her if she wanted to go into her crib, she immediately said yes.  This definitely had us concerned for the trip, especially since she then threw her animals out of the crib and demanded to go back into big girl bed.  Ultimately we had to let her cry it out (we did put her animals back in), but she screamed and was awake for a total of 2+ hours before she gave it up.  And when JT went up, K swung at her and pushed her off violently, screaming "I don't want mama!  I want dada!"  

This was actually a theme of that week which continued throughout the vacation - K wanted daddy to do EVERYTHING and refused help from JT.  Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE feeling needed and wanted, but as any parent will tell you - it gets exhausting.  It gets ESPECIALLY exhausting when K only wants daddy but refuses daddy's help for anything she believes she can do for herself (picking things up, setting things down, closing doors, etc). In fact, when I would do some of these things, she would then immediately UNDO them so she could do them herself.  This escalated over the course of the vacation to the point that we had to start discipline - but more to come on that.  

As to the vacation itself - let me just say that it surpassed ALL expectations.  I will be honest and say that, going into this, I was a little concerned.  K's last family vacation was fun but exhausting (Jamaica), and I feared more of the same.  Also, memories of the High Country 1/2 resonated in my mind, and I was overall quite worried about how K was going to sleep.  I am happy to report that she was a CHAMPION - especially when you consider the havoc we wreaked on her schedule.

Saturday was an easy drive to Asheville (after 3 hours of loading the car!), where we met Dad and Alice at Barley's Tap Room for some pizza.  K dropped a steamer here and was ALL ABOUT DADDY changing it.  But hey - I'd had 2 new beers, so nothing could harsh my mellow!  We then rolled over to Wicked Weed, where K loved walking around on the ground floor (and moving the corn hole bags from 1 side to the other).  We then returned home to our cute little rental house for grilled chicken and more beer, after which time we crashed early.  I actually had trouble sleeping that night (as did K), but that was the only night either of us didn't fare well.  She actually didn't have a nap this day, but we had her down by 8:30ish.  Oh, and did I mention the big surprise - PATTIE DROPPED IN TO SEE US!  K had already gone to sleep, but she woke up to find Pattie there the next morning!

 

Sunday was a real highlight - Highland Brewing!  There was a bluegrass band playing, and my dad was in Heaven.  They were really good, and Highland's facility was just terrific.  We chased the ball around inside (thank goodness they had a cavernous space), and K really had fun.  We actually started the day on a school playground (one of 3 playgrounds she hit in Asheville), and we finished the day running around in the yard with the little doggie sprinkler Alice had purchased for her.  We ate in again that night, as we wanted to maximize the time with Pattie.  So much fun!  K got a nap this day (I think), but regardless - she slept like a champ this night!

On Monday we had the "tag out," where Dad and Alice left and mom drove over.  We had brunch at King Daddy before Dad & Alice departed (Pattie'd left the night before), and K enjoyed more than a few bites of chicken and waffles.  As is so often the case with Asheville, these folks had toys for K and were great about having a wee one in our midst.  Asheville is such a chill town to begin with, but throw in all the breweries and everything else, and it's now completely a "come as you are place."  Did I mention we love it here?  Oh, and we discovered Jones Park on this day, which is the MEGA-playground only 2 blocks from the house.  K LOVED it, and she got the chance to run around and go down some GREAT slides.  For JT and I, this provided a great chance to relax while still giving K something new and fresh to do, as we could watch her "passively" while still knowing she was getting Vitamin D, fresh air, and exercise in a safe

environment.  This was something we lacked in Jamaica (and to be fair, it's a year on, so that's a consideration), and it definitely gave us some of the rest we needed.

The featured event this day (with mom) was the Sierra Nevada Brewery, located all the way out at the airport.  While it was GORGEOUS - we're talking a cathedral to beer - it was not as kid friendly, and I don't see us going back with rug rats anytime soon.  If we have kids in tow, Highland is CLEARLY the winner.

I mean, it kind of looks like a bathtub...

Tuesday was another fun day, but it featured a mega meltdown for K.  Now a big of side commentary here - K is currently at the point that she either wants to do everything or at a minimum "assist" someone with EVERYTHING (and I do mean everything) that they do.  Initially I was fine with this, as I wanted her to feel part of the team and wanted to foster that sense of independence, but in Asheville I did notice it starting to go too far.  When you couple this with a) the fact that she was adamant that daddy do everything for her and b) the fact that she would "undo" things I would do for her so she could do them herself, I started to reach a breaking point.  In truth, I think I was a bit embarrassed, as my mother noticed it and commented on her behavior.  In that moment, I felt like a failure (that's a harsh personal commentary, but at the time it was true), as I felt as if a) I'd been neglecting my parental responsibilities and b) I wasn't showing mom that I intended to replicate all the lessons that she'd taught me.  And don't get me wrong - my mom wasn't rude about it at all and certainly didn't lecture me.  It was just a self-imposed frustration that I wasn't doing the right thing as a father.  Plus the fact that K had pushed Jenny away earlier in the week and didn't want her help was eating at me, as I found it disrespectful.  So that day was a challenge, as I finally hit my limit when we were in the parking deck.  Long story short - she wanted to walk down a section that I didn't let her go down, and then she wanted to crawl into her stroller but took too long to do it.  My decision point had been (and is still now) that if she wants to waste her own time, that's fine.  However, if it impacts others, then she needs to respond to commands quicker.  Consequently, K was MENTAL in her stroller for about 20 (rather stressful) minutes.

Ultimately, we got her to the splash pad and the park, where we played for a bit before hitting LAB for lunch and then going home.  K was so tired she actually tried to lay down on the couch and then later had her head bobbing during Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (what does THAT tell you!), but it was already so late that we kept her up vs. giving her a nap.  And really, looking back on everything after a week at home, I think that was a lot of K's behavior during this stress.  We had pushed her schedule SO hard - skipping naps, having late bed times, eating at odd hours - and I think it all just came crashing down on Tuesday.  Some facts became apparent - she still needed that nap.  She didn't like the inflatable mattress.  And so many people, new experiences, and shifts in schedule was way more than she should have been asked to accept.  In retrospect, she really was AMAZING, and I have to give her credit for her resilience.  We'd never done anything like this to her before, and I really am proud of her for rolling with so many punches.

The other big news for that night - Team Taylor (the adult members) had their FIRST DATE NIGHT IN 10 MONTHS that evening.  Mom graciously agreed to watch the Munchkin while JT and I went out, and so we hopped an Uber and made our way to Hi Wire Brewing.  We then ate at Tupelo Honey (with a drink at the thirsty monk) before a night cap of Ice Cream at the French Broad Chocolate lounge - talk about an epic night!  It was SO GREAT to just have some time away and to relax.  And don't get me wrong - JT and I talked about it during the evening (as we have many times previous) - we've both had good time to do our own activities and to get away, and so neither of us were feeling distant, disconnected, or burned out.  However, a night of adulthood free from parental worries truly was a blessing, and I definitely think we made it count.

Wednesday was nice and relaxing, as we drove Asheville highway over the mountain, stopping first at Mom's for some quality pool time before rolling over to Nanny's for the afternoon.  This day was just a chill one of swimming, eating, and hanging out with family, and it was great to see everyone.

Thursday featured breakfast at Nanny's where K had another meltdown.  Team Taylor introduced K's first ever time out during breakfast, which actually worked.  Choosing to ignore her did the trick in that instance, and I'm thankful (for everyone's sake) that she dialed back the screaming.  We then rolled over to Dad's house, where K had a BLAST getting into some old toys.  We spent a good 2 hours there before rolling over to Grandmother's, where we had some quality time with her, Patrick, and Scotty.



My side note here is that I feel truly blessed and thankful to have had this unexpected visit with both grandparents.  Nanny was much feebler than I expected, but as I type this I can confirm she's getting stronger every single day.  More to the point - that lady is a fighter and has a more resilient, resolute spirit than I imagined, and I have no doubts she'll continue on the mend.  Grandmother Taylor, however, does concern me a bit more.  Our chat was great - she's clearly very, VERY articulate and intelligent still, and minus her short-term memory continues to be incredibly switched on.  However, it wasn't the conversation that I noticed so much as the tone.  At 98 1/2, you can tell that she's seen and done everything she wants to do in life.  She's thankful for every second of it and is grateful to Go heart and soul for every blessing she's received on this earth.  But she is also a woman who's lost her soul mate, and the way in which she spoke about her blessings and the life she's had sounded like someone marking time until she hears the roll call from above.  Now make no mistake - I hope that day is still a ways off.  However, when it does come, I know she'll see the man she's loved for 70 years waiting for her, and while I will definitely cry on that day - not every tear will be one of sadness.

I mean, she was PAAAAAAAAASSED out.

That afternoon we drove to Knoxville, where we crashed with the Rice clan for 2 days.  As per standard, they greeted us with a DELICIOUS meal, and that afternoon and evening were a great mix of great food, fun beer, and hilarity.  And the most interesting part - for these last 2 nights, we were going to have to put K into a crib, and we were worried about how she'd react.  Well, as fate would have it, she was THRILLED.  Readers - K jumped into that crib like a piggy in muddy puddles, and she LOVED IT - slept 11 hours that night!  It was really amazing, as she was basically reaching for the crib when we got in there.  It was so nice of the Rice's to put Henry in the pack n play, and I can't really thank them enough for that.  Side note - it is AMAZING to visit people that already have kids and all the accoutrements required to keep a kid happy and on schedule.

A side note here about the past week and our return home - K has been sleeping LIKE A CHAMP.  While the days of being awake in her crib for an hour aren't gone completely, she is ABSOLUTELY sleeping like a champion.  JT and I think she's still trying to catch up, and I am only now realizing how hard we pushed her.   That being said, I don't know how else we could have done it and seen anything, as the nap schedule would have largely torpedoed most activities.  With that lens on it, I can confidently say I would have done it the same way, but poor Kaitlyn!

Seriously.  LEAVE. ME. ALONE.

Friday was another big highlight - the Knoxville Zoo!  This had been the one thing on my "we must do this" list when we planned the trip, and it DID NOT disappoint.  If anything, it was AMAZING how active all the animals were!  K loved it, and she was great about running around and looking at all the animals.  She did have 2 meltdowns - 1 when a kid ran up a slide and screamed at her, and another when she was exhausted, overheated, and hungry right at the end.  Oh, and I forgot the screaming session by the snakes, but details...:-)  Seriously, I do think she had a blast, and we made it count.  She slept 2-5 like a ROCK that day, and JT had to wake her at 5 (which she was NOT happy about).  And granted, we normally would have either woken her earlier or skipped the nap, but we knew she would be up late this go-around, as some of the Morristown crew (the Wyatt's and Fergusons) made the drive over to Johnny's house for a cookout.  It was a BLAST, and K loved watching all the other kids run around.  K kept going up and down "the mountain," which was the hill in their backyard.  Now I will note that she has about 6,000 mosquitos bites on her legs, which are slowing going away (one in particular on her left leg has given her a FIT).  However, those bites were a small price to pay for such an amazing experience.  Plus, K slept LIKE A CHAMP that night in the crib.  Honestly, that crib saved us, as otherwise I think K

First proper ice cream!  She LOVED it.  

"DADA, I FOUND TIDDLES!"

Just when we thought we'd lost happiness -
success and smiles at the splash pad.

would have going into a meltdown of epic proportions. :-)

Saturday was breakfast with the clan (we got to see Gail!) before backing up and heading out.  The drive required several detours and involved a backup around the lake at Davidson (surprise, surprise), but we rolled in about 5ish, 7 hours after departing Knoxville.  And just like that, Team Taylor was back home in the Queen City - where I'm happy to report that K rediscovered her own bed and has never seemed happier. :-)

Honestly, this particular trip was wonderful.  Truly, it exceeded all expectations.  We saw more family than I thought we would be able to wedge in, and thanks a ton to Johnny for getting "the band back together" on Friday night, as that was great to see everyone.  K was a trooper through it all, and looking back now I can't believe how many liberties we took with her schedule (and how well she rolled with the punches, all things considered).  We had good time in each location, got a chance for some adult time, and definitely made every day count.  Now I will say that the best way to describe walking back through the door on Regal Court was "elated but exhausted" - so thankful for all the blessings of family we have and for new memories made but VERY happy to be home.  I mean, there's no denying it - vacationing and traveling with a two year old is a LOT of work and a lot of packing, and Team Taylor actually had to unpack/re-pack 3 times on this trip.  Realistically, I think it will be awhile before we do this again - especially if we have another one.  Also, if we try this again, we'll need to rent (or buy!) a bigger car!

A little over a week after returning, we still think K is getting caught up on sleep (but is nearly there!).  As I said above, she was SUCH a resilient little trooper, but she's slept SO MUCH BETTER since she's been home (bed earlier and sleeping longer, even WITH a 1.5-2 hr nap).

The only other bits to note:

On 7/26, I merited out K's first spanking.  The temper tantrums of the "Terrible 2's" have escalated as of late, and on this day I popped her for the first time while she was washing her hands (and misbehaving, for the record obviously).  We've actually had 2 meltdowns since then, and so Jenny and I have had to make a coordinated effort to keep each other abreast of what we've corrected her on and how we've disciplined her to ensure consistency.  We actually had a COMPLETE MELTDOWN last night in the tub, but after the discipline we meted out last night, I"m happy to report this evening was much smoother. :-)  The funniest part?  The day after the meltdown, K will always say, "I was naughty!"  She'll then follow up with "TT stopped crying" - I mean, how can you stay mad at this child?

Speaking of (and I've typed this blog over a couple of days, so for all I know I said this above - K can really say pretty much whatever she wants now.  She definitely knows that those bites on her legs came "from mosquitos," and she's really starting to use adjectives in sentences ("I went super fast," "that is a little boat," etc).  My favorite from this past week was "Daddy, get both these towels out from under me" on the changing table.  I mean, that's some advanced Calculus right there, right?

7/3 - I came home just in time for a 20 minute set of "Ring around the rosy" - it was really cute.

And last but CERTAINLY not least - 7/26 was a big day for more than 1 reason.  Let it be known that, on this date in history, Team Taylor got back in the game and started trying for #2.  Our approach this time is COMPLETELY different, and already I will say we're much more relaxed about the whole thing and having a lot more fun.  Watch this space! :-)

Okay, that's all the news that's fit to print.  Sorry for the delay, and I'll warn you that it will likely be the end of August before the next publication, as Sammy the Bull is traveling work work over the next 2 weeks.  But hey - we'll get there when we get there, right?

Love,

Sam and Jenny

New jobs, Pinchy Crabs, and everything that makes life great...

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  2 years, 3 months, and 27 days

Family,

And a good Tuesday evening to you from the Queen City, where the Bull and Striker are dividing and conquering on the never-ending to-do list.  That being said, we've been uber-productive this evening and this past weekend, and we've got much to discuss.  So let's get amongst it, shall we?

This edition will likely be a running commentary of some classic K moments over the past couple of weeks.  I mean, there's no doubt about it - our daughter is growing up before our eyes.  Her vocabulary!  Her diction!  Her memory!  All AMAZING.  And it all hit me anew this afternoon when K said, "putting Mommy's flip flops on," after which time she proceeded to put them on correctly, stand up, and walk.  And while they were still slightly big on her, they didn't look THAT big, meaning that the inevitable is happening - she's turning into a little girl.

THUG LIFE...

First off - the big development milestone:  Commencing the week of 6/29, K officially moved to pull-up diapers!  Some back story on this - we'd been vacillating about what to do - stay in diapers, move to panties, just let her run around naked, etc.  Ultimately the decision was made for us when the pre-school she'll start in the fall (just 2x weekly for 4 hours on Tuesday and Thursday) told us that kids must either be potty trained or in pull-ups.  Given that, we decided to allow for a July and August "burn-in" period to ensure this was a smooth transition.  The results, I must say, have been great!

LOVE.  THIS.

So, for starters, they make potty visits with K MUCH easier.  I will say that she's still having a little trouble pulling them up, but in her defense so do I!  I mean, those bloody things really are "pull up" vs. "slip on," as you gotta want it.  Getting them off is much easier, however, and tonight (7/7) was the first time I actually saw her take them off completely on her own - big win!  And while we're not yet at the point that she always tells us before she has to go, she is getting very close and certainly moving in the right direction.  If she doesn't tell us before it happens, the good news is that she tells us immediately afterwards, so at least it's easy to change her. :-)  However, right after lunch beware the two tell-tell signs that she's about to poop:  silence in the house, and K under the table.

Regardless, we're getting more pee pee in the potty, and she is wrecking ducky potty with a massive d

euce every 3-4 days, so I'll take that as definite progress.    The one thing I learned the hard way is that, should K be successful, she wants toilet paper big time, because she wants to wipe like a big girl.  And while I'm all about fostering her sense of independence, the tricky part about this is that she wants to wipe back to front.  Now, if you're a dude reading this (especially not a dad), you likely have NO IDEA WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT (and you might be a better person for it).  If you're a female (especially a mother), you're shaking your head in disappointment and disgust that I didn't proactively figure out how to make that happen.  I am happy to report that, to date, we've only had 1 "poopy on the fingers, miningning, and hair" incident.  DIIIIIIIIISGUSTING...

Oh, and side note about the diapers - they are Disney princesses, and K's favorite originally was Ariel (full marks, kid).  However, now that she's watching "Tangled" every time she's in Child Watch at NOMAD, she only wants the Rapunzel diapers.  The classic part is when she steps into the diapers and says, "Tangled!  I watching her movie at NOMAD."  CLASSIC.

So moving back to 2 weekends ago (6/26-6/28), it was Daddy Day Care while Jenny and her mom

Look how pretty your mommy and
aunts are, Munchkin!

were in Atlanta hosting Kim's baby shower.  Simply put - we had an AWESOME time.  We kicked off the weekend at NOMAD, where I dropped her at Child Watch while I logged some miles on the treadmill.  The amazing part for me was that I opened the door to child watch and started to walk her in, only to find her letting go of my hand and making straight for the baby dolls.  She didn't even say "bye bye, dada" - a sign that she definitely knows we're coming back and that she can enjoy herself.  Apparently she takes care of a lot of "crying babies" while watching Tangled - tough life. :-)

We then rolled to Myers Park, where we stopped in at the Ultra Running Store.  Again, K was GREAT - largely in part to the sweet gal who helped me.  When I went for my "stride review," the gal said, "Do you want to help me watch your daddy run?"  K was great (a little freaked out when I got on the treadmill, but largely great), and she quite enjoyed her time in the Ultra store.  I mean, I'm really just thrilled she didn't destroy any of the 800 pairs of sneakers she tried to pull apart, so having her leaving all smiles was just a bonus. That being said, I did bribe her with lunch at Panera.  On the drive down I said, "would you like to eat lunch at Panera?"  Her response:  "I like Panera, daddy."  Honestly - from the mouth of babes...

For the record - this is how the crib
NORMALLY looks at nap (and bed) time.

Now in an interesting turn of events, K did the unthinkable at nap on Saturday - threw all her animals OUT of her crib.  In fact, I was so amazed I went back in her room and put them all back in her crib (I was talking to Dad), only to have her fling them all out again!  However, 2 minutes later she was flat as a pancake, after which time she slept for 2+ hours!  I wondered if the "no animal" trend would continue, but let me confirm - that little event lasted 2 naps, after which time it's not returned.

We hit the pool that afternoon, where we had to contend with some thunder but still managed to get in about 45 minutes of pool time, some walking around, and some snacking.  K cried at first when we had to get out of the pool, but she got over it pretty quickly.  The highly was when, while walking to the pool, she said, "TT pee peeing."  I then look down to see her peeing on the (now dry) sidewalk.  At that moment she paraphrases the book "The Puppy Who Found a Home" and said, "Go away, pee pee - go away I say."  I have no lie to tell, family - I have not laughed that hard IN AN AGE.  Absolutely.  Completely.  Priceless.

In terms of other big items, I am excited to announce that JT has embarked on a new adventure - she's got a part-time job!  Jenny is now part of the "moms on the run" team, collating and delivering fliers throughout Highland Creek.  She's done it twice, and so far she seems to really enjoy it!  K's made the trip with her both times and has apparently done really well.  They spent the trip (about 2.5 hours) singing, K then flips through books, she plays with animals, and I'm sure a whole host of other stuff.  Jenny seems to really enjoy it, and that makes me very happy.  Thanks to Renee for recommending it and to Kathy for offering to let her try it out!

Side note on this - K is still singing "5 little monkeys" all the time, but while riding with Jenny the first time, she changed it up.  This time she said:  "TT...riding in the car..." I'm telling you - GENIUS.

Other cute moments to record:  Shortly after the D & C, Jenny called our friend Beka (a nurse who's

gone through the same thing) to chat about everything.  The unintended consequence of this?  For the next couple of days (around 6/24-6/25), K walked around with her toy flip phone, opening it repeatedly and saying, "Hi Aunt Beka!  How are you doing?"  I mean, we're talking this must have happened 50 times (AT LEAST) - too cute.

Another one:  K is now doing GREAT at leaning all the way back in the tub.  She's immersing her ears completely and pretending to swim in the tub.  When we need her to lean back (usually so we can get her hair wet), we ask her to "lean back and do the rockaway" - who knew Fat Joe would have such an influence on our family?

And speaking of the bath, K's now doing much better at blowing bubbles in the bath.  In fact, she's consistently dipping the wand, holding it in the right place, and launching a steady stream of bubbles.  More importantly, I think she's finally realized that plunging the wand into the bath water is NOT the best way to produce more bubbles.  Baby steps, my friends...

Some great new phrases to report:

1.   On 6/29 she just fired out with "Oh my goodness!", which she's since repeated every so often.

2.  More hilarious, however, is that she took a page from Uncle Tait a few nights ago (7/3).  I was tucking her in, and before I could kiss her goodnight, she patted me on the back and said, "Nite, nite, dada - don't let the zipperumpazoos bite."  This is something Tait has said forever, and Jenny often says it as well to K now.  However, I'd never heard her repeat it (she did it again last night - 7/6) until then.  Hilarious!

3.  K is starting to remember the books that she checks out from the library - even after we've returned them.  It's likewise the case with books she reads at friends houses, and the end result has been her saying "Where IS that book?" any time she either asks for one she doesn't see or Jenny and I mention/quote one.  This has been pretty consistent over the last few weeks, and it's pretty cute.

Playing "Fort."  I mean, it's an upgrade from "the
Sleep game."

4.  "Dada sit!"  So anytime I come downstairs during the day and find K in her high chair, she instantly says "Dada sit!"  If I don't immediately head over there but instead do something as disrespectful to my daughter as, I don't know - kiss my wife, speak to my wife, make food, refill water - she starts saying "dada sit!  dada sit! dada sit!"  Usually it comes in bursts of 3.  And yes - usually I capitulate.  Truth be told, that's one of the things I love best about working from home - getting the chance to have lunch (or at least sit with them during lunch) with my girls.  I also usually get to see her in the morning when
she's having breakfast, so I get a couple of good chances to spend a few minutes with her each day.  The highlight is the morning and after her nap when the office door opens and K comes bounding in for a hug wearing a smile that could melt a glacier.  Believe me - that will NEVER get old, and I will miss that when she's no longer bounding in like gangbusters.

5.  "Dada a new shirt!"  So she says this all the time - even when I haven't changed shirts.  IT should be noted that normally she gets it right, and truth be told I have no idea where it came from.  As a side note to this, tonight (7/9), I came back from NOMAD and walked in the door.  K said, "Dada running.  Stinky Peeeee-uuuu!  Dada shower!"  Well, I walked over to sit with her (as I normally do - see #4 above), but after she smelled me she physically pushed my knee away and said, "No dada - I want mama."  CLASSIC!  Oh well - at least we know her Olfactory nerve works.

The last week or so has also consisted of a fun new game - "Pinchy Crab."  Taken from Peppa, it essentially consists of Jenny and I running around the house acting like we have pincers and saying, "Clink, Clink - I'm a gonna get you!!!"  K then puts the animal of choice in her stroller, at which point she takes off LIKE A BAT OUT OF HELL away from us, stopping at the rug by the front door (apparently this is olly-olly oxen-free, home base) and looking back.  I give her a smug smile, say "Clink Clink," and then the whole cycle repeats as she pushes the stroller past me and I swoop down to get her (but somehow always miss).  The key is actually ensuring you don't clothesline the child as she bullets past.  Oh, and side note on this - sometimes she likes to push the stroller between my legs.  And while that's funny (and has plenty of clearance), what's a little more stressful is how she then proceeds to run full board toward me with the intention of going "through the tunnel" (which means between my legs).  The first time I was just happy my giggle berries survived.  I am summarily more cognizant of the event before it occurs and plan accordingly.

As for the weekend itself, it was 4th of July weekend, and Independence Day saw us at our first (but certainly not last!) McChesney shindig - TALK ABOUT A BLAST!  Seriously - I went into this not knowing what to expect.  More to the point, I wasn't thrilled about going considering that a) we wouldn't know anyone, b) I wasn't sure about the parking situation, and c) I had the misconception that this group would not fancy interlopers in their party.  Well, as fate would have it, these people were WONDERFUL.  They welcomed us with open arms, and we made friends within 15 seconds of parking the car (that's actually not an exaggeration).  The food was good, the beer was free, the laughs were plentiful, and K got to eat all kinds of goodness.  She also got a chance to play with her friend Emmy, who I'm now proud to report is "no longer taking things away."  Actually, in pretty much the cutest display of sharing ever, Emmy walked over to K with a stroller and said, "Kaitlyn - you push this side, I'll push this side."  They then proceeded to walk a stroller together.  I'm telling you:  CUTEST.  THING. EVER.

The highlight for those two was likely jumping up and down in muddy (or just wet) puddles when the downpour started.  K had never actually had the chance to jump in a puddle, but once Emmy walked out and took her shoes off, K simply HAD to follow (Jenny called it).  The end result was once again an endless stream of cuteness watching the 2 of them bounce up and down like jack russell terriers - love that kid!  And to our new friends in McChesney - thank you SO MUCH for your hospitality.  We'll definitely be back next year!

We wrapped the weekend with church and the pool, and that brings us to this week (which has been a blur).  This is my last week in my old job (I'm actually doing both full-time right now), and I am VERY excited to just serve a single master in the office and have all duties transitioned.  But don't think I'm complaining, as I have LOVED the work so far and am loving being super-busy.  I'm back into project work, and I am energized every second of the day.  I am back in the position of LOVING to come back and start my work day, and I find that I genuinely enjoy every call, activity, and interaction.  It's been awhile since I've felt this kind of energy, and I'm very thankful for the opportunity.  Truth be told, I am hoping that it's making me a better husband and father as well, as I'm trying to keep this focus and energy across all facets of my life.  I will also say that church has been a TREMENDOUS lift in this regard, as lately I've felt very strong in my faith and am finally realizing what you can do when you cast aside baggage, guilt, and worry.  Once you realize how much energy is spent compartmentalizing those items and fighting those demons, you realize that it's time for a change.  As I have said many times, 2015 has been one of if not THE BEST year of my life, as I feel my purpose coming into focus and feel myself starting to align priorities correctly.  I've actually segmented life into 5 components now:  faith, family, fitness, academics, and work.  I remember granddaddy always telling me that everything must be kept in


balance (look, granddaddy - I'm still listening and trying!), and right now that feels to be the case.  There's a lot of could go on about here, but this blog isn't about me.  However, as my emotions play into my parenting and my writing, I did want to lay that bit of context.

A few other notes for the week of the 4th until now:

1. "3-2-1 - BLASTOFF!!!!"  So K is enjoying me carrying her up the stairs and then flying around the upstairs with her.  We pretend she's a spaceship and do the 3-2-1 - BLASTOFF! before running around the upstairs, taking breaks to spin, hit turbulence, and ultimately land back in the bonus room.  TT will sometimes put her arms out and say "I'm flying!", which is pretty darn cute.  But the funniest thing is when I put her down and she said "Daddy tired."  Heck yes I am!  That kid is SOLID!

2.  "TT putting finger in bum" - but the problem is that it's not her bum. It's her miningning.  She's really only doing this in the bath, but we usually have to tell her at least once not to put her finger in there.  We've done a little reading, and apparently this is normal.  But let's face it - I'm a dude, so NONE OF THIS IS NORMAL TO ME.  All the same, it seems to have lessened somewhat as of late, so fingers crossed that trend continues.

3.  "Bloop bloop" - so in the morning (6/28 is the date that sticks out) when it's time to change her diaper (not so much now that we're in pull-ups), she always insists on changing one of the animal's diapers first.  What's cute is that she wants to do it, and when she does she mimics me (who mimicked Jenny many moons ago) and says "bloop bloop" as she wipes their girly bits.  Again - it's pretty funny.

Now a side note here - TT's desire for independence is reaching new heights, and at times it can get a little frustrating.  She wants to do everything for herself (which is good, don't get me wrong), but even if you do it for her she'll say, "No, TT'll do it," and then proceeds to undo whatever it is you've just done so she can complete the activity.  And while I'm all about fostering a sense of independence, there are moments when either time or the nature of the activity dictate her participation or completion of the task aren't possible.  In those moments, she has tended to throw some tantrums from time to time, and the volume (and crocodile tears) have recently ratcheted up.  I have found that I'm now having to change the tone of my voice to let her know I'm serious.  She doesn't like that, and usually it sends her into a tailspin as well.  But I'm sure we'll work through it - I just need to focus on firm but fair, picking battles, and consistency.

But moving onto happier topics:  K RECITED 3 BOOKS FROM MEMORY AT BEDTIME LAST NIGHT!!!!!!  She rolled through "Brown Bear, What do you see?", "No More Pacifier for Duck," and "Doing the Animal Bop."  Seriously, folks - 2 of these books ARE NOT SHORT.  For me, I'm thrilled, as that demonstrates some great memory retention and comprehension.  Jenny got to here it tonight, and we were both amazed.  She had recited No More Pacifier on 7/7, but last night and tonight were recitals for the ages - so proud of the goose!  Vol Nana - you would be proud.  It was just like your boy repeating Star Wars and saying "turn me over" when it was time to flip the record.

Lastly, let me close tonight by saying HAPPY 9th ANNIVERSARY TO MY WIFE MUFFIN!!!!!!!  Folks, I am blessed BEYOND MEASURE, and I really cannot believe how amazing life is right now.  I love my life, my amazing wife, the little miracle sleeping upstairs, my family, the new job, our church, this house - you name it.  Spirits are high, dreams are higher, and all is right with Team Taylor.  This happiness comes from many sources, one of the primary ones being the incredible woman I share my life with and wake up to every morning.  I LOVE YOU, JENNIFER ELAINE TACY TAYLOR!!!!!  Here's to the next 9 years!  KPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKP!!!!!!!!

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

Love,

Sam and Jenny