And so ends the Bull's 30's - another classic October...

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  4 years, 7 months, and 20 days

Age of Lady Cora:  10 months and 9 days

Family,

And a good evening to you from the Queen City - another incredible month in the books, so let's get after it, shall we?

Happy Halloween!  Yes - I went as Jenny.

10/1 - So we started this month with a bang - K ran into our bed at 5:51 AM!  Honestly, we had no choice but to send her back to bed, as we were exhausted and we did NOT want to establish a pre 6 AM precedent.  K was great about it, and she actually must have fallen back asleep, as she didn't come out of her room until about 7:30.

It was Sunday, and we made church and even the park.  JT had to do most of the lifting (especially the infant carrier), but I did manage to carry Cora a bit and stand for the songs at church.  What I will say - by the end of the day I was hurting, and I think I probably overdid it a bit.  That being said, it was SUCH a nice day, and I still took it VERY easy.  It's just something you can't rush, and I was still pretty sore (bending over was NOT fun).

We did have some "high drama" at the park.  K was being a bit of a pain, crying and saying she was scared at the top of the pole (which is silly because she's done the pole about 16,459 times).  Well, after that she wanted to swing with Cora and JT, but she didn't want to get her the normal swing - she wanted in the baby swing.  I didn't see this until I heard screaming, and then I looked up to find K COMPLETELY STUCK in the swing!  JT tried to get her out about 3 times, and then she called me over.  Well, I tried with her about 3 times, and we STILL couldn't move K.  At this point our oldest was getting REALLY upset, and she screamed out, "Daddy I'm sorry!" (she was apologizing for her attitude earlier).  She then followed it up with, "What if I"m stuck in here forever!"  I had to really fight to keep from laughing. :-)  The good news - a total stranger rolled over and helped us eventually push her out, but MAN was that high drama.  A few more tears later, and we just packed it in and headed home.  Good times... :-)

10/3 - So as I type this, I think I am close to on the mend.  Today has easily been the best day pain/tenderness wise, and this evening I didn't even have to use peas!  That's a HUGE win, and I can tell I'm now much more capable of moving and doing basic things.  Emptying the dishwasher last night was rather painful, but tonight it's already much better.  That's GREAT news, as it means I can start to be an active member of the family again (while still being careful that I don't get punched or kicked by the munchkins).

Cora says "Fire Butch Jones."

The day didn't start out great.  K was really disagreeable and disobedient in the morning, so much so that after taking away 4 items I had to spank her.  She has been violently saying "NO" lately, and Jenny and I have agreed that we just need to aggressively manage that so that she knows neither that response nor willful disobedience will be tolerated.  The good news - she did apologize before leaving for pre-school.  I take solace in the fact that she knows right from wrong and knows that she is loved, and so she usually does apologize to me after an episode (and I genuinely believe she means it).

It was a good day at pre-school.  K saw the OT (they come twice a year), and K taught her all kinds of crazy new moves.  That girl is STRONG walking up a wall!  And the funny quote from K - tonight she called my work briefcase a "purse."

On the Cora front - that girl is ALL ABOUT MOMMY right now.  It was too funny right before bed - I took her from JT to say good night, and she instantly looked back at JT and reached for her.  The message was clear:  "Put me down, old guy - I want the hot redhead."  I get it, I get.  Don't worry - I will still help with college and your wedding, sweetheart. :-)  But seriously - Koda is a climbing machine - she is now climbing up on K's chair, and watching her head crest the back rest is just hilarious!  She has a smile on her face, a tongue sticking out, drool everywhere, and a look of total concentration/elation in her eyes. Too cute.  Love my nugget!

10/4 - Today was a tough day for K - flu shot day!  Jenny was a visionary and knew better than to tell her until after pre-school (which was a good call because she started bawling .000007 seconds thereafter).  Anyhoo - K was very brave, and minus a few tears it all went swimmingly.  And as a treat, she got to visit the pets in the pet store and then got both a free cookie AND a bakery cookie from Publix.  But that's not the best part.

So part of the Publix draw for kids is a free balloon every time they come in.  It's always an el cheapo balloon, but K LOVES them (and they really do get use in our house).  Well, today they went to blow up a balloon for her, and the helium was out.  The fella disappeared for a second and then came back, apologizing profusely but explaining that he was unable to inflate any of the balloons due to the helium issue.

JT was ready to walk away, but then the guy said, "But I have already cleared it with my manager, and she can pick any balloon she wants on the rack.  Now we are talking these are SERIOUS balloons - mylar, inflated, and HUGE.  And what does K do?  She finds THE BIGGEST BALLOON ON THE RACK and says "I'll take that one."  WAY TO GO, KIDDO!  Take that brass ring and run with it!

Seriously - I am publishing this a month
after she brought that balloon home.
IT STILL HAS AIR.  

She walked into my office (while I was talking to my manager, for the record), cookie in one hand, ENORMOUS balloon in the other, and I almost cackled.  It's Frozen - Elsa on 1 side, Anna on the other.  Way to go, kid!  Your mamma didn't raise no fool!

10/6 - A new tradition has started at the Taylor household - Lunchable Friday!  K loves them (because they involve crackers, cheese, and oreos, but hey - details...#fatheroftheyear), and so on Fridays that's what we're letting her pack for lunch. It's funny, as I remember them from my childhood.  I thought they were awesome, but honestly they were out of budget for us.  Now, 30+ years on, they are only $1!!!  So yes, they are a cheap way to cover lunch, and she loves them.  Winner winner, chicken dinner!

Oh, and K has figured out how to take photos on JT's iPhone.  She loves it, and when she gets going, she takes about 700 in a 30 second window.  Yes, it's cute.  YES, we have to delete them due to storage constraints.

10/7 - So the Bull was actually out in Phoenix for a wedding (day trip!), but this was a big day for the Munchkin - FROZEN LIVE ON ICE!!!! Unfortunately, my mom and stepdad (who'd purchased the tickets) couldn't come, which meant that Jenny took K and her friend Taylie.  Taylie was a last minute add (we didn't know until the day before that they wouldn't be able to make it, as they had to look after Nanny in the hospital - now doing fine thank goodness!!!), but it ended up working out GREAT. The girls had popcorn and cotton candy, and the seats were straight BALLER.  Thanks, Vol Nana and Grand Pooh!    The photos (K dressed up as Elsa) were really cute, and I'm sure it was amazing.  I still remember my first Disney on Ice experience, and I'm sure it's only improved since then!

10/10 - So you'll notice some gaps in the reporting over the last few days.  Rest assured it's not because my love of this is flagging - we just haven't had a lot of chaos to report.  Yesterday was a bank holiday, so we spent it chilling and getting errands/chores completed (plus I was in recovery post AZ).  Today was back to the grind, and JT officially stepped into a new role - Car Pool Driver!  JT has now worked out a great system between Cheryl and Lindsey (it's quite complicated and sometimes involves changing cars - don't ask me to explain it), and today was Jenny's day to drive Kate and Kaitlyn to preschool.

The memorable moment for me was when Kate walked in and saw the "Frozen" mylar balloon.  She said, "Wow, that's a big balloon!"  Kaitlyn's response was awesome:  "I got that at Publix because they were out of helium.  Daddy thought it was a giant."  Too cute!

Side note - watching K and Kaitlyn play is just too cute.  Jenny has played "hide and seek" with them, and she said it's adorable when they hide together.  When Jenny opens the door and says "Got you!", they are apparently hugging in mock fright.  They are both really sweet girls, and I love watching them interact.  They had a cute moment last week when I was walking back into my office.  I heard Kate whisper "I just saw your daddy in the hallway."  I was already in my office, but I suddenly flung the door open to startle them and found them right outside my door - stinkers!

From a general perspective, we really seem to be in a terrific groove right now.  We are getting to the pool on a regular basis, Cora's schedule is pretty much locked in stone, K is getting lots of good time with Kate, we have been able to manage the finances pretty good, and truth be told life is just fantastic.  My stress level is at an all time low, and I just couldn't be happier with how everything is going.  The girls are growing up so quickly, and my schedule is allowing me to have a lot of time to play with them and watch them grow (which I am immensely thankful for).

The evening has now become a steady play session after dinner.  We play "earthquake" (where K runs under our legs, we drop them, and then shake them on top of her), the "red ball game" (where I rock K back and forth on the ball), tag (where we run after each other and yell "BOOKIE!!!!!!" every time we run past Cora - who smiles each time we do it), and "Monster" (this one is getting increasingly complicated with monster weapons).  We basically all take turns being monsters, and K is hilarious when she gets the hoodie on - especially when she booms out in her deepest voice "I DON'T LIKE TOYS!!!!!!"  Too funny.

10/11 - A big day in the life of a bibliophile and his daughter - Kaitlyn's first book order arrived!!!!  Yay!!!!!  Admittedly the highlight for her was not a book but Chester the raccoon (a stuffed animal that came with the book).  And yes - Kate ordered it as well, and YES - K is sleeping with Chester every night (Twink is currently in jail due to misbehavior).  The books are really cute, and it brought back such great memories flipping through the order catalogue.  Good times...

Another first (not so great) - we received an email today, informing us that one of the kids in K's class has lice!  So we are on the lookout to ensure we don't see anything jumping around in her hair.  So far K has been fine, but JT has her hair in a braid and is running coconut oil through it in an effort to keep the bugs at bay.  Good times... :-)

10/13 - HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WIFE MUFFIN!!!!!!!  I love you so much.  You are THE BEST wife, mother, and friend a guy (or his daughters) could ask for.  These last 14 years (and especially the 11.5 married have been THE BEST of my entire life, and I am blessed beyond measure.


K made a cute little card for her the day before and was SO EXCITED to give it to her this morning.  She wanted to give it to her the second she ran into our room at 6:11, but I made her wait until 7 when JT came downstairs.  It was super cute - in purple (JT's favorite color), complete with stickers, pictures of mommy (her idea), balloons and hearts (also her idea), and a message inside that said:  "Happy Birthday!  Love, Kaitlyn."  Aside from part of the B and the V, K did the rest of it totally on her own!  Way to go, Munchkin!

The rice rusk.  Absolutely.  Disgusting.

And it occurs to me I've not really said much about the Nugget as of late.  That is not an oversight - it's just that things have been steady with Koda (aka "Anger Pocket," "Vishali," etc).  She is cruising and moving like you wouldn't believe, and the child has the INCREDIBLE ability to get into EXACTLY what you don't want her to get into - no matter what room she's in.  She loves pulling up on toilets, is cruising at light speed, and is eating like a champion.  Seriously - you should see the way this kid puts away cubes of food.  In fact, she's at the point now where she's preferring solid food to formula.  I'm fine with that, as it's WAY cheaper to feed her this way. :-)  We are still on 4 bottles a day, but pretty soon that's going to drop to 3 bottles, as Koda is typically not interested in either the 11 AM or 3 PM bottle.

As far as stairs go, that girl is now FLYING up them.  Last night she made it all the way up with only 1 slip back, but even then she caught herself.  It's crazy how strong she now is - holding her against your chest when she doesn't want to be there is now a difficult proposition!

10/13 - So today was a big day in the life of Sammy the Bull - my first ever foray into "playing with dolls."  Basically I was Anna and mother to Rapunzel, and we were visiting Elsa and baby Elsia (who live in a barn).  K was really cute as we did it, wanting the little girls to misbehave and have the mothers chase them around.  Her classic quote when I asked if Olaf was there:  "No, Olaf drove a long way to to shopping for us.  He went on the interstate to Tennessee."  She then had the two dolls face each other and ask, "Do you want to drink tea and watch the Panthers?"  SUCCESS!!!!  Brainwashing is working. :-)

One thing to note - K is definitely using that imagination right now, and she's coming up with some SERIOUSLY complicated games.  She'll always start by saying "Pretend that...", and then when we go from there is ANYONE'S guess.  The good news - if you do as you're told, she's happy as a clam.

Who needs a peloton...

One other thing to note tonight (still on K) - I gave her Twink back tonight, and she was super happy about it until she climbed into bed.  As she was tucking Twink in, she reached back to the the other side of her bed (against the wall) for something and said something incomprehensible.  When I asked what she needed, she suddenly started bawling!  She was so sad, and despite asking three times what was wrong, she wouldn't tell me.  Finally, it came out.  She looked at me earnestly and said, "If Twink is sleeping here, what will I do with Chester?"  I am not sure if she just loves Chester at the moment because Kate has one (so that is likely - she is even keeping Chester in her backpack at school), or if this is tied to an episode of Tangled:  the Series where Pascal feels marginalized, but she was really sad about it.  I tried to move Twink to a different pillow to give Chester some space, but K instantly moved over so she could hug Twink (I was at a loss at this point).  Luckily we found a place to snuggle Chester between the two of them, and suddenly all was okay.  WHEW. :-)

The monster is loose!

10/14 - I had the girls today (JT was at Women's Conference), and it was a great one.  We hit child watch for a bit (Cora was an angel), and then we also got some park time in (as well as watching plenty of football, of course!).  After an initial meltdown, K was a ROCK STAR at the park, swinging really good and climbing like a champion.  As for Nugget, she was in the swing for over 30 minutes! I mean, that girl LOVES motion and was content as could be - she likely would have sat there another hour!

It was great to see K climbing and running around.  Right now I really want to focus on endurance and strength, so I am trying to make a conscious effort to get her outside and active as much as possible.  It's an investment I know I need to make, so I am going to redouble efforts to build a schedule that ensures plenty of activity.  I know she gets good activity already at pre-school, but I want to ensure we augment that on our end, as fitness is so critical to well being.

K showing off her frog at Show & Tell (letter F).

One other thing to note - K has been AMAZING lately about starting to spell out words.  She also knows the sounds the letters make, and lately when we've said words she's said, "that starts with" and then says the correct letter.  It's SO COOL to hear!

10/15 - So today was a busy and good one, complete with a visit to church, breakfast at Toast, a swim at NOMAD, and even a trip to Lowe's to buy a new washing machine.  The only salient bit to record, however, was at 7:45 when we were getting ready to take Cora up.  I got her changed, put on her outfit, and walked her over to Jenny (who was keying in data for the church).  I lean her forward to kiss JT, and Cora VOMITS ON JENNY'S CHEST.  It wasn't a ton, and luckily Jenny didn't have her mouth open.  GROSS TO THE POWER OF INFINITY.  Dude, it was so foul.  JT's shirt was NASTY, and we were both in shock (and then couldn't stop laughing, of course).  Nugget - you are a MESS!  We love you, Bukie!!!!!

My little mermaid.

10/18 - So I just have to say it - K looks SO big now!  In certain outfits, she just looks so grown up.  She's about 50 lbs now and tall for her age, and when you add in her hair and the way she carries herself, it's easy to forget that she's only 4 1/2.  I just can't believe how fast they are both growing up. Honestly, I have been thinking this month about how much less I've written (compared to normal), and I even noted at one point that it feels as though we've settled into a rhythm where not much is new or noteworthy to report.  However, when I stopped and considered that, I just realized that constant change has become the new normal, and much like phyletic gradualism, both kids are changing every single day.  So quite the opposite of not having much to report - I now realize there s a TON to report, and I need to look at it constantly with fresh eyes so that I don't miss anything.

Looking SO GROWN UP!

Some of that I think has been just the month, as this has been a month of recovery after a CRAZY September.  Because of that, I will confess I've found myself not as focused on watching all the minutia and really soaking up every second with the munchkins.  However, I am trying to right the ship and make sure I look at them and just watch them in action every second I can, as I know we will not come this way again, and this period absolutely has a shelf life.  Case in point - K running into our bedroom every morning between 6:11 and 6:30.  While it does mean we lose a few minutes of sleep, I'm also conscious that there will come a time when she doesn't want to run into the room, and I will SORELY miss that once it's over.  And so for right now I am loving every second where she climbs into bed, gets under the covers (and gets twink there as well), and then curls up next to her dada.  She's even actually sleeping for 5-10 minutes, which is wonderful.  JT and I each put an arm around her, and we just snuggle as a family (until Cora starts screaming, of course :-)).

A random note about life - as you know, every night in the bathtub K says, "While you put on lotion and do my hair, can I please watch something on your phone?"  Of course the answer is always yes, but what has been fascinating is how the viewing choices have morphed over time.  Originally it was snippets from movies.  Then it was fairy tales.  Now, however (and really for the last month or two), K has been ALL ABOUT watching people play with toys - especially the LOL surprise dolls.  I have watched surprise dolls drive around in a camper van, hang out in a tree house, go to school and take a math test with a genie, get rescued from prison by Rider - you name it.  In a word...bizarre...

Also, I must relate - K is a serious nose picker at the moment.  I haven't said anything about it, as up until recently she was eating them from time to time and I didn't want to put a blazing spot light on it.  However, the other day I saw her picking both nostrils at the same time and thought, "Okay - something's gotta give."  So now I am trying to make a concerted effort to a) ensure I don't pick my nose in front of her and b) that I will need to tell her that we can't do that in public (but the home is still sanctuary, and to be fair that's where I see it most often - it's just about making sure she knows societal norms :-)).

10/20 - So I know I have said more than once how great a big sister K is, but lately I have been amazed how great she is with Cora.  I give JT a ton of credit here, as the three of them have built this amazing bond, and it's so cute to watch them play together.  K is super cute when she goes over to Cora and starts tickling her, saying, "Azabuke, you stinker!"  It is just magic to watch.  Cora ALWAYS smiles when K is around, and her eyes follow K all over the room.  Today was particularly cute, as Kate was over in the morning, and they all played together.  This happened again on the following Tuesday (obviously I'm writing this almost a week late), and it was a hoot to watch.  Essentially, all three of them get into the play pen together, and Cora loves it.  Then, when Cora starts crawling out, they play "tag" with her and run from her as she chases them.  Those two are adorable together.  I then blew their minds by dressing up as "Monster" and chasing after them - they were hilarious running from me.

Oh, and side note about monster - when Jenny is the monster, she usually "catches and eats me" at some point.  K runs by, sees that I've been captured, and says, "Dada, I just pulled you out of her tummy!"  I am pretty much a half digested man walking at this point...

On the letter front, it is AMAZING how K is starting to recognize letters.  She's pretty much constantly saying "(insert word here) starts with (insert correct letter).  The one pair that is tripping her up - V and F.  Today she said, "Volcano starts with F."  When I told her V, it blew her mind. :-)  She's also starting to write her letters, and she's doing amazing!  Seriously - she wrote nearly all of Jenny's birthday card (we are talking all but 2 letters), and she did Luke's birthday card as well.  She is only writing in capitals, but it's incredible.  And if I make the sound of the letter, she almost always recognizes it instantly.  This preschool is incredible, as they are really providing an amazing education out of the gate.

Happiness is a best friend and a slice of pizza.

10/21 - So this was a great one for K.  It started with a free activity at the Prosperity Park Clubhouse - Bat-o-ween!  The kids got to pet snakes and lizards, and then they went hunting for bats (fake ones, of course).  K was seated between Taylie and Kate - talk about being in Heaven!  They must have had a blast, and then they shot off from there to a birthday party at Fun to Be Fit.  K seemed to LOVE it, and it's actually really close to the house (which means we'll likely do it again soon).  JT got some great video of K jumping on the trampoline, bouncing into the blocks, and pulling up on parallel bars.    Kate was there as well, and Kaitlyn had a cupcake and pizza.  All in all, it was a GREAT day!  We had church in the evening before date night in (sushi and football) to celebrate JT's birthday.

Still.  Not.  Happy.

10/22 - Cora rolled 10 months today!!!  We did the photo shoot in the morning before rolling out the door.  Our destination was Indian Land, South Carolina, as we were going to visit Bob and Jan's new church.  We rolled in just before 10 AM, and luckily there was a GREAT nursery for Cora and Kaitlyn.  They were in Heaven with all the new toys, but the best part - they had "children's time, and Kaitlyn was the ONLY kid up front!"  She was absolutely adorable but super shy - you could tell she had NO IDEA why she was up front with all these adults.  But it was super cute - they were collecting dimes for hunger, and they gave K a bag to help take up the offering.  She did great and really got into it, and she definitely warmed up as people started handing out money. :-)  It's funny, when she gets embarrassed or is shy, she lowers her head and sticks her tongue out - the face is just priceless.  This was no exception.

We spent the afternoon chilling at the Tacy's, and it was a really good day.  K and I walked around and looked at Halloween decorations, and Cora discovered a new set of stairs and the baby bed (which she LOVED).

Also, when we were driving to the church, K yelled out EXIT!  Now normally she does this when she sees the red EXIT signs in buildings.  This time, however, she saw it as an exit on the interstate.  That means she's recognizing the sequence of letters!  She's starting to learn the basic building blocks of reading!  #GENIUS! :-)

10/24 - So Cora had a big moment today that JT pointed out.  She's starting to put stuff into containers.  She'll fill them and then empty them.  She's also LOVING the butterfly tunnel up in the bonus room.  She is now officially drooling all over the place, and we are still giving her medicine nightly to help her sleep.  However, some of those teeth are finally starting to come in.

On the formula front, we have officially moved from Gentlease to regular formula, and Cora seems to be handling the transition well.  At this point, she's not always taking all of her bottle (except the night feed, which she usually does manage to get down after several efforts), and she's definitely starting to get more calories from solids than at any point previous.  JT even whipped out the sippy cup for Cora to try, and she did actually put it to her mouth and drink some of it for the first time!  She is now devouring puffs and these things called Rice Rusks...which are absolute donkey trash.  Okay, okay - so they aren't horrible, but the important thing is that Cora LOVES them.  She is fascinated by the shape, texture, something - and she consumes those things like it's her job (which I guess it kind of is).

Now one thing I must note about Cora - when she stands up, her right foot almost ALWAYS is completely turned in.  I noticed today (I'm writing on 10/25) that she has finally started righting it (she normally does right it at some point, but today it was almost always forward from the beginning when she stands up).  I am not worried about it, but I can't help but notice it every time she stands.   K wasn't standing at this point, so I have no frame of reference.  I mean, let's face it:  I'm a parent - I always have to worry about something.

On, and the new song K and Kate are singing:  "F is for Funky Feet, F is for Funky Feet!  Funky Feet, Funky Feet, F is for Funky Feet!"  They say this while they both have their feet out the window of Jenny's car.  Too cute.  They also enjoy riding with Ms. Cheryl, as they get to rock out to Disney music the entire time.  Those two have really settled into a good rhythm of playing, and the car pool process seems to be working out well for Jenny.

And speaking of songs, K shows up home from preschool on this day (with Kate) and proceeds to sing the entire "Zaccheus" song from Music class. She really knew ALL the words!  Amazing - so proud of you, Munch!

10/25 - So, I woke up at 2:40 this day to the sound of my name.  I went into K's room, and she looked a proper mess.  She was shivering and holding her throat.  When she started talking, it was a raspy, hoarseness that I had NEVER heard from her (or anyone for that matter), and every breath sounded immensely painful.  Her cough was a seal bark (not an exaggeration), and when she asked for water, she was on the verge of tears.  She asked for medicine as well, and while I was getting it, I noticed her hands were shaking as she tried to drink from the water bottle.  Honestly, I was afraid something was wrong and her wind pipe was closing, but after some medicine, she seemed to be fine (meaning no pain).  The cough was horrendous, as was the breathing (which sounded terribly labored, but she said, it wasn't bothering her).  Twice while I was in there tending to her, she said, "Go tell mommy."  JT ended up laying in bed with her for a bit, while I went back to our room (unable to sleep, of course).

We took her to the doctor and confirmed that she's got croup.  Consequently, we've spent the day trying to keep her and Koda separated.  Technically K is still contagious and Cora could already have it, so we're just praying she (and everyone else) stays healthy.  It does mean that JT won't get to go to Chapel Hill this weekend, which obviously we all hate.  It also means that we have to start pumping in vitamin C to stay healthy for VEGAS, BABY!  After all, this guy doesn't want to be sick on his 40th!

10/26 - K woke up at 4:57 this morning in pain and coughing.  Ibuprofen managed to help calm her and ease the pain, but once again the poor thing wasn't feeling good and didn't get to go to preschool.

Cora had a runny nose when she woke up and was clearly congested, but so far no sign of croup, which is an absolutely blessing.  What it does mean is that we DEFINITELY couldn't take the girls to Chapel Hill and Raleigh, which meant that poor JT had to miss out on the weekend to watch over the girls.  My wife is pretty much the GREATEST WOMAN ALIVE EVER and told me there was no way I was missing that weekend.  I love you, wife muffin!!!!!!  But man did I hate it for her.  You could see the disappointment on her face, and it was not easy to just walk away and head out when I knew what she was going to be up against all weekend.  The good news - K was in good spirits all day and even got out for a bit (probably almost an hour) on her trike to look at Halloween decorations.  I pushed Nugget while K pedaled around - that girl was FLYING and was really starting to climb hills for the first time ever.  That's exciting, as it means we can start to go a bit further afield (right now it's still tricky to push both her and the stroller at the same time).

Also, there is a new game now - the Princess game.  This consists of us hiding 6-7 princesses (they are tiny little toys) throughout the house.  TT then goes and looks for them, requesting some "hotter/colder" assistance when she runs out of ideas.  I will say - she's a pretty good little seeker!

On the Cora front, that girl is almost standing!  She's definitely finding her balance and her legs, and you can tell she's getting sturdier.  When she remembers to turn her feet out, she does much better at balancing.  When she keeps that right foot turned in, however, she crumbles fairly quickly. She is even taking a few steps with help, but more often than not we end up dragging her vs. her initiating the movement.

Also, it should be noted that Cora LOVES the bath.  She can't get enough of splashing the water (she is quite the arm flailer in all aspects of life, but bath time is her favorite).  Another thing she enjoys (which is, well, quite odd for me) - having her meningning cleaned during a diaper change.  Seriously - EVERY TIME I wipe her before changing the diaper, she just cackles like it's the funniest thing ever.  Oh boy...I really don't have a guidebook for this...Lastly, she LOVES sneezing.  It's so cute - every time she does it she just grins from ear to ear.  And as long as she's not firing snot rockets, I typically grin as well...

Too cute.

10/28 - After 3 straight days at home and plenty of middle of the night wake-ups, K was fever free this morning!  She actually slept until 7:30, a sign that a) she was exhausted and b) she is catching up on some rough patches.  Cora was up a little after 6, and JT said the day went great.  They even made it over to the fall festival, where K went on her first ever pony ride!

10/29 - So we put Cora in "robe's" today, which are basically "training shoes" to help kids learn how to wear them.  Well, no sooner did we put her in them than our little nugget STOOD ON HER OWN FOR THE FIRST TIME!!!!!!  It was an AMAZING feat - she stood there a really long time (I got the second one on video).  K kept saying, "Do it again, mommy!"  We were all impressed.

I had the girls in the afternoon (got back from Chapel Hill about 2), and we went to the park, where K had a blast sliding head first and going down the pole.  We had a scare en route, she was pedaling really fast on her bike downhill when she lost control and flipped off it.  The good news - she was totally fine and only really hit her knee (and just a little scrape at that).  However, it was really scary.  But I am happy to report that she hopped back on it quickly after just a few tears, and best of all - she managed to regulate her speed much better the rest of the afternoon. :-)

10/30 - BACK TO PRESCHOOL TODAY!!!!!  K was SO excited - so much so that she could hardly even eat breakfast.  Her teacher had sent her a really sweet email on Friday, telling JT how much they missed her, as she always set a great example for the class.  That certainly makes a parent feel good!  Proud of you, kid!!!!

My Birthday card from K.  I love it!

K had a dentist appointment at 2, where for the first time ever she got the full adult treatment!  She sat in the big chair, had a cleaning, had x-rays, and even had fluoride!  I am pleased to report that she had ZERO cavities, and even better - her teeth are starting to move back into place now that she's stopped sucking her thumb.  YAY!  I know that, when she's tired, she's sucking it for a second at night, but honestly she goes to sleep quick, so I am not at all worried about that.

After the dentist, JT dropped her at Kate's house for a quick playdate before I picked her up at 3:45 to take her to swim lessons.  I didn't know it at the time, but this would actually be the final time I would set foot inside the NOMAD facility, a place that I have come to love over the last 2+ years.  Our membership expires at the end of the month, and with rates moving from $55 a month to almost $250 a month for the same access, we are choosing to try somewhere else.  And while I didn't realize at the time this was my last time walking through those doors, I have to say - what a way to go out.

It was, without a doubt, the best swim lesson I have ever seen Kaitlyn have.  She was a MONSTER in that water - swimming non-stop for 30 minutes.  She did some INCREDIBLE back stroke - easily the best I have ever seen her do.  Her arm was really, really up high, and she was reaching back!  Her freestyle was great as well.  Brandyn came over and said, "She had a really good lesson today," and I could tell he was impressed.  She must have swam 200 meters flat out, including a 50 in the cold pool (25 each back and free).  I was SO PROUD - she was even pushing off from the wall correctly to start her back stroke!  She was doing entire laps (25 each way) without stopping - 4 years old!  She even did some butterfly kicks, which you can tell she really enjoys.

After it was over, she actually hugged her instructor twice - the first time I've ever seen her do that.  She knows that she's only got one more lesson, and so I honestly think she wanted to make him proud and wanted to do good for him.  He's been an amazing instructor, and we will tell him as much when it's all said and done.  I know that, while she does protest about going to lessons, she will miss him and really likes him.  So yes - I was more than a little nostalgic watching the end of an era, but I was also super proud.  My oldest has learned how to swim and was doing great in that water.  My youngest was wonderful the whole time and just watched K in action, stopping to laugh when I tickled her from time to time.

10/31 - Happy Halloween!  Kate wasn't there, so K got to be both prayer leader (her job for this week) and flag holder.  Did I mention that she can recite the entire pledge of allegiance?  It's awesome!  Trick or treating was a TON of fun.  We went with Braylen and Jayden (our new neighbors), and K was a ROCK STAR keeping up with them!  She went as a leopard, and Cora was a lady bug - too cute.  K was amazing running up and down the hills.  Eventually I had to carry her, but she was in seventh heaven with the big kids.  And YES - she pocketed a TON of candy.  Next year I do want to decorate more, as I am starting to see the value in those traditions with family.  But hey, Christmas decorating is just two weeks away, so I will get a chance to redeem myself. :-)

The one funny story - JT had just started walking back with Cora in the stroller when K sneezed.  Snot came flying out like a ROCKET, and she said her usual "tissue, please."  Well, the issue is that we didn't actually HAVE any tissues, which meant I had to use the one thing available to me - MY SHIRT.  Dear readers, let me just tell you - THIS WAS A VOLUME OF SNOT THE LIKES OF WHICH I HAVE NEVER SEEN.  I mean, it just KEPT coming.  So wrong, man...

But the good news - when it was all said and done, K looked at me and said, "I love Halloween, dada.  Well, I love Halloween and Christmas."  Smart girl... :-)

So there you have it - an amazing October in the books and the last full month of my 30s.  It's an early start tomorrow - VEGAS, BABY!!!!!!!!  Can't wait to tell you the stories...but you'll have to wait a month for those. :-)

Love,

Sam and Jenny

From VA to Vail to Vasectomy - a V filled September...

Age of Lady Kaitlyn:  4 years, 6 months, and 19 days

Age of Lady Cora:  9 months and 8 days

Family,

And a good afternoon to you from the Queen City.  We're back in school, fall is in the air, and football is on the telly.  It's a GREAT DAY to be an American, so let's get amongst it, shall we?

9/1 - K met her teachers this day!  She is super duper excited, and that is great to see.  They got there right at 9 and spent about an hour at the school, meeting the teachers and playing a bit.  K seems very excited about it, which thrills me.

The good news on the Cora front - temp is down to 102 unmedicated, and 100 medicated.  YAY!  that is a huge win, and she's already in better spirits.  She'll be on a steady diet of pain relievers through the weekend, but she's already acting more like her normal self, which is GREAT.

Some wedding highlights (the others are imbedded below):

Dinner time in Floyd!  K LOVED this seat.

Honestly...HEARTBREAKER.  

I barely held it together when she walked down the aisle.

With friend Freya...they were SUPER CUTE playing tag in those outfits.

Talk about EPIC eating...so guuuuuuud (peppy cheekies).

"Um...mom...what's she doing to me?"

I finished work about 1:30, and shortly thereafter we headed for the big event of the weekend - Megan's wedding in Floyd, VA!  It took about 3 hours to get up there (including a stop to feed Nugget), but it was an easy trip and the girls were good.  We arrived at the church about 5, where we opened the car door to find the temperature 30+ degrees colder than CLT!  We weren't prepared for that!

The rehearsal went about an hour, and K was GREAT.  She behaved and listen well, and she even made a new friend (Freya, the other flower girl :-)).  By 6:30, however, it was time to head out, and so JT and I split up (as we wanted to ensure she represented us at the rehearsal dinner, and I wanted to get the girls to bed).  Megan's mom had loaned us her father's house for the weekend (which was a lifesaver - 3 bedrooms!), and so we rolled up about 7 PM to set to work.  I will be honest - this next bit was ROUGH.

Me:  "Rock me, mamma, like a wagon wheel..."
K:  "You are an absolute FREAK SHOW CANDIDATE."

Between the rain, no TV, no wifi, and no toys, it was an ADVENTURE getting a) all the stuff in the house, b) keeping Cora from tearing the house down, c) keeping K entertained while I fed the Nugget and cooked her food, and d) set up the rooms.  But we got there!  We got Koda down at 8:30 and K down at 9:30.

The best quote of the night:  K was looking at the pictures and saw Michelle's wedding album.  She said, "Aw, Dada!  Auntie Megan is already married!!!"  It was pretty cute.

9/2 - Wedding day!  So first off, the good news - Cora and K slept really well together in the same room.  I think the first time we heard either of them was about 6:15 (Cora), but K didn't wake up until 7 or so.  It was a quick morning for her, as she had to be out the door for hair (with JT) by 7:45.

I drove Nugget with me to the church, arriving about 10.  She didn't want her bottle for some reason, but she wasn't fussy - just disinterested (and she was also ADORABLE in her outfit, for the record).  Cora was in the nursery for the ceremony, and due to being in opposite wings of the church and having no signal, I didn't get to see my other two girls until Go time.  And let me tell you - BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!

JT was the first bridesmaid down the aisle, and she looked absolutely stunning - I put a ring on that! :-)  And then, at the end just before the bride, K walked down the aisle as a flower girl with little Freya (also 4).  Family, let me tell you - I had to fight back tears.  She was BEAUTIFUL, and all I could think was how in about 2 decades she'll be doing that same thing, just likely in a different color dress. Her hair had flowers in it, she was just gorgeous with her shy smile, and I was a happy man, reveling in how lucky I am.

The ceremony was great, and K was really good through the whole thing.  She didn't want to stand the entire time, but she simply went over by Freya and watched the proceedings on her tummy, chin resting on her hands (it was pretty cute).  Freya and K bonded, as afterwards they were chasing each other around and playing tag.  It was pretty cute to watch them running in their wedding attire.

We then managed to get some great pics as a family before heading to the reception.  This party was held in a barn that her father built ALL BY HIMSELF!!!!!  Amazing!  Amish style!  The food was great, and K ate like a champion.  The only downside was the weather and the fact that it was gravel, meaning we couldn't really put Cora down anywhere.  However, it all went well, and we spent about 2.5 hours there before I loaded up the girls to drive home.  Now, to be clear, K was NOT happy about this, and she bawled her eyes out (we didn't tell her until we were at the reception, knowing this was likely to happen), but 10 minutes down the road she was fine and we were back to playing I Spy and the earmuff game (which we are pretty much playing non-stop at this point).  We got home about 6:30, and I got the girls to bed about 8 (JT stayed in Floyd and rode home with Webb).

9/3 - It was a good day for us, and it was an indicator of how tired everyone was.  K slept until after 7 (11.5 hours), and Cora was about the same!  And to beat it all, K even went into her room unprompted and slept from 2:30-4!  Poor thing was exhausted, but the good news for her - we finished her ear drop medication!  I am already itching to get her back in the pool.  She's swimming so good right now, and I don't want us to regress!  Don't worry, I am not tiger parent.  I just know she enjoys it, and I want to reestablish a good NOMAD routine now that the fall (and preschool) have started back up).

On the K front, she's now requested that we close her door at night (still no dohm).  We think it's because she's sucking her thumb (I think I mentioned this earlier), but it's all good, as we are still seeing her now sleep until 7 (vs. 6:15 previously).  If the girls keep giving us 8-7 on a regular basis, I am going to be one happy camper!

On the Cora front, that girl is basically RIPPING MY LEG HAIR OUT while feeding or trying to pull up on me.  Merciless!  She is pulling up with ease now, and she's even started (slowly) cruising along furniture.  More often than not she gets stuck, and her legs start sliding (forcing her to fall back on her bummy bummy before she gets into a complete split).

9/4 - So we gave Cora puffs today for the first time.  While she didn't LOVE it out of the gate, the first six we gave her eventually vanished, and she seemed to be smiling.  So we gave her another five, and we were quite proud of ourselves when those vanished.  So imagine our surprise when we lifted her out of the high chair and discovered that she hadn't eaten a single one of them but was instead SITTING ON THEM.  Hilarious!  She had just taken them, dropped them in her lap, and was making a bleacher seat out of them.  Good times...

Still a dentist in training, baby!

9/5 - First day of pre-school!!!!!  So this was a GREAT day.  K was super excited to go back, and she really enjoyed the day.  She got her first job (door holder) and was really chatty about everything.  It made us both so happy!  And to confirm - she still wants to be a dentist.  Good choice, kid. :-)

On the Cora front - while I can't yet confirm it, I believe that she is starting to say "mama" and apply it to JT.  When JT left her with me for a bit, Mama was the only syllable she repeated, and she wiggled away from me to go into the hall and look for her.  Dare I say we are raising a pair of geniuses in the house? :-)

9/8 - So fast forwarding a few days post 50K (which was a HOOT, by the way), I was chilling at Sierra Nevada Brewing on Friday afternoon when my ladies arrived!  They were in great spirits after a good week, and we spent that afternoon buying groceries and getting settled into the house for the weekend.  K discovered Netflix, and that CHANGED HER LIFE.  Seriously - I don't know what we would have done without Netflix, as that pretty much had K happy as a clam and catatonic 1.5 hours a day.  For my part, I couldn't believe all the titles available, and the second Moana came up, K was HOOKED.  It was really cute (plus I finally got the chance to watch it as well).

On the Koda front, she was ALL ABOUT this flimsy little table in the center of the room.  It was hilarious - talk about a moth to a flame!  But the good news - when it was bedtime, they were both great about sleeping in the same room.  K really likes sleeping in the same room with Cora, even if she does wake her up at 6 AM.  It is a cute routine - Cora goes to bed first, and then when it gets quiet, I "do my plan" using rooms other than her bedroom.  Then, after the surprise attack and some tickling, K is great about walking into the room silently, curling up in bed, and sacking out (without her thumb, for the record!).  I will say it's really cute how K is always asking, "what's your plan tonight, dada?" to me, to which I always respond, "I'm not telling you!  But there's NO WAY you'll figure it out!"  I do love (and will miss) these rituals when they are gone.

9/9 - So today was a BLAST.  We started it with Finding Dory (another first time viewing for me), after which time K and I got in the hot tub.  It was 101, but she loved it!  The weather was great, and after Koda's nap, we rolled over to New Belgium, where we spent the next couple of hours eating, drinking, and generally being merry.  K was great about playing with Koda, and JT had (wisely!) brought a blanket to the brewery so that Cora could crawl around.  After that we hit Wedge Brewing, where K made a friend named Grayson and was happy as a clam (I was quite reluctant to leave there considering that a) she had a friend and b) the brew was great, but alas - we had a schedule!).  We finished the day over at Highland, where there was an AWESOME field that we all got to run around in.

I have to give Cora credit, as she was AMAZING through this whole thing.  She managed to sleep for a bit on JT in the carrier, but by and large she was awake (and smiling!) the entire time.  We did forget her hat, so for the first time ever she did get a little sunburn (which was really quite cute on her little nose and cheeks for the record).  We got the tiddlywinks in bed by about 7:30-8 that night, and then we just chilled while we watched some football before crashing about 11 or so.

9/10 - So the kids made it until about 6:45 this morning, and we capitalized on every last second of that. :-)  The featured movie of the day was once again Moana, and K sat in rapt fascination as we hung out with Rice and Beka before they rolled out early.  After breakfast, we rolled over to Sierra Nevada, arriving right at noon to find a JAM PACKED parking lot.  Seriously - it was CRAZY, as the place had technically JUST OPENED!

We rolled in like we were caravanning across the Sahara, complete with the stroller, the carrier, and a blanket that covered about 100 acres of real estate.  On the way in, we met a lady who stopped and told us she used to do the same thing.  We then saw her and her friend inside, and so we merged blankets. :-)  They had 3 kids, and the girls proceeded to play for FOUR HOURS!  K was really great - she shared every single one of her toys without question, and they all seemed to get along really well.  They all got along so good, in fact, that K didn't even want to go in for lunch!  I mean, to be fair, she'd already had a PBJ, but when have you EVER known this kid to pass up Mac 'n Cheese? However, I am happy to report that she did come back into the restaurant for a bit to clean her plate.  :-)

It was funny - at one point JT and I were in the restaurant with Cora while K just ran around with 3 kids we couldn't name, chaperoned by two women we'd never met (we did step out to check on her, for the record.  K - if you are reading this 30 years after typing, please know that you were NEVER in danger. :-)).  At about 4, after some great beer, wonderful music, terrific food, and lots of giggles, the other girls and their mothers started packing up.  I started looking around and noticed that, while all of their toys were accounted for, none of K's were to be seen.  I gave it until the last possible moment, but then I asked K if she had all her toys.  When she realized she didn't, I asked to check the mom's stroller, where I found a few of the toys (not all the ones I expected, however).  I didn't dig through their entire stroller (but a good 85% of it) as I thought that might have been somewhat inappropriate.  However, I was a little upset that K had been SO GREAT about sharing her toys, only to have this happen.

Luckily, as we were leaving, I saw a little purse that one of the girls had left.  I opened it, and it was FILLED with K's toys.  I mean PACKED!  So we got everything back except 1 thing - Applejack (that's a "my little pony").  I didn't think anything about it at the time, and truth be told it could be ANYWHERE on that property.  And honestly, I didn't even think K would know.  Well, fast forward until the following day when we arrived back in CLT.  The SECOND K gets in and sits down to play, she says, "Dada, where is Applejack?"  I said I wasn't sure and that we'd probably find it as we unpacked.  However, I knew the truth.  The good news is that she hasn't asked for it.  The bad news is that it's still eating at me a bit (albeit much less now).  I feel like I let her down as a father, as I wasn't able to find it when she'd been so great about sharing and perhaps didn't press the issue as much as I should have.

#standard

We made a last stop at Blue Ghost Brewing, where K played with some toys while we had a last drink with Loren and Sue.  It was then home for dinner, where we got the kids down early and then followed suit.  And can I just say thank goodness, as they weren't keen on sleeping!

9/11- the kids were up at 6:11!  Cora woke K, and we were struggling.  Luckily we found Trolls on Netflix, and that gave us time to pack up.  We were in motion from 6:11 until 8:47 when we left, and it felt like we'd worked a full day by the time we loaded up!

We got home about noon (had lunch at CFA), and we spent the rest of the day trying to relax and unpacking.  The girls were clearly exhausted, both of them with some drainage.  K's cough is exceptionally "productive" at the moment, and poor Cora is so stuffed up that she can barely breathe (yes, that means we've broken out the Nose Frida, which Cora hates worse than K did!).  She's also still sporting a temperature (albeit low grade), so she's been on a steady diet of ibuprofen at night.  Both of the girls have been a little fussy, but K's has largely been in the form of whining, whereas Koda has been REALLY crying from about 5:30 PM until bedtime.  Simply put - if you try to confine that girl, she goes CRAZY.  It doesn't matter the confine - jumperoo, Bjorn, jail, etc - she will start screaming instantly.  But if you just let her crawl around, she's instantly fine.  Once again - two more different children have never existed.

Applejack thieves!

9/12 - We were back to school today!  However, due to the Hurricane, we were on a two hour delay.  It somewhat threw off the rhythm of the day, but K didn't care, as she had Kate at the house to play for two hours!  Seriously - Kaitlyn was in HEAVEN.  Her job so far at preschool has been door holder, and I am happy to report that Kate was the other door holder.  I can just picture those two now.  Too cute.  They played great together until about 3, and then we chilled as a family.

On the Cora front, she's started rolling her tongue!  It's so cute to watch, as you can tell she's discovered that she can control the muscle.  I think she enjoys how it feels on her teeth, as her little grin gets so wide.

9/13 - Not a lot to report this day, other than to relate that K got an extra hour of play time on both ends of preschool with K today.  Cheryl picked her up and dropped her off, and since they had a team meeting, K and Kate got to play in the rainy day room for an hour.  A Win-Win!

9/14 - So as I sit here, finally caught up on the blog and (largely) done with the chores for the evening, I have to confess I am feeling off at the moment.  I know that exhaustion is a part of it, as the constant early mornings and the many wake-ups in the middle of the night have definitely taken a toll.  Recovery from the 50K is part of it as well, as I'm fighting a few injuries, not running regularly (and therefore not getting my head space), and now fighting a cold that's crept in.  Lastly, frustration is definitely part of it, as the incessant crying as of late has forced me to create a defense mechanism to deal with it.  I think there is some guilt in there as well, knowing that I will be traveling for work at least once in the coming month and leaving Jenny on her own for 5 days.  I think there is also the fixation I've got with getting K back in the pool (it's been 3 weeks) to ensure she doesn't regress (and also the realization that she's not feeling 100% and so I shouldn't push it).

It is an amalgamation of factors, but right now I will be honest - I am not being the best husband, father, or Christian I can be.  I am on the treadmill, stuff is getting done, and we are still having a lot of fun.  However, right now I am not behaving the way a Christian head of the household should be.  I know I could pen this in my Encounter log or journal instead of here, but I have always said that I wanted this to be an accurate recollection of our experiences, and to me that has to include the vulnerable times when I am struggling.  And this is in NO WAY a reflection of my family, as I love them SO MUCH.  And truthfully, this feeling eats at me, as I feel like I'm not giving them everything they deserve (even though I am trying desperately to do just that).  I can just tell that I am not stopping to smell the roses, not really taking in the experiences as I have them, and not acknowledging that every day is a gift.  I can tell it in the way I am talking to the kids and Jenny, the way I'm not stepping up for chores like I used to, the lack of updates I've recorded for the blog, and the limited number of pics I've taken recently.  I notice that I'm giving directions and doing things but not really looking at faces, and that scares me.  I think about the last scene from "Our Town" and how they all went through life so fast that they never really looked at each other.  That scene has always haunted me (I was actually in that show, kids - Simon Stimson), and it's front and center in my mind now.  Simply put, it's time to remember that pressure is a privilege and work harder to be the husband Jenny needs and the daddy these kids need.

I prayed about it tonight, and I already feel tremendously better (funny how that works, isn't it?).  And I am resolved to be better, especially over these next 2.5 days before I shuffle off to Canada and then Colorado (I am only in CLT 11 hours between flights, so I won't even see the kids except asleep).  But the good news - we have a fun weekend planned, and I think that will help put us all in a better spot.

Oh, and we had a great K line tonight.  She ran into the bonus room and said, "Dada, we've got show and tell tomorrow.  It's the letter J, and I know what I'm going to bring."  I told her that was great, and when I asked what it was, she said, "Liony!"  So....we sort of had to work on that one. :-)  We ended up picking a "jet", so hopefully that goes well.

And it should be noted that Cora was actually sitting on the trampoline today when she fell back and hit her head.  The good news - that kid is UNBREAKABLE and really didn't cry much.  The bad news - I now officially can NEVER take my eyes off her.

9/15 - Today was a good day - we hit the playground, where K demonstrated mastery of the pole!  She also went higher than before on the swing.  Koda got on the swing a bit as well - that girl LOVES

it!  I will say that K whined and cried the entire walk there, but I refused to let her get in the stroller.  I know, I know, I am a tyrant.  But I am all about endurance, baby - we've gotta build it up! :-)

Oh, and in other news, it was NOT show and tell today.  Apparently the teacher was not best pleased that I allowed K to bring a toy in her backpack.  Oh well, so it goes... :-)

9/16 - So I feel like a new man - PRAISE JESUS!!!!  Honestly, after praying about it, God completely transformed my outlook, and I am now SO much happier.  Today has been a GREAT day. Cora was up at 5:42, but that worked out well, as it meant that we rocked up to NOMAD the second child watch was open.  I got 6 miles in (felt great), and we got back in time to get Cora down before JT and I ran around flagging sprinkler heads.  K was a big help!

We hit the park in the afternoon after Cora's first nap, and K did the pole many times.  She acted scared at first, but soon she rallied.  the highlight for me:  she was standing at the top, and a little boy walked up and said, "It's scary, isn't it?"  K looks at him and says, "Watch this," and then proceeds to ROCK IT.  When she lands, he said, "Well, it's scary sometimes."  K just looked at me.  I gave her the thumbs up, and she returned it back with a huge smile (or should I say "thumbs high").  Awesome!  She also did a great job defending out lunch and stuff when another kid just randomly came over and kept trying to take it.  Good job, Suzie Q!  Way to be strong.  Love it.

After Cora's second nap, we rolled over to Prosperity park again - this time for the final outdoor swim of the year (the pools closed at 7 PM).  The water was chilly, but it was nothing like the cold pool at NOMAD, and so we were fine.  We only swam for about 45 minutes, but K seemed ready to go and was happy.  Koda was great throughout the whole thing - the cold didn't phase her!  It really was a nice end to the day and, effectively, to "summer."

K had 2 great quotes (and one epic collision with the trampoline while running around and suddenly turning):

1.  As we were pulling into the house after the NOMAD visit, she saw the Ways packing up for their move.  K said, "Awwww - why are they leaving their forever home?"  Now THAT is the power and influence of HGTV ladies and gentlemen - much like when K sings the nationwide jingle or just says "SC Johnson and Company" out of the blue.

2.  K was a bottomless pit today, and at one point after I'd basically given her one of EVERYTHING in the fridge, she walked to the trash, through the yogurt cup in, and then looked at me and said "Growth Spurt!"  Too cute!

9/17 - So K successfully opened the back white gate today!  I didn't think she could, and she was only able to do it once.  However, it won't be long before it's a regular thing, as she clearly has the torque to pull it off.

The only other thing to report today (and this was relayed to me after I landed in Toronto) - K said that she was scared and wanted the door locked before bed.  No idea where that came from, as she's never said that to me.  The good news - she hasn't done it again, so perhaps that was just something she'd heard from someone.  She has often expressed that she's afraid to be on a floor of the house by herself, but she usually is fine once she commits to something and is settled.

Also for me - this started NINE CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF BEING AWAY FROM MY KIDS, the longest stretch ever for me.  I had 4.5 days in Toronto and 4.5 days in Colorado, with my only time in CLT being an 11 hour stretch to get home, pack, and head back out.  I didn't love the prospect of being away that long, but it was unavoidable given the commitments.  September 2017 really will go down as the craziest month of our lives!

9/19 - JT told me that Cora is not only rolling her tongue, but she's also sticking it out.  Too cute!

9/22 - the Nugget officially rolled 9 months today!  We weren't around for it and didn't see her (we landed in Denver early that morning), but Vol Nana continued her display of awesomeness and managed to get a few shots of her with her 9 month sticker on.  Impressive!

Also, a highlight for me today.  We got up at 4:45 with designs of being out the door by 5:30.  Well, at 5:11, I'm packing when I look into the hallway and see the door opening.  K was awake!  The banging around in the bathroom woke her up, and she ran into our room and tackled me.  It was SO GREAT, as I was really desperate to see her but didn't want to wake her or Cora (obviously) at any point while home.  So we got to snuggle for about 10 min before we put a show on for her and then headed out (don't worry - Vol Nana was here).  And I am happy to report that K watched her show until about 6:40 and then waited patiently downstairs until Vol Nana woke up at 6:45.

And for the record - during our time in Denver, Cora woke up at 5:30 EVERY MORNING except the last one.  Vol Nana was a trooper!

9/26 - HOME!!!!!!  I gotta say, Vail was AMAZING - undoubtedly one of THE BEST weekends EVER - but man is it GREAT to be home with the kiddos again.  We landed about 1 and made it home right at 2:30, where we found the Nugget, the Sneetch, and Vol Nana hiding in their newly built teepee!!!!  That's right, sports fans - we've got a new addition to the Bonus Room!  K LOVES it, and mom said that she was very appreciative and thankful to her and pooh for building it.

We had FaceTimed with them every day, and between that and the pictures we had a pretty good idea of a) how tired mom was and b) how much fun the girls had.  They had new toys, K had a new bed spread (and teepee!), and they had even made cupcakes!  Mom was a trooper (seriously - I have NO WORDS to thank her for all that she did), and she even found time to clean the house, fold the clothes, and manage the sprinklers!  K was really good about Vol Nana leaving until the very end, at which point she broke down.  However, it was short lived.  I think a) having us back and b) knowing that she'll see mom again in 12 days helped ease the blow, but man - does she love her grandmother!

K's high school on Wii Bowling!
She legitimately beat us!

K had a big bruise on her knee where she ran into Kate playing today, but the great news:  when it happened, she looked at her teacher and said, "I am rough and tumble."  THAT'S MY GIRL!!!!!  She was basically Evil Knievel all night after that, jumping off everything and crashing into stuff.  And her response whenever she'd wipe out?  "I'm good!"  (with her thumb in the air).  AWESOME!  Seriously - this is a far cry from the gal who usually cries whenever she gets a bruise or a scratch.  WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER!

Oh, and Cora (who is looking cute as a button these days, btw - blond hair and pure chunk) tackled the stairs for the first time today!  Obviously Jenny was right behind her, and yes she did fall back into JT's arms plenty.  However, she did make it to the top, and the smile on her face was a mile wide.  She's sticking her tongue out now, and when doing it while exerting herself, it looks like she's the picture of focus.  She was SO happy when she made the top!  K was great and really encouraged her - she's such a great sister.

9/27 - Today was a big one - Cora's 9 month appointment!  Dr. Knutson said that everything looked great.  She only got 1 jab (first of 2 flu shots), and she scored 25% in height, 70% in weight (19.1 lbs), and 40% in head.  Little chunker!


I worked uptown today and made it home in time for a round of tag and bath time.  Honestly, after that trip to CO, my frame of mind is SO different.  I loved running around with K, bathing her, reading the story, and everything else that comes with being a father.  I was obviously much better before I left (after that rough day and praying about it), but I am in an even better place right now.  I am loving every second with the kids and really savoring the small things, which is such a good feeling.  I just cannot thank mom enough for giving JT and I that time so that we could recharge and come back focused.

One other note - I go in for the big procedure tomorrow!  Team Taylor is very ready.  Truth be told, it has arrived quicker than I expected.  I have been asked several times if we are ready for this, and I can say with extreme confidence that we are.  People have asked us if we want a third, but the truth is that life is perfect right now and we couldn't be happier.  Plus, we know that we have three little ones who are already with the angels and their Creator, and I think 5 is a good number of arrows. :-)

This was the poster I saw when I laid back.
Hilarious!!!

9/28 - Well, in the saga of "Raise Kids with the Taylors," today was a big moment - the big snip.  Not a lot to say other than a) I'm glad it's over, b) we are SO at peace with the decision, c) it was cheaper and easier than I expected, and d) Cora's screaming on the drive home helped solidify any doubts about the decision. :-)  Seriously - it was really smooth, and I can't believe it's already come and gone.  I was informed I'm still "fully loaded" and therefore must continue to take precautions, but we are on the home stretch toward officially closing the factory.

It was something of a surreal experience walking in there, as it's not often you make a choice to voluntarily let someone poke a hole through and make cuts in your body.  So far, it just feels like someone punched me in the testicles, and I'm hoping it doesn't get much worse than that.  But in the event it does, I've got plenty of good stuff to help ease the pain. :-)

9/29 - So the Bull woke up plenty stiff today, but it was able to go a full 7 hours last night without a pain pill.  It honestly feels more sore than anything, mixed with a bit of "someone just kicked me down there with a vengeance" kind of feeling.  I am moving slow, not lifting anything, and I spent the entire day working in the bed with frozen pea bags resting squarely on my nether region (and rotating said pea bags every 90 minutes).  I wasn't able to help much around the house, but JT was a rock star about the whole thing.  I love that woman!  I definitely married up!

9/30 - So I felt a little better today, but I still was largely confined to the couch (and rotating pea bags).  The good news - it was college football.  The bad news - the Vols and the Heels got crushed, and it was a GORGEOUS day that I couldn't participate in.  That being said, it was still fun, and I even managed to have a few beers. :-)

On the kid front, mom taught K a blast from my past while we were in Colorado:  the "rub-scratch-tickle."  This was something mom did to me ALL the time growing up, and I loved it.  Essentially, she would rub my back, then scratch a bit, and then tickle me up my spine.  Sure enough, K is a huge fan as well. :-)

Officer's Gulch outside Vail - INCREDIBLE. 

K is also improving her pronunciation I'm noticing.  She is saying her g's and v's much better now, which is really cool to hear and observe.  What is less exciting is the fact that I can tell she's mad at me because I'm so immobile.  I can't chase her, can't play hide and seek, can't tickle her, can't let her sit in the bread basket (you name it), and it really has colored our relationship these past few days.  She is definitely in the mommy camp now, but we are all collectively taking it in stride.  Honestly, there's nothing I can really do about it, so what else can I do? :-)

On the Cora front, JT has become concerned with the volume of Cora's falls - especially on the hard wood.  Cora is EVERYWHERE at this point like a Spitfire bomber, and it's not uncommon for her to fall backwards and bang her head at least once or twice a day.  Jenny actually did a concussion test with a flashlight today!  The good news - all was well. :-)  Seriously - we both know she's fine, but we also know that we have to take a completely different approach with her than we did with K.  Outlets?  K never had any interest.  Cora is AMAZED by them (don't worry - they are all covered).  The book cases in the sitting room?  K never cared.  Cora has already tried to climb them!  Cora has even made it up a step and grabbed hold of the gates - insane!  I usually revert to the jumperoo or jail, but JT is a rock star mom and tries to give Koda as much freedom as possible.  I joked tonight that I was going to start calling her Vishali - the female version of "the Destroyer." :-)

So there you have it - the craziest September EVER in the books.  2 weddings in two different states (both of which we were in), a 50K, a brewery tour of Asheville, a trip to Colorado, a girls weekend in Georgia for JT, and a vasectomy for this guy - WHEW!  The good news - shy of a 24 hour day in Phoenix in October, we are basically sedentary in the QC.  That's good, because Team Taylor needs it at this point. :-)

That's all the news that's fit to print.  Chat with you in a month!

Love,

Sam and Jenny