I Want to Remember

"I do, like many of you, appreciate the comforts of every day routine -- the security of the familiar, the tranquility of repetition. But in the spirit of commemoration, thereby those important events of the past usually associated with someone's death or the end of some awful bloody struggle, a celebration of a nice holiday, I thought we could (take) some time out of our daily lives to sit down and have a little chat." 

-V, V for Vendetta

Stepping back into the Blogosphere is a little unsettling. I mean, I'm not really stepping back in, since I still blog. I just do it for a salary now. But over the last five-plus months, I've neglected my baby here. I've been so busy worrying about work that I forgot what I love. I know; heavy stuff, right?

About a week ago I decided to get back into the ring with my baby, Growing Up Kaitlyn. But I really didn't know how to do it. You see, after you make promises and don't keep them, it's not easy to swallow that pill and come back. It's easier just to let the ball drop and not pick it back up.

Problem is, that would work if I didn't have the most perfect reminder of why I started this in the first place staring at me each and every day. With that, I knew it was time to get back into the game.

And so here I am, to go through (again) the hopes, the fears, the dreams, the snot and the frustration that is fatherhood. Sometimes it's all rolled into one. Sometimes, it trickles out. Much like the snot. One minute, you're wondering where all the time went. Like, say, the last five and a half months.

The next, you're stuck in a moment that will never seem to go away. Like when your daughter asks you to dance with her Cinderella Barbie to "Teenage Dream" sung by the cast of Glee. Not that that's ever happened or anything.



I never appreciated those moments more than when I was writing Growing Up Kaitlyn. Because each moment is its own story, something that should be shared and experienced and remembered. But if we're just going moment to moment without taking them in -- or, even worse, without the ability to remember them because they are moving by so quickly -- then we are lost.

I don't want to be lost anymore. I want to remember.

Back to our regularly scheduled program

Sometimes it takes a little longer than expected for the batteries to recharge. After finishing up NaBloPoMo, I promised some days off to myself. Well ...

A couple days turned into a week. A week turned into a couple more weeks. For more than a month I've stood idly by as my daughter's pretty little face has stared at everyone, perpetually asking the question that everyone's been asking of me: Have You Seen Me Lately?

Well, I'm here to tell you we're all back and we're not going away. Granted, we haven't really gone anywhere. And by "we" I really mean "me" since Michelle doesn't write, save for those special occasions.

So don't worry anyone -- Growing Up Kaitlyn is here to stay.

Have You Seen Me Lately?

Miss me? Or more importantly, miss the updates about Kaitlyn? The past week offered a much deserved hiatus from blogging, since last month pretty much wiped the creative out of my juices. Otherwise I would have just posted juices, and no one wants that. That's how you ended up with nuggets like this and this. Not my best work, I must say.

Anywho, here's the scoop from the past week:

• Kaitlyn likes to demand things now, as in "I want (enter any object of desire here)" or "I need (enter any object of desire here)." It's like she was a member of The Hills.
• Michelle and I never take the camera out anymore since we've got iPhones. Michelle is now wishing that she got the 3GS so she could shoot video of all the fun things she complains about missing.
• When it comes to the kiddie potty, Kaitlyn has become a pooping fool. Partly because we're working so hard with her. Partly because she gets three M&Ms for each deuce. I'l only give you one guess as to which has more influence.
• She won't go to sleep on her own. She'll fall asleep on the couch, in the car, in Mommy and Daddy's bed, in Boo's bed, on the floor, on my chest, in the middle of Costco in the cart on a bust Saturday. But in her bed with the lights out and soft music playing? Nah.
• Is it just me or did we skip a season? Near-90 degrees on two days earlier this week and more hot days a-coming. Good thing Kaitlyn doesn't get heat rash or have sensitive skin. Oh wait, Kaitlyn has both of those things. Fun times.

And I'm working on Growing Up Kaitlyn 2.0. Any suggestions on things you'd like to see (features, not content. I determine that), just leave a comment.

Too Lazy for NaBloPoMo, So We Shop Instead

For some reason I decided it was a good idea to go shopping to Old Navy and Kohl's with Michelle just as we both got paychecks. We ended up with another new Spring wardrobe for Kaitlyn. Oh well, it doesn't fit the whole "strange(r)" theme, but we can't win them all now can we?

In Pictures: 'Cause I'm too lazy to write. Deal.

I think the header says it all, but I'll give you some basics: Michelle and I picked up Kaitlyn early from daycare and decided it was a nice day to go to the park. Plus, we feel like we've been neglecting our first child (Boo), so she got some playtime, too.

The name of said park has been omitted so not to have whatever government agency that operates the park go apesh*t and ban dogs and small children from their parks. Don't laugh -- they're rough down here in the South.

It's a nice fall day. What better way to spend it than outside freezing your tail off? I kid, I kid. It was actually warm outside, but Michelle's always cold. Then she's warm five minutes later. Then cold again. Then warm again. I can do this all day.

Kaitlyn loves her some slides. Unfortunately for her, daddy was too busy taking photos to catch her. Don't worry, the old saying is true: Kids really do bounce.

We decided to make use of an empty baseball field since, you know, it's November. Only morons and dorks play baseball in November.

Here she is, our first child Boo. Normally this dog can't be let off the leash, but we decided to give it a go today. The big fence helped in that decision.

Action shot!

(In a poorly-executed Steve Irwin voice) Now the small canine is stalking its prey, but this minx is too smart for her captor. Will she run and hide. Wait! She turns to fight. Crickey!

Breakin' the Law. Breakin' the Law. Okay, time to go.