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.

Katy Perry too sexy for Sesame Street

Today's post is brought to you by the letters OMG.

So Katy Perry decided to make her guest appearance not only with Elmo, but two of her close friends, which apparently will get you booted off Sesame Street.

According to news reports, parents of the longtime children's show have complained to the network, PBS, that Katy's outfit was a little much for their toddlers' eyes. In a statement, the show said that:

...In light of the feedback we've received on the Katy Perry music video which was released on You Tube only, we have decided we will not air the segment on the television broadcast of Sesame Street, which is aimed at preschoolers...

According to the PBS standards guidebook, "Morbid or sensational details, or material that is gratuitously offensive to general taste or manners (e.g., extreme violence, racial epithets, strong language, nudity, sexism), should not be included unless it is necessary to an understanding of the matter at hand."

(It also says that the station will not subject people to "technical trickery," which could mean that Katy's bosom buddies were altered. But if you've seen her California Gurls video, you know that not to be the case. Anyway, I digress.)

Katy is taking it all in stride, even calling out "Tag you're it, Elmo" on Twitter. So tell me your thoughts after viewing the video:

Making sense

"Perhaps God tires of calling

the aged to His fold,

So He picks a rosebud

before it can grow old ..."

I don't understand a lot of things in this world. The origins of the universe. All 9,833 sections of the Internal Revenue Code. How to calculate a quarterback's Passer Rating.

Most of the things I don't understand, someone can sit me down and teach me. Or at least have some semblance of an explanation. Whether I can understand said explanation is a different story, but the explanation is more than likely reasonable, something the semi-educated person can grasp.

I don't understand the death of a child.

People can stop many things in this world. People can explain many problems. People can heal many illnesses. When a child passes, people cannot do any of those things. Cannot stop grieving. Cannot explain sorrow. Cannot heal broken hearts. Only time can do those things. And in this saddest of circumstances, time is against us.

We want time to pass more quickly: to begin our healing, end our grieving, explain our sorrow. Sadly, it doesn't. Everything moves in slow motion; every second feels like an hour, every hour a day, and so on.

All we can do is sit and wait for time to catch up to us, a race that can't be won.

When an adult dies, there's the expectation that person lived their life -- played their first tee ball game, had their first kiss, went on their first date, owned their first car, had their first job. That person had experiences that can be reflected upon. When a child dies, there are only what-ifs.

We can think about the joy children bring us, the beauty that pours out of them. We can think of all of the happiness they filled the world with in their short time here. We can tell stories and show pictures and laugh and cry and laugh some more.

But then there's the silence. Then, the tears. Lather, rinse, repeat.

You might be able to give me reasons for why a child dies, but you can't ever explain it. It's one of those things in this world I will never fully understand.

"...So when a little child departs,

we who are left behind

Must realize God loves children --

Angels are hard to find."

Duke Blue Devils 2010 NCAA Champions: A Tribute

In honor of the Duke Blue Devils rightfully securing their place atop the college basketball landscape, I bring you the littlest Blue Devil in one of her finest moments.

Don't hate. Appreciate. 2010 NCAA National Champion Duke Blue Devils. Has a nice ring to it.

Dora's forgotten twin

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

Welcome to central North Carolina, home of the Wyndham Championship, the ACC Championship, some damn good barbecue and snow. Yup, good, old-fashioned snow.

When the dopes fools weathermen said earlier this week that we could expect an inch to three inches of snow Friday night, we all laughed. Then, on Friday morning, the dopes fools weathermen changed that prediction to four to six inches. We cackled. At noon, the dopes fools weathermen said six to 12 inches could fall on the Piedmont Triad. I howled.

Well, here comes the snow. And it's coming hard. The more and more I watch it, the more and more I believe we could get a good couple of inches. Do I believe we're headed for a half-foot? Heck no.

All I hope is that it sticks around until the morning so that Kaitlyn really gets to enjoy it. Otherwise, it's just going to be a big gloppy mess, which will take the fun out of this first snowfall of the season.

A quick repreieve from the Diegosaurus and Doradactyl

She looks like such an angel sleeping on the couch, doesn't she? I mean, Kaitlyn's dreaming of sugarplums and fairies and all that crap while I'm catching my breath after a terrible tantrum that just passed through the house.

By the way, what kid dreams of sugarplums nowadays? I think Kaitlyn is probably dreaming of black and white cookies. Or ice cream sundaes. Yes, definitely ice cream sundaes.

The tantrum was the result of another round of the fun game that we like to call, "Put on Dora, Boots and Diego or I'm going to scream my friggin' head off and cause one of the neighbors to call child services." (What? You haven't played that game before? Oh, it's a hoot, especially when the sheriff's deputies arrive at the front door.)

Today we started the game after coming back from the neighbor's house. It was about time to take a nap and, well, Kaitlyn decided to play "Put on Dora, Boots and Diego or I'm going to scream my friggin' head off and cause one of the neighbors to call child services."

So now it's Mommy and Daddy's turn. There are really three options, two of which cause Mommy and Daddy to lose the game. First, we could always put on Dora or Diego, which means we lose the game because 1) we just allowed Mr. Toshiba to play babysitter, and 2) Kaitlyn wouldn't fall asleep while watching the show, which just postpones the game. Sort of like a dinner break in the middle of Monopoly.

Second, we could opt to divert her attention to another activity, usually coloring, taking a walk or playing with Little People (not actual little people, because that would just be too cool). Unfortunately, Kaitlyn now understands that she can do these things while watching Dora or Diego, which has rendered the divertion tactic as useless.

Third (and this is where the heart of "Put on Dora, Boots and Diego or I'm going to scream my friggin' head off and cause one of the neighbors to call child services" comes from), we could tell her no and let the fit hit the shan. In order to "win" the game after taking this route, Mommy and Daddy must calm Kaitlyn down before, as the name of the game implies, one of the neighbors calls child services.

Luckily, Mommy and Daddy have never lost this game, even though it has been really, really close at times. The other night, Kaitlyn almost won the game:

Celebrity collateral in the Nick Jr.-Disney turf war

As I've mentioned earlier, Nick Jr. has been slowly encroaching on my Disney Girl. Michelle and I (with some help from Nana and Pop-Pop this past week) have attempted to sway her to righteousness. But the allure of Gabba, Diego and Ming-Ming is too much to turn Kaitlyn's attention for too long.

And then there's Dora. Oh, you sneaky, sneaky Latina explorer. You've gained a foothold into my daughter's heart that is only matched by Tinker Bell. But Tink doesn't have the pop culture collateral that Dora can pull.

Even the NBA superstars are jumping off the Disney bandwagon and getting into the Nick Jr. Check out first overall draft pick Blake Griffin oozing all things Dora:



What's next? Will Super Bowl MVPs start chanting "Universal Studios" instead of "Disney World"?

And on a side note, in an attempt to capitalize on Dora's popularity, the powers-that-be at Nickelodeon and Mattel are whoring her out for your children's money updating her image, creating a 'tween Dora. What's next, I ask you?

Cognitive Development, aka "Future Blue Devil Alert"

In honor of the start of college basketball season, we here at Growing Up Kaitlyn would like to introduce you to the future of the Duke Blue Devils.

When Kaitlyn was very, very small (which regular readers know wasn't for very long), Kaitlyn received what fast became her favorite book. Hello Blue Devil has been a regular in our book rotation since the early days and, for every Duke fan, it should be in theirs, too.

Even as I make this post, Kaitlyn is sitting next to me, pointing to the image of the book on the computer screen and saying "Devil right there." God love her.

And this being a Cognitive Development post, you know I'm about to show off some of that Kaitlyn brain power. The symmetry is perfect, since we're talk about one of the top institutions in the world and one of the smartest 22-month-olds in the universe.

Cognitive Development, aka "Know Your Animals, Part II"

Kaitlyn: The Gabba-Grooming Mash-Up

We all know about the Gabba Coma thanks to Kaitlyn. We all know how to properly take care of ourselves thanks to her grooming tips.

But have you ever thought of combining the two? Of course you haven't. But have no fear, this is why we keep Kaitlyn around.

Bottles are, like, so last year

There are always those moments when you realize that your kid is growing up. Hence, Growing Up Kaitlyn. I know, awesome name, right?

Anywho, it's been one of those weeks around the house where those moments are coming fast and furious. I don't know which of these moments really hits home more: The fact that Kaitlyn tells us when she's got to drop the deuce, or when she's trading in sippy cups for actual cups.

And since watching Kaitlyn sit on the baby toilet doesn't make for great viewing, here's the alternative:

I know how she feels

I was going to take a day off after yesterday's events. I don't think anyone would argue.

However, while watching some TV at the end of the day, I came across this ad. Too funny.

Grooming Tips from Kaitlyn, Part 2

Kaitlyn's Weekend Update 10/18

We're only halfway through, but this is shaping up to be a very busy weekend for lil' ol' Kaitlyn.

Originally, Kaitlyn was supposed to be spending some Q.T. with YaYa and Pop-pop this weekend. First, there was a wedding down in Myrtle Beach (congrats to Sarah and Stan), but we had to pass on actually attending. Then, Kaitlyn was going to be at the in-laws because Michelle and I were going to run in the Cannonball, a 5k race in Greensboro on Saturday morning.

Plans changed again. I decided not to run, but was going to bring Kaitlyn and root on Mommy as she crossed the finish line. Well, Mommy bailed and didn't race. She's already been put on notice that the Gobbler is in a month and she will be running.

We did wind up heading over to Country Park, however, to cheer on some of our friends who were running the half-marathon. Crazy people. Totally awesome, but crazy.

After a little breakfast with half of the crazy people and a little nappy-nap for Kaitlyn, we headed over to J. Razz and Tazz Farm for Lily's first birthday party. It was a great time, with a corn maze, tractor ride and, above all else, great friends.

Don't Upset YaYa

Apparently, I've created a stir.

You see, my mother-in-law took exception to one of my blog posts. In my defense, it wasn't meant as a pot-shot; I thought it was a pretty funny anecdote. She didn't see it that way.

So, to make it up to YaYa and show her how much I appreciate her, here is a list of things that make my mother-in-law special. Note: This is not an all-encompassing list, as my mother-in-law does so many things so well that they can't all be listed in this short space.

1. She is a great artist.
2. She makes a mean meatloaf, among the many home-cooked meals that she does wonderfully.
3. She's always there to provide support to my beautiful, smart, funny (did I mention beautiful? You know where she gets it, YaYa) and considerate wife.
4. She hosts great parties.
5. She's always willing to help with Kaitlyn.
6. She's a fashionista. Blue pants and a white shirt will never go out of style in my book.  
7. She might not hit the ball 300 yards, but she's fun to play golf with.
8. She lets the guys watch football each Sunday and doesn't complain, no matter how loud they yell at the television when the Jets give up a touchdown.

So thank you, YaYa, for all you do. And so others don't make the same mistake I have so egregiously made, I provide you with this little lesson:

Grooming Tips from Kaitlyn, Part 1

Bubbles are a cure-all

Thanks to everyone who's been asking about Kaitlyn's health. She's been sick, on and off, for the last few weeks, but she's doing better and is even back in daycare part time.

But on Tuesday we had a little daddy-daughter downtime and, luckily, the weather was awesome. So we went on a little walk and then came back to the house for a little bubble time. If there's anything that cures all ills in children, it just might be bubbles.

Kaitlyn loves her some bubbles. Hell, even I love doing it with her. But Kaitlyn, she loves bubbles. Loves blowing them. Loves chasing them. Hell, she even loves eating them. The video explains that:

Manny is more Handy than we thought

We're very fortunate that Kaitlyn has never been a picky eater. She's no Takeru Kobayashi, but given time she will eat you out of house and home.

So some days we have to give a little encouragement to keep the feeding process moving. Sometimes it's as simple as bribing her with treats, other times we have to be a bit more stern. Just kidding, we save that for people who really deserve it.

This time, though, we had to bring in the big guns. So while daddy was off winning the long drive competition during a United Way captain's choice tournament, mommy was using her uber-smarts to get Kaitlyn to have lunch:

It could also stand for "A Happy Aqua Date"

Thursday night was Michelle's big night. For months, her and her co-organizer Laura Mrosla had been planning, organizing and, finally, preparing for AHAD, or Adolescent Health Advocacy Day. You can read more about the actual project here.

Basically, this is big for Michelle and her program because it brings local elected officials, public health advocates and others to one big room and provides a showcase for her kids. She puts a lot of work into it and she does good work. And yes, I would have said that even if she didn't read this blog (but I know where my bread is buttered).

So anywho, Kaitlyn and I decided to head on down to where the event was held a show support for mommy. Now, I knew Kaitlyn wouldn't sit still, but I figured she'd give a "Yea Mommy" shout-out when Michelle was announced.

However, Kaitlyn had other ideas, as you will see: