The Famous Amys traveling band

On Saturday night we gassed up the Caddy and made a trip out to Waynesville for our good friends Chad and Amanda’s wedding. Their event was very intimate, about 30 people, and overlooked the Great Smokies in all their glory. It was simple, elegant and sweet - And we felt blessed to be able to share their special day with them.

Not only was it wonderful to celebrate the new Mr. & Mrs. Muri, but it was the first time that just Chris, Taylor and I had ventured away from home. Life has been very hectic since Taylor has arrived, and with Chris logging about 60 hours each week at work, last night’s wedding was a great break from our monotonous grind. Just the ride out there was fun. I miss taking road trips with my husband. It brought me back to college days - Driving from Iowa City to the farm or up to Wisconsin. Blaring the music, rehashing memories and having uninterrupted conversations. It was nice to relive that for our 45-minute drive to the wedding yesterday - But with the music at a reasonable level, as not to wake the baby. Man. We’re getting old.

And since Chris ironed his shirt on Friday night, I was able to spend most of the day coordinating Taylor and my outfits to match. Because I had the time, because I knew we would get a picture and because I wanted us to look like one of those cute, matching families in the magazines. And since Chris only had about three minutes to change and shower between work and leaving, he was unaware that we looked like a family band until we got to the wedding. And every time someone took our picture and commented about us matching, he looked at me like, Seriously. I’m so making you listen to sports talk radio the whole ride home.

Do these pants make me look fat?

I think these pants are starting to cut-off circulation. Time to upgrade to the six-month clothes. Or invest in some baby-spanks.

Rock the casbah

We have a new favorite toy. The Baby Einstein mini-music thingy. It lights up. It plays catchy tunes. It makes Taylor's frown turn upside down, and allows for Mommy to watch her addictive reality programs. I would feel guilty for watching these shows while pacifying my child with a music box, but I do feel that Jon & Kate plus 8 teaches me valuable lessons for mommy-hood.

Three months old

Happy quarter-year birthday, Taylor-tot! Our baby-cakes has grown so much this past month, both in character and in size. She’s very alert and loves playing with her rattles and noise-makers. And she’s definitely getting bigger. The polite descriptions would be well-fed and curvaceous, but our “little” girl is already busting-out of her three-month outfits.

She is rapidly developing her personality and letting us know her likes and dislikes. She likes being outside and stretching out on the floor. She dislikes having the hiccups and anything that happens between the hours of seven and eight at night. Taylor is definitely a morning person. She doesn’t cry when she wakes up in the morning, she just lays in her crib and shrieks and coos to herself. And when I finally come in and she sees me for the first time, she’ll crack a huge smile and start swinging her arms and kicking her feet. And it feels like someone injected my veins with glitter.

She’s found her hands. She’ll slobber all over her fists and gag when she sticks her fingers too far into her mouth. She’s also grabbing for thing and has quite the kung-fu grip. I’ve given up wearing long earrings and necklaces, and there have been many battles over my hair while leaning over her on the changing table.

And now that Taylor is grabbing at things and rolling over, I now have THE FEAR. The fear of her lodging something in her mouth. The fear of her rolling over and suffocating. The fear that wakes me out of a dead sleep and finds me staring at the video monitor, waking up Chris because she’s NOT MOVING. To which he’ll reply, Because she’s sleeping. And then I’ll wait for him to fall back asleep before I creep out of bed, sneak into her room and stare at her in her crib until I’m convinced that, Yes, she’s breathing. And I realize how ridiculous this is, and when I ask other mothers how long the fear will last, they give me a funny look and say, FOREVER.

Kanga and Roo

Starting when Taylor was one week old, a good way to soothe her was to put her in the baby-sling and wear her around. It was pretty obvious why she liked it - She was snug and tight against my body, just like she had been for the nine months I had her inside my belly. I also enjoyed it - She wasn’t screaming, we were mobile and my hands were free. It was great for shopping, taking Ruby out and getting chores done around the house.

The sling also very useful for when we went downtown or to an event, as strangers weren’t tempted to reach in and touch her with their grubby hands. I’m not a total germ-a-phobe, but now that Taylor can stick her whole hand in her mouth, I’m a bit cautious of who’s touching her and where their hands may have been. I’ve also been watching Good Morning America every morning, and the Health segments will scare the crap out of you. Word to the wise, NEVER put the actual lemon or lime into your beverage, just squeeze the juice out.

Well, as Taylor-tot became more and more full-figured, the sling became a little too snug. I didn’t want to give up being a marsupial-mom, so we transitioned to the Baby Bjorn. At first we tried it with Taylor facing inward, and she was not having it. She was all, Um, Hello. I already see your chest for a good chunk of the day. So as soon as her neck was a bit stronger, we flipped her around in the Bjorn so she’s facing outward. And not only does she now LOVE it, she look's pretty freakin' cute in it too.

Roly Poly

Taylor and I had a fabulous Fourth in Birmingham. After seven hours, three stops, four over-the-shoulder pacifier replacements and two melt-downs, we arrived at Libba and Dirk’s house relatively unscathed from the journey. And then Mommy had a margarita. My first post-pregnancy tequila, and it was all I could do to not eat the glass when I was finished.

It was so lovely to spend time with my family. I know I’m biased, but I think we’re about as fun as a family can be. Definitely the loudest. We always talk all over each other, and whoever has the loudest voice, which is usually the person who has had the most wine, will win the floor. And while Taylor has already been blessed with the Blackwell earlobes, I also hope she has inherited our ability to speak over everyone else in the room.

My sweet Taylor-tot also picked up a new trick while we were in the Ham. During a short break from wrapping my parents around her finger, she learned how to roll over. And just my luck, I was in the back room pumping when she did it for the very first time. Libba came in post-roll with a guilty look on her face, ashamed to tell me the news because she knew I’d freak that I missed it. But then Taylor rolled over again. And again. And after the long drive home yesterday, she showed her new trick to Chris. And this morning we almost expected her to roll into our room and ask to borrow the car. Our girl’s getting so big.

And the kitchen sink

Taylor and I are gearing up for a road-trip to Birmingham for the Fourth. My parents are trekking down from Iowa, and we are all staying with my sister and Dirk. Ah, Dirk. I hope you’re ready for this. Chris has to work all weekend, of course. After eight years, I’m finally coming to grips with the fact that golf pros ALWAYS have to work on holidays and events where normal people have off. Because when normal people don’t work, they golf. And because the Fourth of July ranks second to Christmas for the Young family, I am so, so happy to be able to spend the holiday with my parents and Libba. I only wish we could transport Will in from Colorado, flip over a cattle tank and set off fireworks via farm-style. Maybe next year.

In the event of making the drive and three-night stay away from home with Taylor for the first time, I started making lists of all of the gear I’ll have to bring for her. And because I don’t know what’s a necessity and what’s a convenience, there are about 500 things on the list. The stroller, the bouncy chair, the bouncy-chair attachment, the Boppy, the Pack-n-Play, blankets, diapers, wipes, rattles, lullaby cds, eight pacifiers, 10 outfits. You get the idea. I’ve pretty much filled the car already, with only a toothbrush and underwear for me. Isn't it amazing how much stuff is required for someone who weighs less than 15 pounds? I know I’m going to forget some very important Taylor-thing, but at least I’ll have five extra lap-pads just in case.

And even though we’re not leaving until Thursday morning, I want to get everything done today because Chris is getting back in town from playing in a tournament in Myrtle Beach. He’s only been gone since Sunday, but we’ve really missed him. And I’m pretty sure that when we hear the beep from his car-lock tonight, Ruby, Taylor and I are going to be waiting at the door, tackle him to the ground and cover him in kisses.