Randomness

There is no rhyme or reason to this video. Kaylie was just being random so I wanted to get some video and maybe show everyone how big she is getting and all the new faces she is making. She cracks us up several times a day and I'm sure this is just the beginning. It's over a minute long so don't click play unless you're in it for the long haul. Happy New Year to everyone!

Stein Family Visitors

The Stein family came to visit (and go to a Sonics v. Celtics game!). We had a great time playing with Kaylin and playing Guitar Hero. Note: Mary was better than Jim on the guitar :) However, the boys were really good. Kaylin watched and will be picking up the guitar soon.

Cousin Russell

Cousin Will

Great Uncle Jim

"Great" Aunt Mary

Christmas Message

We are staying in Seattle this year for Christmas so we just wanted to send out a Christmas greeting to our friends and family. We love you!

Disaster

Yia Yia and Papou gave us this great kit for capturing Kaylin's handprint and footprint and framing them. Unfortunately, we tried to use this kit at the wrong time and disaster ensued. I'll let the narration explain the rest, but Jen does want me to mention that the ink is "non-toxic."

Angel Baby!

Just wanted to share this picture because she looks so darn angelic. We had a great time with Gramma, Grandpa, and Uncle Ben. We are lucky to still have our child as I was concerned she was going to end up hidden under the blanket and out the door to Coeur d'Alene with her grandparents. She's still doing a great job sleeping (4 hours straight last night!) and even takes a bottle once a day without any problem. She's not just a pretty face, ladies and gentlemen. She must be headed to an elite college with their 5th National NAIA Championship in 6 years. Go Saints!

Black Power

Last night Gramma and Grandpa Stein came in from Coeur d'Alene to celebrate a mini-Christmas. We were all so excited to see them. We stayed in and had a great dinner and watched Tom Brokaw's "1968" special on one of the most tumultuous and influential years in US history. I strongly recommend seeing this as it is well done and fascinating, especially if, like our parents, you lived through it. Surprisingly, Kaylin's favorite part was the segment about Black Power and the scenes of Tommie Smith and John Carlos holding their salute at the 1968 Olympics. We understand she doesn't quite know what color she is yet, as her rods and cones are still maturing in her fovea, but we are also very proud of her for showing solidarity with her African-American brothers and sisters. Being brilliant as she is, she picked up their salute quickly, so we thought we'd put the video up. Also included is a picture of Kaylin with Gramma and her new blanket which is insanely soft. Finally, check out the links on the left to some of our friends' blogs. The Cassidy's just experienced a terrible ice storm, so our thoughts and prayers are with them. They were very gracious in hosting me one night on the interview trail, and also helped me get out of town just in time to miss this crazy storm in the Midwest.

Gramma and Me

Quote

Had to share this quote that made my mom and I cry we laughed so hard.... If it doesn't make you laugh, you're not delirious from lack of sleep!

"Having a baby is like going to sleep in your own bed and waking up in Zimbabwe."

~ Quote from the book, The Happiest Baby on the Block

Scorpio v. Scorpion

Scorpio

Scorpion

Well, the ophtho interview trail is finally over, and I'm definitely ready to spend some extended quality time with the girls. There was a recent unfortunate incident, however, that I feel compelled to report. On this last trip I visited Kaylin's godfather, Aaron, in Omaha. He was planning on going to dinner with myself and another couple when he was called away for an urgent vitrectomy. He then insisted that I take his money ($40) to pay for myself and two others. As if anyone would really do this. So I left the money hidden in a magazine. As many know, Aaron's nickname is Scorpion, basically because he is sneaky and will sting you when you least expect it.

When I came back through Omaha on my way home to Seattle, Aaron gave me a card addressed to Kaylin. "Oh, how nice!" I thought foolishly. Upon getting home and reading the card to Kaylin, Jen and I realized that Aaron had used his beautiful new goddaughter in a diabolical plot to smuggle dirty money into our serene and untainted Seattle home. To make a comparison, Kaylin is a Scorpio, a very gentle and kind person much like her Grandpa Larry and her Auntie Malika. These pictures show the contrast between a Scorpio and a Scorpion. Please consider this a public service announcement. Aaron, when we asked you to be godfather we meant in the religious sense, not the Michael Corleone sense. Using our daughter to launder cash... tsk, tsk, tsk. Luckily, Kaylin has already informed us that this money will be going to a charity which helps underserved retina fellows nationwide.

That's a Wrap!

We finally figured out how to sleep! Dad's coming home tonight so I have been working hard to figure out how to get her to sleep in her crib. I read a great and highly recommended book (seriously. Recommended by EVERYONE!) called, The Happiest Baby on The Block. Anyway, we were trying to master the swaddle. She is one tough cookie and would work her way out of it within an hour. So we purchased a velcro wrap thing at Target, which also didn't seem to work. She didn't like it much. We tried a blanket with the velcro wrapped around it and WHALA! Sleep. We also put a hat on to keep her warm. Now we can sleep for hours and wake to eat and then go right back to sleep. Hopefully, we'll keep it up with dad back. Grandma, Grandpa, and Uncle Ben are coming for a visit this weekend to celebrate Christmas. We're looking forward to it. We'll have more pictures soon!

Stealing Bases

As many of you know, I've been on the residency interview trail lately. It can be exhausting, but is also interesting and I've met some great people that I hopefully match with. The other night, due to a Travelocity oversight, I had to drive a rental car from Atlanta to Louisville through the night, arriving in time to shave, shower, change into my suit, and go to the interview. Not my favorite day ever. The best was when I stopped into a gas station in Bowling Green, Kentucky for gas and some coffee. It was 4am, my cell phone and iPod were dead, the only radio station I could get (on six different frequencies) was a discussion of why we shouldn't be advertising our existence to aliens, and I was still about an hour and a half from Louisville. The guy at the counter met every stereotype of someone from rural Kentucky: lack of grooming, minimal amount of teeth, maximal amount of mullet, and questionable aroma. He looked at me and said in his twang, "Man, you look like [expletive]." And he was right on.

But the worst part was missing this cute little girl and her momma. It seems like she grew so much in just five days! Since I have to leave again tomorrow I wanted to teach her some signals to tell Mom, Papou and Yia Yia what she wanted. I used base stealing signals that I've learned from watching baseball, so they're a bit elaborate. This one in the video is the signal for, "I'm mildly comfortable but I'd prefer a diaper change when you have time." Hope you enjoy.

Blue Steel

Well, we finally did it. The elusive "Blue Steel" face has been captured on camera! This is Gus again, but for the rest of the time you can just assume that if an incredible picture is published that I probably took it and am writing about it. As you can see, Kaylin is turning right in the photo, but hopefully I'll be able to teach her to turn left someday. We have more to post, including a video of her giving base stealing signals that I taught her, but right now I'm being pressured to post this by Kaylin's mom. The second picture is of Kaylin enjoying a morning conversation on 'Skype' with Theia Joanna (her middlenamesake who is in Athens, Greece). They discussed politics, religion, and pop culture, but now Jo wants to go so she's insisting I post the photo. Plus, Kaylin has informed us it's time for her next poop. More to come. Stay tuned.

NFL Sunday

Since dad is away we could really get into the Viking spirit. Just an FYI- they have been 3-0 since she was born!

Thanks, Auntie Amber!

Amber sent this for me before I was born! She knew what a princess I would be!

Yia Yia and Papou

Jen's mom and dad (yia yia and papou(Greek for grandma and grandpa)) are here for a 10 day visit while Gus is on tour with all his interviews.