Trip to Wichita to see the fam

It's been a LONG time since we've seen your grandpa and grandma, so we packed up the trusty Ford Escape and got on the highway for the 7 hour trip. You did GREAT, and I hope it's a sign that you like to travel. We left on a Thursday and came back on a Monday, so we were able to spend 3 solid days with your Grandpa, Grandma, Aunt Kim, Uncle Phil and your cousins Kaitlyn and Olivia.

You warmed up to everyone pretty quickly and the trip went by too fast. Here are some of the highlights, or otherwise uninteresting events of the trip:
-you sat up all by yourself for the first time! we discovered this in the middle of the night when you were upright in the crib when you were supposed to be sleeping.
-we watched at least one NBA playoff game - the boys all love basketball but these days we watch more than we play
-grandpa's back was feeling pretty good, or at least better than it has been
-we saw your Great Grandpa and Great Grandma, as well as your Great Aunt Tammy and 2nd cousins Amanda, Katrina and Bethany - all at Grandma and Grandpa's new home
-you are on the cusp of starting to crawl
-you pulled yourself up to the standing position for .5 seconds one time during the trip while I was watching you
-the night before we came back, I only got 4 hours of sleep - weird
-we got Kim and Phil's webcam going
-we got a webcam for Grandma and Grandpa; coupled with their high speed internet access that they are getting this coming Friday, we will be able to keep them up to date with your growing up
-we watched a couple of movies on the trip there and back
-Kaitlyn and Olivia are a LOT of fun and have grown up quite a bit
-Kaitlyn busted out with a phrase from a popular song one night "You've got to move it, move it", and we all got a great laugh.
-your cousins couldn't get enough of you, kissing you and hugging you... and you loved it.

We had a great time and everyone was sad to see the trip end. We had a last meal at the Cracker Barrell restaurant in Park City with your Grandpa and Grandma and you had a fun time playing in your momma's water - dipping your hands in until they got too cold then you'd push the glass away, then you'd grab for the glass again...over and over. It was hilarious. Your momma loves you!
And so do I! Good night.
~Dad

April Showers Bring May...Showers?

May has started off really wet. The city of Conway got hit pretty hard by rain last week. It didn't cause any serious damage that I have heard, but it did create a stir amongst the citizens who had to walk in drain water downtown because the drainage systems are antiquated. I worked from home that day, so I never left the house during the rains. Lucky me. Actually, I was watching you while working. You were sick all last week and still are now as we're heading into this week. Kendra took you in to see Dr. Champlin and he put you on steroids again. They're not having much affect. We have seen improvement now that we've started the cool mist treatments several times each day. Kendra put the humidifier in your room tonight for the first time, so we'll see how that works out. Hopefully you'll be all better tomorrow.


We made plans today to go see your grandma and grandpa Regehr and Aunt Kim, Uncle Phil and your cousins Kaitlyn and Olivia. We're going May 18 - 22. Then we'll be gifted with the welcome visit of your Nana & Pepere and Auntie Terri over Memorial Day week. I love being with family, and it's been TOO long since we've seen anyone in person.

I talked to mom & dad today and they're planning on having broadband internet access by the time we go visit them. I have been hoping for this for years now, so I'm really excited to see them doing this. This means that we'll finally be able to do live video chats with them, just like we already do with Kendra's parents. This will certainly take some of the pain away that distance causes. I'm really happy to be getting it. I also think it will encourage dad and mom to get on the internet more often, if nothing else to see pictures and video footage of you.

I'm carpooling to Little Rock tomorrow with my long time friend and colleague Tim Pickard. I really wish we worked together. We almost had it worked out where we'd be doing our jobs side by side, but then came the curve ball. I have a really good position, and Tim is stuck wanting to join me but not able to. It makes me sad and angry, but mostly sad. These days I save my emotion (anger) for the battles that are truly the most important. Mostly I find my focus shifting from work oriented thoughts to family.

The NBA playoffs have reached round 2, and Phoenix overcame bad breaks to win out over the Lakers to continue on. Ha! Kobe Bryant is a punk; Steve Nash is 2 time MVP (2 consecutive years). I want to see the Suns do well, and the Nets.

All right, I'm signing off to go get some shut eye. I love you man! I am just crazy about you. :)
~Dad