7/25: We Felt It Too
What we built together—and where we’re headed next.
Now that the dust has settled on our recent conference and we’ve all had a chance to process everything, we just wanted to say: we remember the conversations, we’ve seen the photos you’ve shared, and we’ve read your emails and texts—celebrating not just the ways you’ve already started integrating what you learned, but the experience itself. And that goes for faculty too! Whether it was the SZM, EOI, iPACK, the “Genics,” the LEENA, or even the “Around the World” block (pages all in the works!), learning—and loving it—happened at every level.
The fact that so many of you stayed at the stations during breaks—or lingered long after the day officially ended—asking questions and going deeper, told us we weren’t alone in that feeling. One of our guiding principles has always been: if the thing we needed didn’t exist—whether a website, a conference or a community—we’d have to build it ourselves. One participant told me that after the event, they’ll never go to another workshop at any other conference again. That this—what we built together—was the real value. The real thing. The only thing.
The hope was that we wouldn’t be alone in that vision. Now we know we’re not—resoundingly. This conference was one more reminder: our people are out there, and our community is growing. Exploring the city together, sharing meals and laughs, getting to know so many of you—that’s been the real treasure. Events like this often feel transactional: you come to learn, we spend a few minutes with you, and then you're on to the next thing. But we always envisioned something different. Something that felt like us. Without ego. Open. Generous. Hopefully funny. Definitely uplifting.
Some of you first met us at this conference. Others have known us through workshops we've helped lead with national and international societies. But before all that, many of us—the faculty—first came together at the Texas Ultrasound Extravaganza in 2023. It was the first time we were in the same room, and even then, we knew it was something special. That energy, that sense of possibility—it lit the spark for everything that followed.
Today we’re sharing a photo collage that looks back on the journey—snapshots from those early days, moments from collaborations around the world, and scenes from this very conference. I see old friends and new ones, brought together by a shared love of learning and laughter. It’s a tribute to what we’ve built together: across borders, across time zones, and across every workshop that helped shape this one. For those who’ve been with us from the beginning, and those just joining us now—you’re part of it. The groundwork is laid. Now comes the real fun.
Looking back—as it still brings a smile to my face—I think we got there. And it’s hard to explain just how much it meant to watch this community come to life in real time—but it did. And it felt like home.
As we look ahead, we want to carry that feeling forward and build on it. While this was our first Baby Blocks conference, it certainly won’t be our last. Though we’re still early in the planning stages, we’re imagining something that goes beyond the traditional student–teacher model that dominates our landscape. We want to add a new layer—one rooted in shared growth, curiosity, and collaboration. As we’ve said before: if what we want doesn’t exist, we’ll build it. That’s the essence of the project.
And without giving too much away—what we’re building next might not look like anything you’ve seen before. But it will feel like us.
Were you part of our conference or a recent workshop?
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As the future unfolds, we’re also honoring where we came from.
That’s why we’re sharing something special with you first: our newest page on the caudal block—both landmark-based and ultrasound-guided. There’s no better technique to share at this moment. It’s one that has defined our specialty, remains the most widely used pediatric regional technique around the world, and has evolved—just like we are—from landmark to ultrasound, from tradition to next era. It’s a reminder of how far we’ve come—and how much further we can go.
Special thanks to Tripali for leading the page development — and to Carine, whose video narration brings the whole thing to life.
We felt it too. And we’re just getting started. Together—the kind of quiet collaboration that makes Baby Blocks what it is.
Warmly,
John