Chuck T-eezies!

Babydaddy definitely bought 4 pairs of Converse all stars (hi-tops) before Babygirl was even born, and before Babydaddy knew that the baby was going to be a boy a girl.

Babydaddy bought 2 pairs in turquoise and 2 pairs in black, all in different sizes(they were on sale). Babygirl looked bad ass in the black, and just looked cute in turquoise.

Although hi-tops and laces are impractical for toddlers, Babymama and Babydaddy have a love for the classic Converse All Stars, and own several pairs.

How excited was Babydaddy to see these Dr. Seuss themed Converse? Babydaddy was always aware that you could design your own but have yet to take the financial plunge in designing his own or Babyboy or Babygirl's uniquely designed canvas shoes.

Come fall Babygirl will fit right into her 3rd pair of converse, and by next summer Babyboy will be fitting into his 1st hand-me-down pair of shoes from BigSister.  On a side note, Babydaddy has been jonesing for a new pair of All Stars, any thoughts on what color he should get next?

Pain in the. . .

Not sure when Babydaddy valued the idea of negotiating as a skill that people should have. It comes up frequently at work btwn a child and parent(s), and somewhere Babydaddy decided that Babygirl should also learn the values of negotiating effectively.

In the midst of trying to get Babygirl to practice regular nightly oral hygiene, Babydaddy had the clever proposition of, "You can brush my teeth, if I can brush your teeth." Since then brushing teeth at night has been pretty successful.

Babygirl gets all of her teeth brushed while swallowing minty flouride, and each night Babydaddy gets to endure a 2.5 year old jabbing the back of his mouth and cheeks with a toothbrush. Despite the pain and screams of "oww," Babygirl thinks it's hilarious.

Despite the pains in Babydady's mouth, teeth are getting brushed, and just like all negotiations, one has to give a little to get a little.


1 year ago, Babygirl was able to be talked into standing on Babydaddy's hand, not so much these day. It was a fun trick while it lasted. Still negotiating the terms of bringing the trick back out this summer.

Stall Tactics

Since Babygirl has become a big sister, the good sleeper she is disappeared. Also add that Babymama and Babydaddy made her say goodbye to her binkie, that has also disrupted our good sleeper.

Here are the most common ways Babygirl will try to prolong sleepytime.

"I have to go potty"- How could you deny a toddler who wants to use her potty instead of pissing on the bed or in her pull up? The solution is to let her go to the potty. Sometimes she actually goes, sometimes she forces the smallest puddle of urine to prove her point that she had to go. Often she just sits and stalls.

"My bottom is itchy"- This is often not true, but on occasion she could be sporting a diaper rash, or what not. The solution is usually to apply some cream.

"I'm not feeling well" or "I need a washcloth"- Babygirl was sick a couple of wknds ago, and due to her fever she would often get a wash cloth to just keep her temp down and what not. She also heard from us that she wasn't feeling well. The solution is to usually get a slightly damp wash cloth for her and to reassure that she's okay and just needs to sleep if she's not feeling well.

"I need a song"- Sometimes Babymama and Babydaddy will sing her a song, sometimes babygirl demands a song. The solution is to just sing a song.

"Lay down with me"- Good thing Babygirl just took over the guestbed, and sleeps on the queen size bed. So often times Babymama and Babydaddy will lay down with her to read her stories, or to just help her settle down. The solution is to lay down with her until she's feeling calm.

"I need_____"- The blank can range from "blue eyed baby," "cotton candy bear," "toy story ticket," "magic wand," etc. The solution is to hunt down the random object as fast as possible, which really could be on any 2 levels of our condo.

"I need ice water"- In transitioning Babygirl from the milk bottle at night, we switched to the luxury item of "ice water." Ever since then, Babygirl asks for "ice water" before falling asleep each night. The solution is to fetch ice water. Babygirl may be the highest utilizer of the ice maker in our freezer in the whole family.

"I feel scared"- Not sure where she got this from. Not even sure Babygirl knows what "scared" means, but she knows that it gets a response from adults. The solution is to just respond to her and soothe.

I'm sure there are some more classic stall tactics, but these seem to be the most popular ones.