Things I Hope My Kids Will Not Do(in the future)

1. Write a book about growing up with their whacked out therapist dad or quote me like this guy to the whole world

2. Backlash from the kids about being bi-racial

3. Have a sense of entitlement

4. Waste resources

5. Hate each other beyond normal sibling rivalries/relationships
  

Pain cont. . .

Babydaddy had previously written about the pain that he endures at night from Babygirl.

Lately the antics have continued to get Babygirl to brush her teeth.  Often times Babydaddy has had to "call" our one of our family's many dentist friends re: the conflict we were having at home, and how "Doctor Jeff" would be disappointed to hear that Babygirl isn't brushing her teeth, or something to that effect.

During a moment of genius, Babygirl was asked if she wanted to brush her teeth upside down, which of course she said yes(Dad's when all else fails, anything upside is sure to be a winner. Like going to bed upside down.  Haven't tried eating veggies upside down, but I'm sure it's possible, astronauts do it right?).  Babygirl's joy for upside down teeth brushing was short lived, but it's still one of the many options that get offered.

Sometime we just have to sing the brush your teeth song from daycare to get her to brush.  Sometimes Babygirl wants to be collaborative and asks that Babydaddy and her both hold the handle and brush her teeth together.  Sometime they just agree to independently brush their own teeth at the same time.

Yesterday, Babygirl got a new Dora toothbrush, which has turned into a novelty item in the house.  At least oral hygiene is on her mind, but it hasn't made that much of a difference.


Hangin' out poolside!

Generation X Dad?

Babydaddy falls into the category of not really being a true Generation X-er, but definitely missed that cut off.  Is he a child of the 80's or 90's.  Of course more of his formative years were a part of the 90's, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have the appreciation of all things 80's, especially from '85 and beyond.

This article, Gen-X Parents "R" Us, is a comprehensive look at how marketers/ad companies have targeted the Gen X parents.  Some of it was definitely things Babydaddy could related to, and yes he thinks it's fairly normal that each generation tries to compensate for things that were unfulfilled or wrong that their parents did.  Of course the tendency is for the next generation to act in the extreme opposite of their own childhood, which creates it's own multi-generational issues.  So what do parents do?

Babydaddy believe in this informed society we live in and where we can analyze and document the changes of times, it's important to find the balance btwn the past and present.  Does babydaddy wish he had a Jordans while growing up, definitely.  Does that mean babyboy needs his Jordans for preschool? NO.  Babydaddy had a mix of handy me downs, and very few "cool" clothes, does that mean that every outfit that Babygirl wears needs to come from HM kids? NO.  As the article states, many in our generation have added simple luxuries into our lives that we believe are non-negotiables, such as premium organic coffee, furniture from Crate and Barrel, Coach purse, Ed Hardy t-shirts, smartphones w/data plans, etc., and the hope is that as parents various innocuous luxury items will be a part of the child rearing life.  Such as child and parent will always resort back to Nickelodeon as the goto channel for entertainment, or New Balance will be the default shoe of choice due to comfort, Sesame characters, or your child will be a member of Red Sox Nation.

Babydaddy and Babymama are equally guilty of our fair share of luxury items, basic cable w/HD+ DVR, granite counter tops, etc.  At the same time Babydaddy feels that btwn Babymama and him,  they can find the balance where Babygirl and Babyboy aren't totally enslaved to Madison Ave and corporate branding, and overly indulging in capitalism.

Have any parents noticed various consumer traps they've fallen into.  Has anyone decided to buy a Toyota Sienna cuz the hipster parents on the commercials make it look acceptable?

one of Babydaddy's fav images/toys of the 80's

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.

eh, father's day

Happy belated Father's Day to all. Hopefully ya'lls were better than Babydaddy's. It was only 3 months ago, for Babydaddy's bday he was all sick and laid up in bed.

This time around Babydaddy was sick once again. This time it was serious, and required trip to ER. Babydaddy had pneumonia. Actually 2nd time in his young life, boo!

To make matters worse, Babygirl was sick all wknd long. Nothing worse that being sick and taking care of a sick child.

Babymama is truly the champ and a hero in the house, holding down the household while chasing 2 kids all by herself, while Babydaddy was recuperating. God bless that Babymama.


ma familia!