April 3, 2008.

First and foremost: for those unaware, I'm kind of a big Star Wars nerd. Not as much as I used to be when the prequels were in full swing, but still definitely more than is probably healthy.

Last night our four year old got her first real taste of the GFFA (galaxy far far away, for you who are not hip to the lingo). I've let her see little snippets here and there but this was the first time I sat her down to take in a full movie; my wife and I decided Episode IV was the best place to start.

She was doing great -- asking questions ("this isn't real right?"), pointing out observations about Imperial wardrobe, you know... providing insight and feedback that only a preschooler can -- until she fell asleep shortly after the arrival at the Death Star.

She stayed home from school yesterday and today so I'm blaming it on her being under the weather and not because she found it boring. That would inconceivable. I think.

Maybe tonight we can finish it up, or perhaps this weekend since she's probably going to be doing a lot of laying around.

After almost six months (e:mrdeadlier,41685) I am now officially sterile.

I thought it would be kind of sad or emasculating but it is in fact quite the opposite. The word "liberating" comes to mind.

I love my two kids, and I would love all three if a medical miracle were to occur in the future, but I don't understand why couples willfully choose to be outnumbered in their own home. Forget that.

Man-to-man is difficult enough -- I can't imagine moving to zone coverage.

Chrissy had to run out Friday directly after I came home from work but before she left, in front of Delaney she says "We got you a special surprise for Easter, but you have to wait. Delaney is going to make sure she keeps her secret -- right, Delaney?" Of course Delaney says yes.

An hour later I'm upstairs taking her little sister to the potty and Delaney just voluntarily blurts out "So we got you a chocolate iPod for Easter, isn't that great?" I look at her sideways and ask "Um, is that the secret you're not supposed to tell me?"

"Yes but I really wanted to tell you... Can we go eat it now?"

Priceless memory right there. :)

So our youngest decided to wake up and stroll into our room an hour and a half ago. She then followed that up with an hour-long on again/off again shouting and screaming fest after I put her back in her bed.

She fell asleep (I'm guessing as there's been a long lull now) about a half hour ago.

I wish I could do the same. I'm now laying here unable to get back to sleep. In addition to that I'm freaking ravenous and can't wait for morning to come so I can knock back breakfast.

Tomorrow (today, that is) is going to suck.

Tonight I took our oldest out on a date. I used to do it more often but over the past year or so I've allowed the busy-ness of my life to get in the way. We were way overdue for a little one-on-one time where I could spoil her a bit.

We went to our normal spot, the "B Mall" as she's always called it, and did our normal ritual (merry-go-round, hot pretzel bites, pink frosted cookies at the Coffee Beanery, Disney Store, etc).

So often I feel like the majority of time I spend with her is time spent telling her "no" or "stop" (she is 4 after all). So it felt good tonight to say "yes" to everything she wanted to do. Thankfully she didn't request any outrageous purchases while we were at the Disney Store, so I was able to bat a thousand when it came to wish-granting.

Argh, if only this Blackberry had a camera it would be perfect. :(

Well sorta. Once this is all over I'll be spending about $40/month less than I do currently. Diapers are crazy expensive.

We started potty training our youngest yesterday now that she's 2. She stayed dry almost the whole day. Atta girl! I'm so proud of her.

We're using M&M's an incentive and it appears to be working. Each time she goes she gets one. Kinda like a carrot on a stick.

There will be tough times ahead I know (been there, done that with our oldest) but the wife and I are enjoying the initial success, for sure.

On two different occasions earlier this week I felt bad for our youngest and laid down next to her at bedtime. She's had a nasty cough, just like her dad, for the past two weeks. It only shows up in the morning and in the evening. How convenient. Enough to keep her awake when she should be falling asleep after a long day and enough to wake her up when really she could probably use another hour's worth of shuteye.

So anyway, now I'm reaping what I've sown. She expects me to lay down with her every time she's supposed to be going to sleep -- bedtime, naptime, mid-night wakeups... Typically it's just a tuck-in and a kiss and I'm outta there. The whole sympathetic back-rubbing thing was just a situation-based anomaly.

She should understand that, I mean she's going to be 2 three days from now. Right?

Yeah right. I should never have opened up this door. My wife is ready to kill me, and justifiably so.

It's getting easier though. Tonight was only about 5 minutes of crying, tops. That sounds bad but it was like 30 or so last night.

I feel bad for her big sister who shares the bedroom with her. Last night was so bad that she started crying too, just because she was overtired and wasn't being allowed to fall asleep.

So yeah, like (e:lauren) said yesterday or the day before, there's no point to this story.

Just a brain dump.

This morning Delaney says, "It must be really cold at Mr. Rogers' house."

My wife asks, "Why would you say that?"

"Well, every time he comes home he puts on a sweater."

:)

Earlier this week Chrissy brought the girls by to visit baby Jacob.

At one point Delaney sang him a little song.



Yeah, those "singing" genes... she definitely gets 'em from my wife's side of the family. :)

My little Chloe used to be such a trooper at bedtime, sometimes she would even decide when it was time -- pointing at her crib and giving the hint that she was done for the day.

But in the past few months, the switch finally flipped. Now she is all about fighting off the sleepiness and throwing fits (sometimes), declaring her defiance.

I think it all began when we moved her from the crib to the "big girl bed." Which is just the crib lowered all the way down and one side removed. Perhaps the newfound liberty is a lot to adjust to, but at her age and size (20 mos, 31 lbs) there really is no alternative.

Right now I'm in the hallway listening to her and Delaney jabber back and forth. I'm occasionally throwing a loud SHHH but at the same time this is probably good bonding time, right? They must have exhanged "I love yous" 10 times by now. Awwww!

But if they don't get to sleep soon tomorrow is going to really suck since neither do well with even the slightest bit of sleep deprivation.

Oh, the joys of parenting...