What did you learn in school today?

She's got the words down - we're still working on the counting ...

The Dork Side is strong with this one.

I didn't get to go to SDCC this year. Heck, I've only been once - but what a sight. It's like Disneyworld for dorks. So it should be no surprise that I want to return - especially since it's within driving distance. (Too bad the insane hotel prices put it out of reach for the time being.)

But I don't bring it up because I want to whine. (If I were going to do that, it would be about the two Wilco and one Jeff Tweedy show I can't go to in Chicago. Boo!) I bring it up because I found this awesome photo on design-God Chip Kidd's website:

And I want it to be me.

I know that's wrong (and possible considered child abuse) but that is just so awesome.

Darth Dad and Darth Daughter, whoever you really are, don't let the man (or Child Protective Services) get you down.

"I'm a Mac"

"I haffa send my email for Maggie."

In honor of SDCC weekend

What does Spider-Man taste like?

What does Kaylee bring to the table?

BIG MUSCLES.

Some days

... you just don't want to do anything except snuggle up with your best friend – who, in this case, happens to be a cross-dressing monkey.

And a little something for the Gs

A conversation with Kaylee

Does this work?

Code Monkey

... or how I spent my weekend and what I picked up for the kid.

Daycare quotes

Thank you Disney

Right before vacation we were on one of our many Target excursions and we happened upon the little girls' underwear aisle. (A new place for me for those of you who may be wondering.) Here Kaylee spotted the article of clothing that would change her life.

Little. Mermaid. Panties.

We didn't buy them then - but we did promise her that if she started using the potty all the time, we would soon.

Now, I've seen a lot of people get excited about a lot of things, but I have never seen anyone get as excited about anything as she did about the thought of wearing a cartoon character on her butt. This even includes my wife when I proposed to her - she just looked dumb-struck. (Maggie can keep any and all comments about being surprised about anyone being excited to marry me to herself.)

Fast-forward to vacation and Kaylee is not only using the potty, but she's even staying dry overnight. Thirty-six hours a pop and the whole time she keeps reminding us about her need for Little Mermaid panties. (It really is adorable when she says it.) I feel a bit stupid for buying extra Pull-Ups while we were there, because she hardly used any of them.

So now we're home - and since I'm a Dad of my word, my little girl is wearing big girl underpants. We've had a few accidents (the most notable being the wee wee on the Wii I mentioned earlier) but dry for the most part. It's like a switch went off and it was just time to do it.

If there is any trick to this, I think it is to find what your kid loves the most - and promise them underpants with that printed on it. Or if I let Kaylee explain it (in another quote from daycare):

Tonight's conversation

Me: I'm going to flush you down the toilet!

Kaylee: No! I will get pee and poopies all over me!

Ummmm ...

Only pee and poop goes in the toilet!

...

I'm not poop Daddy.

Potty training

More later ... but I wanted to update with the fact that this afternoon the kid went wee-wee on the Wii.

The fact that it's 1:30 in the morning makes it a little funnier now.

Binkless

I know you judged me. That's OK.

When I "threw" my daughter's bink out the window of a moving car during a North Carolina roadtrip, I bet you thought there were better ways to handle it. Sure, at the time I could have come up with a better way to handle a cranky monkey. God knows it didn't make the rest of that trip go any easier. But in the end it worked out for the best.

Despite a couple of rough nights, Kaylee hasn't used a bink to sleep since that day. Sure, she's asked for it. She's even tried rationalizing that "it was just an accident" and that Daddy will give it back. She didn't need it on the plane trip(s) home and now she's not even missing it.

In short, I was right. And it makes for a good story. Also, it will likely help pay a therapist's mortgage later on down the road.

You're welcome doctor.