Daddy Say What?!?!: Ma Ma

Tové: DaaaaaaaDaaaaaa
Todd: How about Ma Ma?
Me: You tired of her saying DaDa?
Todd: Yes!!

I've Never Bathed Tové

Tonight I bathed Tové for the first time in her eight-month existence.

It went pretty ok. It was a straightforward process. Nothing went wrong. But I never want to do it again.

You see up until tonight bath time was Daddy's thing. But, he wanted to make stew tonight since the Great Arctic Freeze is upon Chicago. So we switched roles - he's cooking and I gave baths.

Bathing the girls made me realize how much I love the roles we've carved out for ourselves. My responsibilities around the house are things that either I generally enjoy or come natural for me. I don't dislike giving the girls a bath, but it's awkward for me. I haven't regularly bathed* another little person since my sister was Tempess' age. That was 11 years ago.

Then there was the absence of laughter that usually fills the house during bath time. No, it wasn't replaced with screams or cries, but there were no squeals of joy either. I felt like I was encroaching upon Todd's territory where I was not invited. The whole experience just was not natural.

So I will gladly take my nursing, cooking, singing and rocking to sleep duties. Daddy can have bath time.

Why Can't It Be Easy?

About a month or two ago, Todd and I got into a huge argument, and after we both had calmed down, we tried to restore some normalcy to our relationship and routine. The problem was that the issue that caused the argument in the first place still had not been resolved. We spent the next few weeks avoiding the elephant in the room until it grew so big we could barely fit in the room with it.

I was ready to attack the elephant and reclaim my living space, but Todd wasn't. And then I persuaded him to address it before it reached the point of no return he was. So we sat down and we had a long, overdue discussion about us. Our issues. Our fears. Our doubts. He went first, telling me his biggest issues with the relationship. And I listened, asking permission to speak to make sure I didn't cut him off. I responded to his issues, explaining things that he didn't understand. Then, I went. And he did the same. And throughout the conversation, we both acknowledged where we were wrong and agreed to work on those things that bothered the other. And in those areas where we could see the other person's side, but didn't totally agree that we were wrong or they were right, we did the unthinkable - we came up with a mutually satisfying compromise.

And together, we decided to move forward. The End.

Only, a few days later, I couldn't help but feel like it wasn't the end. It was too easy. We both took the high road and handled the entire conversation with class and maturity and worked together to make sure both of our needs were going to be met moving forward. Yet, somehow I still felt unsettled. Maybe I should have yelled, or put my foot down more. Why did I agree to compromise? He's going to think he can walk all over me now. No, I didn't have a particular issue that I felt I was too easy on him with. I just couldn't believe the conversation went so well. And then, I caught myself. Why can't it be easy? Who says that relationships have to be hard? If we both have the same endgame in mind, why can't we work together to get there? Why does it have to be a Me vs. Him scenario?

I am extremely proud of how we handled a delicate and difficult situation. I hope that we continue to handle future situations like this. I hope that we can continue to grow and mature as individuals and a couple and reach a point where we are teammates and not competitors. We are in this for the long haul, and how much easier and more fun it will be if we are side by side for the journey of parenthood instead of at each other's throats.

So, why can't it be easy? Because it definitely doesn't have to be hard.

It's Never too Late for Holiday Cheer

This holiday season just hasn't felt very "holiday-y" at the Sparkman household. I'm not really sure why, but we were last minute with everything, including buying and decorating a tree.

Todd and Tempess went on a last-minute daddy and daughter tree shopping trip. When they got back, she helped him decorate the tree with her ornaments. She was so proud of herself and made sure Mommy, Daddy and Baby all knew "I did that!!"

Now she keeps running to the tree, taking ornaments off so she can put them back on.

And here I was thinking we were a bunch of Scrooges.

Temi Talks: Diffcult

Todd (To Tové): Baby, you're being difficult.
Temi: Ma, Baby diffcult.
Me: Tempess, do you even know what difficult means?
Temi: Yeah.
Me: What does difficult mean?
Temi: (Pauses for a second) Uhhh diffcult!

Temi Talks: Uh Oh

Todd: Hey baby, you have fun? Now it's back to reality.
Temi: Uh oh

Daddy Say What?!?!: Is That Me?

Daddy Say What?!?!?: Drink Your Tea

Me: You didn't drink your tea.

Todd: Where is it?

Me: On the landing, where it's been all morning.

Todd: In Tempess' cup?!?!?!?!!!??

Me: No, the black coffee mug....

Daddy Say What?!?!?!: Not the Mama

"I don't know. You're the Mama. You handle that."

In response to me asking his opinion on a parenting matter.....

Blow Me Away

Look who has discovered bubbles *GASP*

Watch "Blow Me Away" on YouTube

Teach Me How to Play

Daddy Photoshoot

Temi and her second favorite person....

Daddy Say What?!?!

No Baby, you can't have any. This is mine. Get your own.

Talking to Temi while eating a crescent roll.

Daddy Say What?!?! #2

Tempess you not even crying. You just made them tears up.


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Daddy Say What?!?! #1

She'll be ok; it's her throw up.


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Dear Future Boyfriends of Temi

Remember this!!!


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How to Braid

Practicing on me so he can be perfect on Temi

Bye Bye Dada Daddy

Picture this: Todd needs to go to the store. It's a quick trip so he wants to go alone. Temi wants to go with him. He doesn't wanna be the bad cop and say the "N" word, so he Jedi mind tricks her. He waves as he backs out the door. It works. Squealing in delight, she laughs "Dada Daddy" as she *waves*.

*le sigh* smh

Happy 1st Father's Day

Today was Todd's first Father's Day and Temi pulled out all the stops to make it a special one for her Dada Daddy. She woke up and made him breakfast in bed and then gave him her gifts: a picture frame that she made and confirmation of the metallic gold PS3 she pre-ordered for him so that they can earn money on SSX together. Then she showered him with lots of Temi juice, hugs and kisses. All in all, I think he enjoyed his day of having her world revolve around him.

Tomorrow, it'll be back to being all about her.

For Your Viewing Pleasure

Here are a few videos of Temi, well being Temi. Enjoy!

Temi Discovers Her Feet

Stand Up

Stand Up Pt. 2

On the Move

It's MY Water Daddy

Mmmmhmmmm Pickle

Temi vs. The Water Bottle

Temi vs. The Water Bottle Pt. 2

Temi Pre-Walking