Lillian, given the choice, would like to spend her time in a short sleeved shirt, socks, and shoes, with nothing in between but underwear or a diaper.

Pants are very hard to get her into. I mean, I wear pants 90% of the time, but this kid just doesn't like them. If she has to wear them, she insists on pulling them up over her knees.

She's going to be so happy when it warms up enough that we'll allow a dress and shorts combo, or a skirt without tights below it.

Possibly the two-parent family is to help everyone survive the toddler years.

"The best thing about having two parents is that usually one of them wants you to live" - Chris Rock

Good lord, I thought conducting traffic was one of those cultural things people would pick up from movies and TV when growing up.

Oh, honey, if there is one thing that multiple evacuations taught me it is that directing traffic is a rare skill to be treasured wherever you find it.

{{JZ}} Just because. Quite the full day.

Emily's day, also exciting.

My day? Not. I need to get to the grocery store and then it's all about getting the kitchen in some kind of order, giving up my dream of the perfect order where things are in places that make logical sense and just having things in, you know, places.

Her reply: "No, no. I will not. I say, 'No.' I don't like it."

I am finding this quite charming. Possibly because I don't have a toddler who needs to be clothed. ALso, Annabel sounds quite sensible about bows.

Oh, the pants battles. I'm sorry, Aimee; apparently Matilda has been secretly precocious and has stolen my phone to call Em and coach her behind both our backs. Nine times out of ten over the past month or so, she screams during the getting-dressed process as if her pants (er, trousers?) were lined with fire ants and sandpaper.

Lordy, it's a full on Pants War in this house, too. Only now it's Olivia. I can't keep britches on that child to save my life. She ditches pants and pull up at every opportunity and cries and throws fits and runs away if I mearly suggest her getting something on. She'll prance around on her tippy toes flashing her vag and giggling.

She doesn't wear dresses, per se, because it's been so cold up here, I just didn't see the point. I'm hoping she'll adjust to dresses this summer and hopefully there will be less drama over getting dressed.

Bagel eaten. Boss emailed. Also, dishes done, mess on the kitchen table chipped away at, and Matilda's tights handwashed and hung to dry. Time to settle in for a rigorous mid-morning Wire viewing. I only hope this hectic pace doesn't completely wear me out.

{{{vw}}} for test-missage.

And {{-t}} right back atcha.

Annabel is my kind of girl. I always rejected bows and ruffles.

LOVE that dress! Almost bought it for Em a couple of weeks ago.

Isn't it cute and retro? I looked on the website but can't find a picture to show the rest of the class, unfortunately.

I am finding this quite charming.

Oh, believe me, it's tough to keep a straight face during Annabel's Litany of No. The "I say, 'No'" bit is accompanied by a warding hand gesture, "stop, in the name of love" style.

I have a video of Em sobbing and screaming the other night after putting her in her footie jammers. Her declarations of "BUT I *NOT* a Princess!" were so damned funny. All because she wasn't wearing a nightgown.

"Princesses wear pajamas."

"No they *DON'T*! I *NOT* a Princess."

Lillian, given the choice, would like to spend her time in a short sleeved shirt, socks, and shoes, with nothing in between but underwear or a diaper.

Wouldn't we all. Though I'll stick with the underwear, thanks.

Annabel has never shown any interest in being a princess. She did, however, tell me the other day she was going to be a dinosaur when she grew up.

She did, however, tell me the other day she was going to be a dinosaur when she grew up.

That is kind of priceless.