Tomato Watermelon Basil Salad

Delicious! Who knew!
Thanks Jai for making this wonderful combination of foods.
All locally sourced too!
YUMMY!!!!

Dear SAHD

Dear SAHD,

I have am 8 month old who seems to only take naps while I am carrying her. My wife has the advantage of nursing but if I even think about putting her in a horizontal position when she is tired she howls like a child who is being beaten within an inch of her life. What do I do? Is there anyway to get her to lay down for a nap?

Exacerbated,
Deaf Dad

---

Dear Deaf Dad,

I have a recently discovered solution that might work for you.

Love her and play with her so she will let her guard down. Feed her as much as possible even if you are squeezing two of her feedings closer together than you should or would like. Take her to the crib and lay her down. Walk away long enough to get another cup of coffee and take a few bites of your lunch. At this point she should be screaming bloody murder - no need for a baby monitor it will be loud enough.

Get a swaddle or blanket large enough to swaddle. Firmly break her concentration by firmly saying the child's name, pick her up and sooth her. Next you want to swaddle her. If she's anything like my child you have to do this straight-jacket tight. Sooth her more and lay her in the crib. Lightly pat her chest while slowly decreasing pressure. If you get no change in facial expression when you stop it is time to walk away and enjoy the solitude.

Hope this works for you.

Signed, SAHD

A Dad dreams

P090412PS-0695, a photo by The White House on Flickr.

Not that I want to be POTUS but one day I hope my girls and I can cut an image somewhere close to as fabulous as this

Via Flickr:
President Barack Obama and his daughters, Malia, left, and Sasha, watch on television as First Lady Michelle Obama begins her speech at the Democratic National Convention, in the Treaty Room of the White House, Tuesday night, Sept. 4, 2012.
(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.

Fun things Julia says

Dad, you realize that you have your shoes on inside of the house.

Yesterday Julia said some funny comments to Tara.
1. After checking her backpack for clothes, she was responsible for replacing what was missing.
As we got ready to go to Y, I asked her about the backpack's status.
Julia: "Yes, Mom. I'm on it."

2. We had plans with some friends who we haven't seen in a long time. Probably since Julia was about a year old & they live 2-3 miles from us! However, our plans changed because she was sick, then Jai got sick so we re-scheduled.
Julia: "Are we going? I really want to see them ... though I don't really know who they are."

Wise words from an almost 4 year old. : )