To Infinity

There are several things I would like to point out about this picture:

1. This picture was taken today.

2. Today is not Halloween.

3. Toy Story 3 was released today.

4. Buzz Lightyear is kind of a big deal in our house.

Career Day

Lil Sippy Cup: "Dad, I want a job."

Me: "Nice! I think I like where this is going."

Lil Sippy Cup: "I want to work at the bank."

Me: "Oh, wow, awesome.  What are you going to do at the bank?"

Lil Sippy Cup: "Take the money."

Me: "Wait a second...."

Lil Sippy Cup: "And then I can buy toys!"

Me: "Let's slow it down for a second.  What are you going to do to earn the money?"

Lil Sippy Cup: "Work at the bank."

Me: "Right.  But what are you going to do at the bank?"

Lil Sippy Cup: "Take the money.  The cash.  The coinees.  The cash money!"

Me: "I really hope you mean you want to be a teller."

Lil Sippy Cup: "Caaaaash moneeeey!"

Antonee Estark

On days when I have errands to run, errands which would be impossible with Lil Sippy Cup in tow (i.e. getting a hair cut), my mother (a.k.a. "Nina") gladly babysits the little dude.

Every single time she watches him, without fail, I get a phone call.

* Editor's Note - my parents are from the Caribbean.  I have done my best to re-create the conversation as phonetically accurate as possible. *

Me: "Yes, mother?"

Nina: "Oye, who is Antonee Estark?"

Me: "Antonee Estark?  I have no idea."

Lil Sippy Cup shouts something unintelligible in the background.

Nina: "Oh, oh, wait...TONEE Estark!"

Me: "Still no clue.  Sorry."

Nina: "Are ju sure?  Tonee Estark?  Nada?"

Me: "Positive.  I have no idea who you are talking about.  Why?"

Nina: "Your son has been telling me all day that his name is TONEE ESTARK."

Sippy Cup (in the background): "Pew! Pew! Pew!"

Me: "Ohhh...wait....Mom, is he saying that he is 'Tony Stark'?"

Nina: "There you go!"

Me: "He's a superhero Mom.  He's Iron Man.  He's telling you he's Iron Man."

Lil Sippy Cup (shouting in the background): "I'M TONY STARK! I CAN FLY!"

Me: "Mom, please keep him away from the windows.  Thanks."

Nina (as she hangs up): "Hey! Get down from there!"

Stranger Danger

I am not ashamed to admit that I hide whenever the doorbell rings unexpectedly.

It's not so much that I am not a friendly neighbor; it's much more that I don't want to have a conversation with the local Jehovah's Witnesses at 9:30 in the morning.

However, hiding takes on a new degree of difficulty when your accomplice is a 3 year-old.

Door bell rings.

Lil Sippy Cup (yelling): "Oooh!  Oooh!  Daddy, who is it?"

Me (whispering): "Lil dude, come over here."

Lil Sippy Cup (smiling): "Why?"

Me: "Ssshhh! Just come over here!"

Lil Sippy Cup: "But someone's at the door Dad!"

Me: "Sweet Lord, just come over here!  Please!"

Lil Sippy Cup: "Is it Grandma?  She's buying me presents!"

Me: "It's not Grandma!"

Lil Sippy Cup (pressing his ear to the door): "How do you know?"

Me: "I just do."

Lil Sippy Cup: "Why are you hiding Daddy?  Are we playing a game?  I want to play!"

Me: "No, we aren't playing a gam...yes!  We're playing a game!  We're playing the quiet game!"

Lil Sippy Cup (whispering at the door): "Grandma?  Is that you?  I'm playing the quiet game!"

Fashion Statements

As is our custom, Lil Sippy Cup and I got into a small argument this morning as I was trying to help him get dressed.

Me: "Ok, pick out a tee shirt."

Lil Sippy Cup (grabs a tee shirt): "Got it."

Me: "Ok, pick out some boxers."

Lil Sippy Cup (grabs a pair of basketball shorts): "Got it."

Me: "Close.  I said boxers."

Lil Sippy Cup: "Nah, these are fine."

Me: "Lil dude, I don't want to fight.  You can put those on as well.  Just make sure you put on a pair of underwear please."

Lil Sippy Cup (sighing): "Fine."

I walked away feeling very proud of myself for having handled the situation so quickly and with minimal protest.

A few minutes later, Lil Sippy Cup walked out of the room, smiling broadly and wearing his boxer shorts on top of his basketball shorts.

Even when I think I've won, I still lose.