Buying footballs, toy cars, action figures, and even boxing gloves is something I've done as a Daddy. But today I bought a Barbie for the first time.

When Kid #1 was brewing in his Mom's belly, I was often asked if I wanted a boy or a girl. Considering I didn't have any kids at the time, I really and truly did not care. Ultimately I wanted some of each, but at the time, it seemed like a downer to folks when I said that it didn't matter.

Add to this that through Kid's #1-3, we never knew what flavor they were going to be until they were born. To me, it is one of the last veistiges of "Santa" that we get. Anyway, that we've held out on knowing whether it was XX or XY until game day has been part of the fun. Sure, it meant the baby room would have to wait to be decorated, but when Kid #1 was born, there wasn't going to be a "Baby's Room" anyway, and once Kid #2 was born, it didn't matter because they were going to share a room anyway...but I digress.

I've never worried about sissying up my boys or making sure they had manly boy's things. It pretty much works out that way, but it has never really been a focus. If my boys turn out like Daveed, I'll be blessed. Today, however, I thoroughly enjoyed having a girl.

Normally the toy department is a source of stress for me, much like going to Chuck E Cheese, Super Walmart, or having a kid's birthday party, but today, I had the Barbie aisle to myself, and I took the time to sort out which Barbie is best. We had twelve dancing princess Barbies, which would all fit the bill. There was a horse riding Barbie. A ballerina Barbie. A beach Barbie...ALL of the Barbies seemed to be the "right" one. On one hand, it seemed like a slam dunk that I couldn't get this wrong, but on the other, I wanted to put some thought into it too. Among the offerings of Barbies was a Sleeping Beauty Barbie, a Snow White Barbie (if I could have found the corresponding DVD, I would have picked this), and Belle Barbie (of Beauty and the Beast). That everything was pink and princess didn't even hurt my teeth.

Back and forth three times from the toys to the DVD's, which were at opposite ends of the store. Couldn't find Sleeping Beauty or Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. I settled on making my own gift pack with Belle and Beauty and the Beast.

Christmas morning is special with kids at all, but I'm looking forward to seeing my daughter's reaction on Christmas morning.

The Wall

Ths is the wall in my office facing the driveway. Chloe has put jerseys we've won in frames, and optimistially set up another ten frames on the wall facing the pasture. The ones shown here are:

1. TRP jersey signed by Alison Dunlap the year she won World's. It says, "Christian, good luck racing. I'm yours forever, Alison" I made up part of that.
2. 2001 TX State Champ Track. Me.
3. 2002 Texas Cup Champ. Mama, cyclocross
4. 2003 24r hours of Adrenaline Champ. Team: Me, Troy, Byrd, Jaime, and Erick T.
5. 2006 TX State Champ Time Trial. Noah
6. 2006 TX State Champ Criterium. Noah
7. 2006 TX State Champ Track. Noah
8. 2006 TX State Champ Road Race. Noah
9. 2006 Texas Cup Champion Road. Noah
10. Blank, but it is for 2006 Texas Cup Champion Cyclocross. Noah
11. 1997 Hotter-n-Hell Champ. Me.