Try as I might

I've had my share of parenting fails. The waking-Ethan-up-on-Christmas-Eve-to-put-on-his-new-pajamas gaffe as one of the most recent. But there have been many others (just click the "Ethan" label in the right sidebar for proof), some with photographic evidence...

...ahem.

I would like to point out that I've had some fantastic wins as well.  For instance, I have successfully encouraged Ethan to quit using diapers so well that he chose the trip to Disney World to reveal his new skills at detecting and announcing the imminent need for a trip to the potty. ("I'm peein'!" and "I'm poopin'!")

Also, I've headed off at the pass several of his attempts to become a Finicky Eater. How, you might ask? By employing a MacGyverlike combination of ingenuity and toothpicks. Ethan won't eat a Nutella-and-jelly sandwich on wheat, but he will eat a Nutella-and-jelly sandwich on wheat cut into small pieces and speared on a toothpick, with half a grape on top of each for garnish. He won't eat a plate of lunchmeat and veggies, but he will eat a large number of cheese-ham-pickle toothpickabobs.

Just wanted to tell you guys all that ... before I tell you that today I found nearly four dollars in change submerged in the full bowl of Ethan's potty seat.