Rookie Dad: With the wave of her hand

It's been a period of milestones for The Youngling. Just last week - at the ripe old age of 16 months - she was placed on her potty chair and used it. A day before that her pacifiers vanished and both parents survived the ensuing rampages and refusals to nap.

But the big story was how, as the photo above shows, she single-handedly held back the rising waters of the Minnesota River with nothing but her hand. She's a magical little girl who, not unlike the Dutch boy with his finger plugging a hole in the dam, is all about doing her part to help neighborhoods and cities at risk from rising flood waters.

To be honest, I'm not entirely sure that The Youngling actually understood why dad was so crabby after he returned home late each day or why she hasn't crossed her favorite bridge for a few weeks but she is definitely enjoying the great outdoors and whether it's walking with a grown-up, cruising down the sidewalks in her stroller or being pulled around in her little red wagon, she can't get enough fresh air.

That fresh air must be addictive because even as darkness was setting in on Saturday, the demanding little lady knew that she wanted to see what was happening around the neighborhood so we caved and pushed the stroller down those all too familiar sidewalks once again before settling the now pacifier-free tike in to her crib which she, thankfully, hasn't learned how to climb out of - yet.