Filibuster Technique

I was at swimming classes today with all three kids. Yes. I take all three kids to swimming. And no, I'm not insane... just perhaps a bit daft. Anyways, a mom was there with her preschooler and toddler and nanny, and she was barely managing to get anything accomplished. She looked at me, with my system for getting myself and two wet kids in and out, all while Harp enjoys the lovely swimming pool scenery, like I had 5 heads. She commented that Harper must be 'an exceptionally well behaved baby.' My immediate thought was, "Not last night at 3am!" I had to let this poor lady in on the secret. Normally, I keep this secret under lock and key, but the desperation in her eyes was so pitiful, it was either tell her or die of laughter. She's a third. Harper, bless her heart, knows she's a third. She loves the overabundance of attention from her brother and sister who literally try to kill her with kindness and overlooks when her parents let her fall asleep in her walker. That said, Todd and I both relish the time from just after 7pm when the older kids go down until 9pmwhen she ends our day. She's so sweet- full of smiles and giggles, and lately, has been learning many new tricks to keep the parental units entertained. She's figured out how to kick both legs at the same time to move, on her back, in the direction of something she wants, feet first. It's not pretty, but it gets the job done. Or how she holds on to our hands to stand and her invisible dancing shoes appear so she can boogie like it is 1999. But the best is that she has learned how to stop both Todd and I dead in our tracks. She has this way of knowing that we want to get something done, and thus begins the filibuster campaign to stop us from accomplishing said task and rather, turn all our attention on her. She looks at Todd and starts babbling "dadda-dadda-dadda." And guess what? It works... EVERY TIME!