So I have lived in Texas since 1989, and Mower since 1988. All three of my kids have been born here, but none of us have really developed a full-on twang. But Bubba is trying. Last night she asked if she could get her hair wet in the bayith.

I said, "The bath? Sure. But the bayith, nope."

She looked at me with typical seven-year-old disgust and shame that she shares my DNA and announced that she said "Bayith!"

"Yup, you said bayith." I agreed.

She stomped her foot. "I did not say bayyyyeeeeth, I said bayith."

I agreed again, she said "Bayith."

She got the scowl on her face that I remember perfecting at her age, and before she could argue further, I told her to get her "Buttith to the bayith."

I should have seen this coming, she drew it in crayon, the elementary version of carving it in stone:

The T-Rex is fixin' to eat sumthin, so better tuck tail and get outer the way!