Help With Exception: Conversion Failed When Converting Datetime From Character String.

Hi,

I am trying to insert an entry into my database, but I keep on getting the following error: "Conversion failed when converting datetime from character string."  My query is a parameterized T-SQL query (i.e. "INSERT INTO blah (name, dob) VALUES (@name, '@dob')"), and I have initialized the SqlCommand object by doing:  sqlCmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@name", "Captain America");
sqlCmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@dob", birthdate.ToString("MM/dd/yyyy h:mm tt");

sqlCon.Open();
sqlCmd.ExecuteNonQuery();
sqlCon.Close(); 

 The dob field in the table 'blah' is a smalldatetime datatype, and in the code above, the birthdate object is a DateTime object. 

I can insert into my database using a normal T-SQL through Management Studio,

For example,  INSERT INTO blah (name, dob) VALUES ('Captain America', '11/27/1923 12:34 PM')

 But it doesn't work when I try doing it the way I have listed above.  It's really annoying because I don't know how to debug or if it is possible to debug the query.  So first off, I want to ask, does anyone know how why this exception is occuring?  Secondly, is it possible to debug the query? and if yes, how?  And finally, is there a way for me to extract the T-SQL query sent to the SQL Server with the parameters filled in their values? For example, after adding all parameters to the SqlCommand via sqlCmd.Parameters.AddWithValue(), can I get the T-SQL query that is sent to the server?