Girly

When I was pregnant with Grace, it really bothered me when people assumed I was trying for a girl, simply because I already had two boys. It bothered me a lot, like when my grandma was telling people I was having a girl even before I found out, or like when my dad said he was so sure it was a girl, that if it turned out to be a boy, he would not come to the hospital to see him. (He totally would have!)

Hoping for a girl, or others hoping for a girl, made me feel like my boys weren't quite good enough. What's wrong with having another boy? Nothing! I love my boys to death! I would have loved another one just as much!

When the ultrasound technician told me it was a girl, my heart skipped a beat. I went out an bought a pretty pink little dress right away. Yeah, I was excited. It was something new. I was also nervous about it. I was so used to boys, I didn't know what I was going to do with a girl.

Having a girl isn't like dressing up a doll. OK, maybe when she was a baby, but not anymore. Grace has tons of beautiful clothes that she refuses to wear. She also refuses to let me brush her hair or do anything cute to it. She has a mind of her own, she is strong-willed, and I admire that. Even if it is annoying. But once in a while she catches me staring at her and she smiles at me and her eyes sparkle, and she says, "Aren't you glad you had a little girl?"

I hug her close and kiss her face and tell her I am. I am so glad she is in my life.

While school shopping (little tear), I discovered a natural high that must be the reason women want girls. Since Grace has gotten a ton of hand-me-downs from our friends, I haven't had to do a lot of shopping for her. But this...I would have spent a thousand dollars if I could have, and I would have spent all day there. There is NOTHING like oohing and aahing over a pretty dress or a cute shirt with your daughter. I let her get a lot of things, but her favorite was a pair of pajamas that came with a matching little nightgown for her baby doll. She put that on right away and cuddled with her doll Tiny all evening.

My favorite was a hippie dress I begged her to get. She sighed and said, "Fine. Get me the purple one."

I am going to enjoy this while I can, before the teenage years arrive...