To Have A Daughter

I never imagined myself with a little girl. I think it's because I had three brothers growing up and it just seemed more natural to want what I was used to being around -- boys. My boys are a blast and nothing can compare to being a mother of two rambunctious, life-filled, hilarious, cuddly little guys.

But the same goes for having a daughter. Nothing can compare. As I painted her fingernails the other day, I told Jay, "I have been waiting to do this!" It's so fun to look across the bookstore as Olivia listens to a lady read a Dr. Seuss book to a group of kids and see that she is applying her "lips" (aka: Burt's Beeswax). Olivia wears some form of pink every single day. She sways her pigtails and allows her brothers to pamper her. She cooks at her little kitchen and has about 4 tea parties per day. She lines her babies and animals up around her crib before bedtime and makes sure that they each get a hug or a bottle. Olivia loves to wear beads, tutus and fancy shoes. And when she eats, she makes less of a mess than the brother born 2.4 years ahead of her. :)

The other thing that I love about my daughter is that while she has a "girlie" side, she can take her brothers down! She wrestles with Isaac and Josiah, knocks over their blocks, eats like a champ, jams out on the electric guitar, plays with Thomas The Tank Engine, pretends to be a cow, and has an affection for airplanes and sharks.

When I put Olivia to bed at night, I always tell her how much joy she has brought into my life and into our family. I hope she gets to experience this same joy one day.