Daddy's Little Girls Unite!

When Brent and I found out that I was pregnant for the second time we were both joyful and excited. When we discovered that we would be having a baby girl (enter Baby Kate!) I began making big plans. I claimed Kate as my own. Our son's first word was "DADDY!" (with gusto!) Six MONTHS later he started saying, "Mom". I just KNEW that for the little girl, I would be the Chosen Parent. My plan for parental domination was going so well, especially when her first word was, "mama."

Now, I'm not quite sure when the shift took place, but there is no denying that she is now 100%, UNDENIABLY: Daddy's Little Girl. I know that she loves me very much, but her daddy is truly a joy to her heart. I'm pretty sure she asks, "Where's Daddy?" AT LEAST 100 times each day. Seriously. Even if he's home. When he gets home at the end of a day, she is SO excited to see him that she runs to the front door LAUGHING. Her little heart is overflowing at the sight of him. Shoes go on and remain on when daddy is there to help. And Heaven FORBID her daddy actually chastises her. We're talking crocodile tears over the slightest sign of disappointment. Food tastes better, sleep comes easier and gifts are more special when they come from her man.

I'll be honest. I'm a little jealous. But I have not time for jealousy. I have a birthday coming up.

I checked the mail today and we had several boxes of gifts for the upcoming birthdays in the house (Kate, Michael and I). Amidst the packages of pink and baby doll accessories I found an envelope from my dad. Inside it held the BEST present ever. A cowgirl cookbook. I loved it instantly. For some reason, that birthday gift caused a flood of gift memories from my dad. He has an incredible ability to get me the GREATEST presents. No ponies or cars for my sweet 16. But they were always perfect. He got me my first pair of rollerbladess. When I was 9 it was the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The Christmas before that, a HUGE Webster's Encyclopedic Dictionary (laugh if you will, but if you know me at all, you know how much I would want a dictionary.) There was the time that he got me a mug with the Queen's face on it because I was going to Scotland and the Christmas he chose the loveliest sweater a 12 year old could ever imagine. The contents of the envelope today made me tear up a little. (I partly blame hormones. Because I can. I will continue to blame them for the next 18 months. You've been warned).

Even as I write this it is difficult for me to keep my emotions in check. My dad is a very special person and very important to me. I hope to someday have his incredible storytelling ability and that he has passed on a little of his perseverance and forgiveness to me. I LOVE how I see a little of him in Kate's blue eyes.

Holding the contents of that envelope today made me realize: I am a Daddy's Girl. And that is a gift I am more than happy to pass on to my daughter. I'm not jealous anymore and will gladly answer her "Where's Daddy?" anytime she asks it. Because I remember how important it was, and is, for me to know the same thing. Now I pray that she will always remain, in some way, Daddy's Little Girl.