Thursday, November 13, 2008

Photostory Friday: Girls

PhotoStory Friday
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek



So, I have these two girls. 

I have a boy too, but we're not talking about him today.

Have you ever noticed that boys and girls are different? I know! Stunning huh? Me -- I'm a boy. I always have been. I enjoy it. We eat, we sleep, we break stuff. It's a simple life. 

But girls are complex!




When my wife was pregnant the first time, I knew it was a girl. I knew it. I never even entertained the idea that it might turn out to be a boy. I knew it was a girl, and that was where my expertise ended. See, I have no sisters, and I was pretty shy as a kid, so my only frame of reference for women came from television -- Daisy Duke, Lucy Van Pelt, Wonder Woman, Crystal and Alexis. 

Along comes Jordan, and all I know is that I don't know anything. It almost ended before it began. It turns out newborns are a LOT heavier than they look, and I almost dropped Jordan , the first time the nurse handed her to me. But, eventually, they let me take her out of the hospital, with some remark like, "Here's a girl. Good luck."
Six years later we did the same thing (though, by this time, I was much more adept at holding on to newborns).




So, I have two girls, and somedays I just don't get them. They're moody. They're bossy. Jordan thinks she's the "other" mother. Emma, the youngest, can really be quite a tyrant. Everything is SO dramatic. "I'm not playing with so and so, because she hates me. We're enemies." (this was in Kindergarten!), "This girl in my class likes this guy, but he doesn't even know she's alive," "I can't possibly be seen in public in that!"
Everything makes them cry. They stomp around the house. They want to be pretty, but they refuse to comb the knots out of their hair. They look at you like you are the dumbest thing on earth. They love the color pink, and they love to dress up, but they can't, for the life of them, see the mess that they make, in the middle of their bedroom floor (actually, that would be all of the kids). The world comes to an end about six times a day. For the record, I have no idea where all of this volatility comes from.  Some days I wonder what I did to deserve this.




Then I think about the time that Jordan was four years old, and in ballet, and she made up a little dance to the song "Where are you Christmas?" Unbeknownst to her, I was watching from the other room. It made me cry. And I think about the faith of Emma, when she grew her popcorn. I think about Jordan's sweet spirit, and how she is so patient with Emma, who is so much younger. They color, and they do each other's hair and nails. I think about how Jordan wants to play the piano and take pictures, just like I do. And how pleased she is, when she does both well. And her even greater pleasure when she knows that I think someday, she'll be better than me at both things. And Emma, telling me not to eat red licorice at the beach, because if you stub your toe, and it starts to bleed, and you're drooling, people might think the blood is just licorice juice. And the whispered "I love you's." And soft kisses on the cheek. And a million other things...




And how they both still call me Daddy...

Like I said, what did I do to deserve this?

82 comments:

Bren said...

Your girls are so beautiful!

What a sweet post! And so funny! for a guy who doesn't understand girls, you've sure got them figured out.

Alex @ I'm the Mom said...

You made me cry. I don't have two daughters, but I do have a son and a daughter and my goodness you are so right. The difference between the two are like night and day. Diva isn't even 2yrs old yet and she's just that, a DIVA.

Beautiful post, fantastic pictures, stunning daughters.

I continue to love your blog.

Pam Emmons said...

So sweet. I m not sure I could have handles two girls, so it's a good thing you got them instead. I love those girls, and miss them too!

CC said...

So, so beautiful. The pictures and the sentiments. My daughter is only 3 (aka the chicken disguise girl), so I haven't experience all those "girl things" yet and I'm a little afraid...

Unknown said...

Beautiful pictures along with such true words. I am kinda happy I ended up with one daughter and three boys. :) I think the wonderful moments between sisters are probably really devine but the bad moments are probably the worst in life. You see, i'll never know, I was an only child.

stefanie said...

Great photos and insights.

Girls need dads like you. Reminds me of the John Mayer song about fathers and daughters.

Laura said...

Blessed you are! They are beautiful!

Hang in there through all the moods... someday they won't think you are so stupid afterall!

Liz {Learning To Juggle} said...

I'm getting all teary....so sweet, your girls are so beautiful...second post of the day to make me want a girl or two...

Unknown said...

I've been blessed with two daughters and two sons... (tongue in cheek) I always say I would trade my two girls for a dozen boys! My oldest daughter now has two daughters of her own and my baby girl is expecting her baby girl in January. An amazing transformation took place when my oldest daughter became eleven years old, my porcelain doll became a...um...er...different.
Enjoy!


~AirmanMom returning to her blog...

Kellan said...

They are a mystery - that is for sure! I loved this perspective of girls from a dad's point of view - so sweet and those photos - gorgeous!! I have 3 girls and 1 boy - I'm in the same boat and I am a girl - I don't get them?!?

Have a good Friday, Chris - see you - Kellan

Straight to Your Hart said...

Girls and their Dads...there's something very tender about the interaction.

There are some days when I wonder if the testosterone can handle the fierce estrogen running rampant in our home.

Inevitably at the end of everyday...I Love you is said and heard. There is no better way to lay our heads down at night (with those sweet words being played in our minds)...knowing how blessed we are!!

Mandy said...

This was very sweet and beautiful pics of your girls. I have the opposite at my house, two boys and one girl. I could go down and agree with everything you said, but, about my boys (other than the color pink, never a favorite of their's..) but everything else sounded like my boys. They really are more alike than we think aren't they? However, I would have to add the manners thing, it takes them awhile to get, how they think potty humor is sooo funny no matter how red in the face I get (from embarrassment or anger). These boys drive me mad, but like you said, "what did I do to deserve this?" Oh, I loved the licroice sp? story, that is funny! Great post.

Rachel said...

How beautiful -- your girls AND your post. (making me CRY over here!)

Anonymous said...

This is an absolutely beautiful post. Oh how different boys and girls are. Gorgeous girls. And I'll pray for you during the teenage years. I'm a bit scared myself with just one to worry about.

Izzy, Emmy 'N Alexander said...

They have amazing features and you always seem to capture that in your photos. Jordan does have great eyes. They pop right out of the photo. And Emma, she has the most reassuring and comforting smile. It's peaceful.

Girls are so much fun. I might be a little bias of course, but we are. We are also all those other things you mentioned. My Little Izzy is maturing so fast. At the ripe age of 2.5 years, she thinks she's hot stuff. I thought they didn't rebel until the later years? LOL!

Thanks for sharing your Princesses with us!

latree said...

girls are complicated, yeah.
yours are indeed, great blessings.

Diane, DB Impressions said...

Absolutely lovely post. And your pics are terrific to show that they're related....yet kind of not, in a girl sort of way. I'd say too that you've got them pretty well figured out, for the moment. ;)

Juliana said...

omg....lovely photos of your girls. and wonderful story also :D

My PSF entry this week : in HERE. Hope you have time to visit . Thanks

Lorina said...

Very Sweet.. You have beautiful girls.

I always enjoy your posts.

Lindsay said...

There's nothing better than watching your own kids play together and get along - no matter what the age difference. They will be together for life. Girls are complicated, but they sure are loyal, aren't they? Okay, maybe loyal with each other and NOT you, but loyal none-the-less. :-)

Yay for "simple" boys!! I'll take another, please.

Kat said...

You are making me miss my daddy.

What lucky girls they are to grow up with a daddy who adores them so. Because of this they will be able to take on the world. Trust me.

Absolutely brilliant post. :)

Brandy said...

Those girls of yours are just beautiful! I love these pictures they are great.

I am so with you about girls being bossy and moody and just plain out confusing. I grew up a girl and have a sister too but some days I feel so unprepared in raising my
girls.

Casey's trio said...

It is so heartwarming to hear/read a father talk about his daughters. You certainly are an expert on the complexities of girls now. I already see lots of the highs and lows in this house!

Kacey said...

You have such a way with words. This was such an awesome post. Your girls are so beautiful and so lucky to have you. I'm going to email this to my husband. Ruby Jane is only one and has always been so different and more dramatic than our boys. I think this will give him a little ease. :o)

Angela said...

Precious gifts, precious photos and precious post. Wonderful!

imbeingheldhostage said...

Oh Chris you've done it again, the way you pull at my heart like that. We're understanding now why everyone was so adamant that our lives were incomplete without our girl-- she definitely is a different creature!

The comment you made on an earlier post about your daughter's eyes-- wow, they really caught me in that first photo! Your girls are gorgeous! (translated to: you're in big trouble in a few years, you know that?)

Unknown said...

That is SUCH a gorgeous post!! And I love the photos, they're so special

Supercool Hotmama said...

So nice to know that they will always be Daddy's girls.

Grace said...

My poor dad was the one man held hostage in a house full of women. To this day, I think he's a saint for putting up with the inasnity and your girls will think that of you, too.

June said...

Sounds and looks like you hit the jackpot to me! Thanks for stopping by Spatter...

Svr said...

You have two very, very beautiful girl dear sir. And you sound like an amazing father as well!

Thanks for visiting my blog...I thought about writing a book before..just not sure where to start.

I sure would have enough material with these six kiddies!!!

MomOf4 said...

Wow. Just Wow. I think you have a pretty good handle on little girls! Their lives are melodramas and we are their audience. Sometimes they just need a big hug and they can get through the drama. Beautiful post!

Deb said...

you may have outdone yourself with this one... both the photos and the words... both GORGEOUS.

and since you were so happy to see the guns in my son's closet, i am happy to negotiate a trade. i will take them BOTH for only one of my boys (and i may just do a bait and switch and give you my older, even more disturbed one).

sigh... girls. i'll just have to worship from afar.

tiarastantrums said...

. . . I have two daughters and a husband who was surrounded by boys and men his entire life . . . who looks at me like a lost puppy when the girls do ALL the wonderful antics that you posted . . . they are so divinely delicious - aren't they!

Amanda D said...

So cute! The pictures are precious.

Steph said...

Your girls are beautiful!

I am a mother of 4 girls, as you know. My hubby had 4 brothers, no sisters. I sometimes wonder how he feels about that, but he's the quiet type. He loves his girls.
I do too. I'm loving my girls, but not loving the drama. But it comes with the territory, and I am constantly learning patience. Constantly.
You pegged girls! And I love em!

Beautiful pictures too!

Melissa said...

Very pretty girls...and I love how they still call you daddy!! I was always "Daddy's little girl" (i even had a shirt that said that). What a great picture of them in black!

Leslee P said...

You deserve it... They will always call you Daddy. I remember giving my Daddy a hard time with all of that stuff... I remember the day he gave me away at my wedding... It was so emotional and so wonderful. We have always been so close. I hated it when he pushed me to be better and I craved it when he let me do my own thing.... Ahhhh, the Father/ Daughter relationship is so complex, so amazing and something that Mom's will only even understand becasue they too are daughters....

Aaron said...

{sniff}

Are you writing about your girls or mine?

Michelle said...

Chris, your girls are absolutely beautiful and that post was so touching (are you sure your not a chick?).

It sounds to me like you know your girls pretty well.

MamaGeek @ Works For Us said...

Your girls are so lucky to have you as a Dad and vice versa, what stunning shots Chris.

Mom24 said...

It's really humbling, isn't it? There's no way we could ever do enough good to deserve being a parent.

Beautiful post.

Robyn said...

Those are some of the sweetest photos. Girls are complex that is for sure. At my ultra sound my husband I and i looked dumbfounded at each other thinking what are we going to do with a girl. It is those complexities that make them either frustrate the heck out of them or love them to pieces. I loved your story. We must have both had the complex part of them on the brain this week.

Susie said...

Oh Chris I love reading your posts. Not only are the pictures beautiful, but you seriously make me stop---and slow down---when it comes to my daughter so that I can be as good a parent as you.
You sir must have done something super-fantastic to get these two--they are perfection!
Oh, and Emma's right btw--licorice juice does look like blood;)

earthlingorgeous said...

Oh my! What a sweet post. I love what you wrote so thoughtful. Interesting to read this view from a father. Sweet! your girls are lovely and the photos are great.

Thanks for dropping by my blog.

Earth

Holly said...

Yes, girls are complex, and that's why I'm so glad I have a boy. Those are beautiful pictures of your daughters!

It's also funny that here you blogged about girls and I blogged about men for PSF!

Unknown said...

Beautiful post and gorgeous photos.

I read a little of this to the husband, as we have a little girl, of only 7mths. So we have all that turmoil and love awaiting us.

I'm not sure he's prepared.

Thanks for sharing such a touching post.

Anonymous said...

So sweet! They're beautiful.

Lorie said...

They are beautiful! And there is nothing like having a sister! They are lucky to have each other, even though they won't appreciate it for another 20 years.

Weeksie50 said...

Your girls are stunning..
and your words are beautiful..
Your girls are lucky to have such a great dad..and you are lucky to have such spirited girls..

Beautiful post. I love it.

KATE said...

Well, I'm sure like many other commenters you made me cry! That was so tender and sweet! I have learned having 3 girls myself, that nothing is as sweet as sisters and their Daddy. What a great post!!

Karin said...

You made me cry - AGAIN! Girls really are soooo special (boys too, but you're not talking about them today). I'm so glad that I have one of each, I think one appreciates their difference more. Your pictures of your girls are WONDERFUL! You manage to capture the bond between them so well.

Lulda Casadaga said...

Awesome pics...and the girls are lovely. I never had any children, but love em...and I have a lot of patience to deal with kids...anyway I was a daddys girl and my dad is gone now...miss him much...you take good care of those girls now ya here! ;) p.s. My brother-in-law and family live in Sandy.

Killlashandra said...

Your girls sound like girls wonderful girls. :) That's a great post.

Rachael Schirano \\ Rachael Schirano Photography said...

oh my, what a sweet and touching post. someday your girls will read this and both laugh and cry (just as i did) you more than deserve to be called daddy!

Rachael Schirano \\ Rachael Schirano Photography said...

ps - your girls are beautiful!

Sharon said...

hey dad you have a lot of comments
by the way HERO ATTACK
go to my blog to see what it means

Wendelyn DeMoss said...

Hi Chris, I have featured your blog on my "Three Sites To See" post for this week. I put it up today. Your posts are an inspiration and I hope to send more of my blog friends to visit. have a great week!

Anonymous said...

You left me crying with this. Your love for your daughters is simply beautiful! I'm so glad I found you today.

david mcmahon said...

G'day from an Australian father of three. My children are my universe.

Simple as that.

Danyele Easterhaus said...

sweet girls...and i have double that amount...and the only boy, my hubby ryan. yikes. poor gu!y!

Mamarazzi said...

Oh the love of a daddy. perfection.

love the PSF. i came by way of AVT Coach today but i have been here before. i am going to follow. i don't wanna miss anymore of this bloggy goodness!

Momisodes said...

They are so beautiful. I loved reading this. It is so rare I get a chance to read a father's point of view. I only have 1 daughter. She's 3. But I can already relate to so much of what you've mentioned :)

Lance said...

Your girls are beautiful - enjoy them always...

I have two boys with a girl in the middle - she's 11 now...And I can relate to most of this (well, not the pink - she doesn't like pink, or dressing up - she doesn't do that either...maybe she's really a tomboy...). The rest though, yes. And in the end, it's those kisses at bedtime, or her still curling up beside me, or even how she rolls her eyes at me - just like her mother...

Thank you for sharing this, it was beautiful...

Rose said...

Chris this is beautiful and the pictures are stunning. Wow.

I so want a girl again!! (Unfortunately, we're done. But with Harrison, I'm not complaining.) What did I do to deserve this?

Mamarazzi said...

you are the newest blog i am following soooooo i left you a little love on my blog. come and get it and pass it on.

You. Are. Welcome.

Roxy Wishum said...

Thanks for the great thoughts and great photos. It is a pleasure to read the thoughts of those who take time to notice and enjoy life.

Honey Mommy said...

That is the sweetest post ever! I grew up in a house full of girls and now I have two boys. The differences are astonishing!

Emily said...

what an icredibley sweet post! Your girls are beautiful! u are one lucky guy:)

larkswing said...

Thanks for stopping by the other day!

Wow - these photos are amazing! What a beautiful family!

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh this post made me tear up. AND miss my Daddy (even though I'm 31 years old AND he's been gone for six years now). There is nothing like the bond between a father and his daughter. :-)

Jennifer Chronicles (jenx67.com) said...

that was awesome.

Saz said...

A beautiful post...l hope you keep it for your girls...

l dont think a Dad ever 'gets'his girls. It doesnt matter....they know you love them and they you...

just keep at it...and be assured when they are grown...you'll all come together nicely..

indicaspecies said...

Wonderful tale! Thanks for sharing it with us.

Congrats on the POTD. Well-deserved!

Sandi McBride said...

Aw girls...you get us, you really get us! Great post, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry...congratulations on the post of the day...David gets it right every time.
Sandi

Anonymous said...

My grateful thanks to David's POTD for how else would i have found you.

I'm crying, of course, so thanks for that, just what I need, a good cry.
What a dad, and what lovely children. Bet your son is a looker too.

My father died when I was four and I miss him every day of my life [74 years] and I would like to imagine that he loved me as much as you love yours.

GreenJello said...

Over from David's POTD...

I have 7 daughters. I still haven't got them figured out. And I'm a girl.

:)

Lovely post!

Catmoves said...

Wonderful perspective. Found your post through David's site.

Merisi said...

You made me smile. Thank you.
I am the mother of three daughters and I cannot cease to wonder how come they are so different and yet so alike. And so very different from their brother! :-)

Congratulations on winning David's "Post of the Day" award!

Wayfaring Wanderer said...

They may be hormonal, but you'll always love them just the same :)

tommie said...

dang, like I HATE to be the 81'st comment...but you went to my spam file....(note to self....make sure it doesn't go to spam)....


these are so gorgeous!! I don't get weepy often....but...yeah, the weepy happened!

scrappysue said...

they are so lucky to have you! they are great shots. i hope you continue to get as much enjoyment out of them as you so obviously do. heads up - the drama will continue, and it'll be mostly fun and they'll probably call you daddy for many years to come. my 19 year old still does.