Daddy's Girls

All three of our girls have Chad wrapped around their little fingers.  Thirty little fingers.  Think about that.  That's a lot of little-girl fingers to take care of as "Chief Rule Maker" and "Heart Holder". 

I've shared with the world that I am (and always have been) a Daddy's girl.  As a mother now, I have a new respect for all the the time, energy, and commitment that my mother put into me and my brothers.  Mom did most of the work, but Dad got most of my credit--maybe it's nature, hard wiring, or likely just a gift from God.  Who knows? What I am sure of is that my relationship with my Daddy was an integral part of my "success" of getting to adulthood.  

Thinking back to those years in my life where so many young girls struggled and made poor choices regarding drugs, alcohol, promiscuity, etc., I often wonder how I made it through with relatively few, minor scars.  I've even considered my peers and their situations and outcomes.  Although none of us were perfect, my friends (from my teen years and beyond) and I made choices based on a respect and fear of disappointing the significant men in our lives.  Those of you reading this can relax, this blog is not a confessional booth.  I'll never tell when we....   

 Back to the point.

As parents to three daughters, Chad and I have had many conversations with each other and other parents with whom we respect.  We've spent countless hours discussing, thinking, and praying for wisdom and courage to raise our daughters in a way that will help them survive their childhood and teenage years without unnecessary heartache and regret.

I know that as the mother, I handle a lot of the day to day duties and running around for our girls.  Most often I get to referee the fights, clean up the messes, wipe the noses, and hand out the discipline.   However, Chad and I both know that as the Daddy, he is the first man of their lives.  That is a huge responsibility.  I can say that although I want to strangle him occasionally, he is the perfect father for our greatest blessings.   

Dads have a difficult job, but I believe that Daddies of girls have an extra tough job in today's world.  I just wanted to take the time to tell this Daddy how proud I am of what he does for each of our girls on a daily basis. 

 Here's a photo tribute to the awesome moments between the toddler girl, Blake, and Daddy over the last few weeks.  

Notice the "vomit mat" on the floor.  She was a sick little girl.

Yes, he was wearing a purple "amulet" to make her happy.

"Cratch my legs" 

"Throwed outta gear" according to the transmission mechanic.

As our girls get older, their relationships with Chad change.  This man is a genius at all of the stages we've encountered so far.  Stay tuned to see the photos of the other stages--stuck in the middle with Taylor and hormone raged tween with Kennedy.

High to Low to Gross

Wednesday night I was exhausted.  I don't really have a reason other than the last seven days included an unexpected death, funeral, school board meeting, extra softball practice, and life in general.  On with the point.  I went to bed a little before 10PM.  If you know me at all, you know that I'm one of those people who actually fall asleep between moving toward the bed and hitting the pillow.  Seriously, sleep is my gift.  Needless to say, at 10:24 PM when I heard the panic-stricken yell, "Momma! I frow up in my bed!" I was jolted from a deep sleep.

 

Unfortunately, Blake was speaking the truth.  Chad helped Blake get into the rain (shower) while I volunteered  was forced to clean the vomit sheets.  After 20 minutes or so Blake was back in her bed sleeping.  Chad and I had a brief conversation and decided that something probably didn't agree with her stomach.  Relieved to be through with the drama, Chad and I were back to bed by 11PM.

 

11:48 I hear "Momma!  I frow up in my bed AGAIN!"  Once again, I jump out of the bed and meet a vomit covered toddler in the living room. Again, Chad puts her in the rain and I change sheets.  This time, I decide that I'll make her a pallet on the floor in our bedroom.  The motherly thing to say is "so that she would be close and I could take better care of her".  However, the truth is that I didn't have anymore clean sheets for a twin bed, and I didn't want her to puke on my new living room furniture.  Regardless, Blake was sleeping again by 12:10AM.

 

I'll spare you the details here.  Just know that Blake impressed Chad and I both with her ability to wake up, run to the bathroom, and aim.  We were up 3 additional times before 5AM when our day normally starts.

 

Although Chad, Blake, and I were exhausted, Kennedy and Taylor had to go to school.  We did our usual morning routine.  Well, usual except that Blake and I came back home instead of heading to LC.  She spent the morning alternating in and out of consciousness and asking for more "green stuff".  After 12 hours of periodic vomiting, she was able to tolerate Sprite and about 6 goldfish.  I thought she was on her way to a full recovery.  Not so much.  Blake spent the afternoon in a fever induced trance.  She was pitiful. 

 

This illness took Blake from the high of life at 4:30 PM.

 

To the low of misery in less than 6 hours.

 

 

She was so uncomfortable during the day that she kept removing pieces of her clothing.  At 8:30 Thursday morning she had on panties, shorts, and shirt.  At noon, she had on panties and a shirt.  About 4:00 she was wearing panties.  By the time Chad came home at 6:30 she was naked.

 

Within the hour, she seemed to be feeling a little better.  Her fever finally broke.  However, she was not interested in eating, and quite frankly, I was relieved.  As the rest of us were eating dinner, Blake was lying in the chair watching cartoons.  She said, "Daddy.  Smell my hand!"  Chad called back to her, "What?"  She said, "Daddy, smell my hand.  It stinks!"  He said, "I'm eating right now."  I left the table to check on her in the living room.  She giggled and said, "I said Daddy smell my hand cause it stinks.  I put it on my hinny and tell my Daddy to smell it." 

 

Suddenly, I knew our nasty little BADkid was back!