Maybe this won't be surprising to anybody else. Maybe it's just that I had four boys first. But Stella loves her babies. We have three dolls in this house and she carries them around and around, one in each fist, until she gets to the one she dropped last. She switches babies and toddles off.
The doll stroller had been living in the basement because there are four boys in this house. The boys do not think strollers are for pretend outings with the babies. Strollers are projectiles. Strollers are weapons. Strollers might be armor if your brother takes it into his head to use something as a weapon (the shoe basket, say) and you're in his line of fire. Strollers are for pushing ahead of you at top speed as you race around the downstairs shouting, "Faster! Hurry up before Mom finds out we're racing in the house!"
If you ever wonder why I don't post more often, it's because I'm busy putting the kibosh on stroller races and stroller battles or perhaps relegating the stroller to the basement again.
Yesterday I brought it up from the basement and showed Stella how her baby could ride in it. Oh, so much fun. She pushed one baby and she chirped at one baby and she had a grand time. And then! She had a brilliant idea!
See the upside-down dolly in the picture? That's where she said, Look, it's a double stroller, Mom! Also, they need a book to read because sometimes it's boring to ride in the stroller.
I have had girly toys in this house off and on for years, and this was the first time anyone ever thought that two babies might like to go for a ride together.
This is going to be fun.
Oh yay! Can't wait!
Posted by: Erin | January 06, 2010 at 02:34 PM
Could you be more blessed!!! Just love it.
Posted by: Rebecca | January 06, 2010 at 04:04 PM
oooooh, she is so cute! And yes, it is SO much fun. :-).
Posted by: Tracy | January 06, 2010 at 05:39 PM
So cute! I know *exactly* how you feel :) Sadie is 2.5 and the girl stuff still feels like a novelty to me.
Posted by: Amie | January 06, 2010 at 08:42 PM
Oh, so sweet, Jamie! Brings back memories of my girls when they were around one. So happy that your sweet girl is enjoying her dolls. Wish you could bring her up to Chicago for a playdate.
Posted by: Becky Robinson | January 06, 2010 at 09:38 PM
I'm afraid to hope for that experience a year+ from now. I have a niece now that I'll get to play with and sew and knit for. But with #3 on the way and two boys so far, every person I've seen has said they're hoping for a girl for me and I don't want to disappoint them or myself if we have a third son growing in there. There could very well be a child #4 or 5 or 6 in our future and I'd like to think that a daughter would eventually be part of our family regardless of who this current child is.
Posted by: Amy F | January 06, 2010 at 11:17 PM
Jamie, I could have written this post! I have a daughter after two boys and have so enjoyed seeing exactly what you write about.
This may sound corny, but watching my daughter mother her babies (she's almost 4 now) has given me a whole new perspective on my own motherhood. I am sometimes pre-occupied by making sure my husband does as much of the nurturing part of parenting as I do. Or feeling bothered that I seem to care more about being home when the boys get off the bus/tucking the kids in at night/hearing all about their friends than he does. Seeing the stark differences between my daughter and sons reminded me that human males and females are very innately different beings. I rest easier in and better embrace my role as the nurturing parent. I learned from my daughter that I was made for this work.
Oh, and who knew that play kitchens are for pretending to cook? I thought they were for storing hot wheels cars and anchoring forts. The things we learn! :-)
Posted by: Laura | January 07, 2010 at 08:15 AM
Very cute photos! My poor grandmother used to try to get my sister and I to play with dolls but to no avail! Well...Barbie sometimes but I don't think it's the same.
I also had a friend who collected baby dolls and always wanted to play "house". She'd select a doll and then we'd get into an argument b/c I wanted her stuffed Raccoon to be my "child" :D
Posted by: Angela | January 08, 2010 at 12:38 PM
Oh, yay. Yes, my daughter (2 1/2) loves babies, but lately she's been into very intense character play--her animals arguing and deciding to go on an adventure together, or (lately) retelling the Cinderella or Three Bears story with the aid of whatever dolls and animals happen to be lying around nearby--in a way I don't remember her older brother being. It is fun.
Posted by: Clare | January 08, 2010 at 03:28 PM