Little Girls and Big Memories

While talking with a friend today who is going to be a first time father soon, he made this comment about having a girl: "I don't know what fun things there are to do with girls besides tea parties and Barbies, and that's not fun to me."  I know that a lot of guys probably feel this way.  My comment to him was this: "The first year doesn't really matter.  All they do is eat, sleep and cry.  By the end of the first year you will be so in love with her that you may find yourself playing Barbies."  I also told him that if he takes an active part in her life she will enjoy doing lots of activities with her daddy. 

My 2 year old daughter LOVES to do pretty much anything with Daddy.  He takes her outside whenever he can and she is more than happy to tag along and do whatever he is doing.  She carries pieces of wood for him, rides on the Gator, goes to auctions, goes to the farm and hardware stores, helps him clean the garage, etc.  If Daddy's doin it, she wants to do it too.  She also likes Daddy to be a horse and give her rides around the house...poor Daddy...he's kind of an abused horse sometimes. 

My brother has a great relationship with his 2 year old daughter as well.  He has even taken her on a little daddy-daughter camping trip.  When I told him I was writing this post he said, "I was just thinking how there is nothing better than cuddling with my daughter and falling asleep with her." 

So, I believe that if a father includes his daughter in his everyday life, she will enjoy their time together no matter what it is that they are doing.  And a father will find some enjoyment in playing Barbies too if it makes his little girl happy.  There is definitely a special bond between daddies and their daughters and they will both cherish the memories made. 

Speaking of making memories....
I always think about how crazy it is that my daughter is 2 years old, has lived her whole life so far, but won't remember a single thing about it when she's older.  As a parent, I make sure she is exposed to many different things and gets to do lots of exciting activities.  There is nothing like watching a toddler having the time of her life and talking about it every day for the next month.  I make sure to take pictures (and have started a journal) so she can see all the fun things she got to do....but Man, I wish she would remember these things later on.  I just hate that the past 2 years will not be remembered for her.  But I will still have all of the memories and I guess maybe that's just as important.  I know that the experiences she has now will help shape the person she is going to be. 

Here she is at the hot air balloon festival with her cousin, having so much fun and still talking about it today....this will only be a picture of "some crazy thing her mom took her to" some day, but for now I am enjoying the excitement she expresses when she relives the event.