So it’s dawned on me recently that much of this blog’s content involving my kids revolves around the boys. If you’ve only just begun following, you may be unaware that I have a daughter as well.
I call her Ace on this blog and it’s her real life nickname to boot, courtesy of her grandmother.
While the squeaky wheels get the grease, all Ace does is get great grades, helps around the house and with her little brothers, never gets into any notable trouble and is a complete joy to have around!
I’m glad the good Lord didn’t have me fill out paperwork asking what I wanted in a daughter, because I’d have been too bashful to ask for all that he’s given us in Ace. I’d have sold myself way short!
Wife and I were married in September of 2002, after many years of her courting and wooing me unmercifully. The very next month, October 20th or maybe the 22nd, to be exact, we got our drink on at the Schlafly Taproom in downton St. Louis with a couple of our friends, Matt and Joe. The beer of the night was Oatmeal Stout and it was quite tasty.
The short of it is that some weeks thereafter, the wife informed me that she was with child but not to get excited because it was early and her doctor thought it was an ectopic pregnancy or some such nonsense like that. Well, I most certainly did have my hopes up, and thankfully, the doctor was mistaken and the pregnancy went just fine.
I come from a family of all boys. My mother looooonged desperately for a daughter. I still remember the hair barrettes that she had painted “Tia” on in the hopes that her last son would be a girl. Alas, it was not meant to be for her.
So, her joy at having her first grandbaby be a girl was unbridled.
I was also pleased to have a girl. The worry isn’t that the first one will be a girl, it’s that the next one would also be a girl, but that’s for another time.
My mom promptly retired from her job of nearly 40 years and became a babysitter. While we were lucky to have her at the time, her and Ace bonded way too much.
They used to talk to each other like they were sisters instead of grandma and grand daughter. It was a little creepy.
When Ace was a toddler, she was just as cute as a little girl could be.
Yes, that’s totally a Milwaukee’s Best box at grandma and grandpa’s house.
Her grandma was no cook and they’d eat out nearly every single day. This had some benefit, as she knew how to act like a civilized little human being in restaurants. We used to have people walk up to us all the time and compliment us on how good she was. How sad is it that she was the exception?
We never had any problem bringing Ace to happy hour with us as she enjoyed the video games and pull tabs while we consumed our mommy and daddy beverages.
The card she made for her grandpa when she was 5 is still classic to me.
An oldie but a goodie still.
Thankfully, she didn’t recall the fine server we had at Hooter’s when she drew that picture! Hooters, yeah we’ve been there. Ace loves wings!
Daddy daughter day!
And drinks!
Delightful…
And more drinks…
Whose round is it?
She’s always been a great eater. Fruits, veggies, you name it, but her first love is bacon and all meats related! She’s a meat and potatoes kind of gal!
The girl loves her some breakfast.
It’s not all fun and games and eating for Ace though, as she’s always had to pull her weight around the house.
They’re never too young!
She’s a sweetheart to her brothers, most of the time.
Ace with baby Cool.
Her and G$ look more alike than Cool, but sadly, he behaves nothing like her.
Ace and baby G$.
She’s the oldest of her cousins.
The girl likes to read, even to her brothers.
That’s right, Cool, he does not like green eggs and ham.
Still reading.
A thriller no doubt.
She’s a pretty little lady and quite a dancer
We were dancin’ fools that night.
But she’s never subjected me to a lot of things that most little girls love. She’s never made me play Barbie, and in fact, I’m not sure that she’s ever played with them herself. She had a Polly Pockets phase for sure, but girly things just never won her over.
The girliest she’s ever been for Halloween was a witch.
Scary witch, right?
We let her do as she wants, and she’s much happier dressed as a pirate.
Arrrrrgh!
Or just like her brother to make him happy.
You’re both pretty super!
She’s always enjoyed playing sports of all kinds. From soccer…
She’s got moves!
to softball…
Totally paying attention.
And anything involving water.
Water is her favorite.
The girl can be goofy.
SpongeAce.
Hey, that’s daddy’s drinking hat!
But she has a heart of gold.
Between G$ and Cool needing our help to cut their food or go to the bathroom or to hold them or make them a drink or this and that, Ace has to do a lot for herself. There’s nothing wrong with that for sure, and we make her do chores and do the things that she can on her own, but she’s still our baby girl and I sometimes worry that she feels like a third wheel.
She is so low maintenance and so gifted that I sometimes expect more from her than I should. We all have bad days and she’s entitled to them too.
I’m not saying she’s perfect by any stretch. She has a lot of me in her, so she can be sassy and lippy and pouty pouty pouty! Pouty isn’t from daddy, that’s her own gift.
But, sometimes when we take things for granted, we miss opportunities to remind them how we feel.
I love you, Ace. I love you more than my silly brain and mouth could ever conspire to tell you in person. That’s a shame, yes, but it is what it is. You’d probably just roll your eyes and say “Oh, Daddy, stop it!” anyway.
Know that when I tease you and test you and pester you and push you and urge you and offer you constructive criticism and ask you questions and give you chores and test your patience or tell you no or “because I said so” without explanation, I do it because I love you and I’m trying to do what I think is best for you.
Your mom and I aren’t perfect parents; we know that! There’s no book though, kid, we’re making this up as we go along!
You’re a sweetie and you have lots of friends.
I’m not your friend.
Say wha!!?
Mom is not your friend either.
Now you’re just being an ass.
We’re your parents.
We love you and want what’s best for you.
You’ll always be my baby girl.
My first little buddy!
No matter how big you grow.
Not so little anymore.
While I’m really eager to see what kind of woman you grow up to be, there’s no hurry. Let’s slow our roll a little bit with this growing up, ok sweetie?
My brain ain’t so good and I want to remember you as you are now and have been for the past nine wonderful years!
Thanks for being so great, kiddo!
Baby girl!
