the advantages of raising daughters

I've always been one of those people who didn't have a preference in whether we had boys or girls. If anything, I would have said I hoped we had a boy because John is such a sports fanatic/guy's guy whereas I'm not really all that girly.

But, now...I see that there are some distinct advantages to having girls.

First of all, with this pregnancy, the girls are soooooooooo excited. And, not just about getting a new little sister. They are excited about everything that comes with a new baby -- putting together the nursery, looking at the little clothes and toys and tchokes that we receive as gifts -- stuff that John would humor me on, but really couldn't' have cared less about.

The girls spent time with me scrolling through crib sheet options for their new little sister, debating the merits of paisley versus polka dots versus flowers. When they arrived in the mail a few days later, they shrieked with joy and demanded that we opened the package RIGHT THEN. When I told John that the sheets had arrived, I got "Cool" as a response, but he didn't even ask to see them. I'm pretty sure he couldn't tell you what they looked like.

And E, who has always talked in a way that has sounded mature beyond her years, has been cracking me up with her commentary at it all. She will be a PRO at baby showers, because she has the baby shower remarks down pat. As we put away baby clothes last weekend (a task she *begged* to help with), she chattered on:

"Well, isn't this a-DOR-able!"
"How pre-SHUS is that onesie?"
"Can you believe they are ever that small?!?"

I was dying of laughter from it all.

But, it's not just baby-related stuff that is handy with the girls. Case in point, we all in the car the other day when A started talking.

A: Daddy, I need to talk to you about somethin'.
John: What is it, A?
A: After you go potty, you need to put the seat down. 'Cause when I go potty, it's up and then I have to put it down.
John: Well, what's wrong with that?
A: I'm tired of putting it down! You need to put it down yourself. I'm not putting it down for you anymore!

It's like she read my mind.