Whoa! So the Boomershines are having a girl.
We have a culture in our home where the needle is bent way…toward…boy. There are four little boys who love sticks and shoving, battle scenes, spider-hunts, and Lord of the Rings. We have a large box that is simply called “The Weapons Box.” Their movie choices are decidedly ungirly. In fact, if this weren’t a Christian home, the official slogan of our boys might be the famous line from Little Rascals, that they strive to be, “A He-man so manly, that if he fell off a building, he’d go out of his way to land on a girl.” But no, the boys think that line is funny, but not applicable to them.
Chrissy and I have considered it a treat and a privilege to start with four boys. Kar, Had, Linc and Knox have been an immense joy to us. They have made it easy for us to concentrate on what it means to raise a future man. We have been able to focus on a certain set of sub-values (values emphasized secondarily to love for God and neighbor) such as valor, gumption, chivalry, fortitude, steadiness, resolve and pluck. We know what we are aiming at, but the doing of it is a challenge.
And now? And now we welcome this little girl bringing sugar and spice with her. Now we must purpose to be more soft and gentle with our new addition. There will have to be much less tossing and swinging of the infant. There will undoubtedly have to be a line in the budget for dolls. There might be some pink things and tea parties. There will be more dress up, lost scrunchies, talk of ponies, and softness than we are accustomed to. There will be much longer hugs for scraped knees and fewer admonitions to “be tough.” There will be an all new sort of wardrobe, many pounds of accessories, hair entanglements, princess-speak (and now Haddon has a fighting chance to get the kitchen set he’s always wanted).
Claire Danielle
There will be new sorts of lessons for us parents, too. We will need help learning how to redeem biblical girlhood. And now I’m on the clock as I’ve got 22+/- years to psych myself up before walking her down the aisle to her chivalrous choice.
We are going to call her Claire Danielle. My grandpa’s name was Clair, and you can read here why we loved him so much. And she is named for my least favorite sister, Danielle; I am hoping that naming my daughter after her will help me like her better. (Actually…Danielle is just the sort of aim we have when bringing up a little girl.)
Life just got fuller and more expensive and more soft. We are in for it!
We can’t wait.
woohoo!! girls are DEFINITELY different, but you’ll love it. don’t forget the meltdowns for absolutely no reason. yes, that too starts very early. i never knew teaching a girl to be in control of her emotions started sooooo early. it’s all worth it though, especially when at just 5, your little one declares “but i can’t go to kindergarten next year, i have to stay home and help mommy!” worth it all! =)
I love the way you write things, Ryan. I’m so happy for your family. You have done an excellent job with your boys; I’m sure it will be no different with little Claire. I also think you’ve done an excellent job with your name choice. I love it when names are selected with a particular intention. I am sad that I will not see you all at our wedding, but I really look forward to our Girl’s Reunion this fall! Give Chrissy hugs from me
In Florida, there is a pretty red-haired doll at our place–I wonder if that is any significance of what is to be—??
I’ll be laughing about that Haddon comment all night. . .
The most recent disconcerting and incomprehensible (to me at least) trend has been Emma’s requests for specific bowls and cups to “match my outfit.” Betcha your boys never came up with that!
What great news! I just knew it would be a girl
Our little girl turns one this week…it’s hard to imagine that it wasn’t so long ago that we were in your situation!
It’s fun having 4 boys and a little girl….and the comments when you go out in public will only get worse!
[...] you can read here what we think about a girl living in OUR house and, especially, why we named her [...]
I appreciate that after four children, you have not lost the wonder of birth, or bringing a life into the world as a gift from God. We also think the name Danielle is pretty special. Just imagine whose wife you might be preparing her to be….
I love that you are having a girl. I read the post from March 2009 and saw how you thought no way a girl. My husband and I have had several boys, and just had a girl in 2011. I am loving the pink! My boys are wonderful though. The girl is a great addition too.