My 4 grandkids

[Alex Franke]

Here they are with my daughter. I think they're all girls, but one is a bit androgynous -- and it's clothes are pretty much sewn on -- so we're not exactly sure. (Two of them are actually from my wife's childhood!)

It's really very interesting to see my boy and girl grow and learn. We're not consciously teaching them any gender roles, but they really seem to be gravitating toward these behaviors naturally. My boy never really cared about dolls, even though they were around. But my girl keeps very careful tabs on them and is careful to keep them fed and tucked in at night -- they're always close by her.

I thought this picture was particularly cute, so I thought I'd share it with my friends here.

[crokett]

Your daughter's gonna be a heartbreaker. I have two girls. The oldest is very much into dolls, dress up, etc. She is much like yours - her 'friends' are also tucked in at night. The younger one only plays with dolls because her sister does and would much rather be outside grubbing in the dirt.

[Richard in Smithville]

She's a sweetheart Alex. When my two daughters were younger, they would be playing with dolls one minute and cars the next. The oldest, who like the dresses and make up, also loves spending shop time with me.

[Ed62]

That's a cute shot, Alex. I have a grand daughter who is 2 1/2 now. She changes the doll's diapers, and really takes good care of her most of the time. But I have seen her throw the baby across the room a time or two. You'd better enjoy them while they're little. One day you'll wake up, and they'll have kids of their own.

Ed

[TB Roye]

Your daughter is a little sweatheart, better get a big gun to fight the boys off. How old?

I have 4 grandkids. A girl here in Sacramento, Tori, very much a princess, still likes to be out in the shop with me. I have 3 in Idaho. a 7yr old boy and 5yr old twin boy and girl. Justing, Jakob, and Madelynne. While Madelyne has grown up with boys she seem to have gravatated to the girly stuff on her own and is very much into Barbbie and the Princess stuff on Disney.

Tom

[Knottscott]

What dolls! ...congratulations? Very cute pic....thanks for sharing!

[lrogers]

What a little cutie! That was a very good camera shot too.

[Alex Franke]

Thanks, all!

She'll be 2 in less than 2 weeks, and I've been working feverishly on her rocking horse. The horse's legs are angled forward and out, and they stand on boards which sit on the rockers, and I'm at the point now where I need to pre-drill 2 inches through the bottom of the boards, and into the rather thin legs without screwing it up.

I've done it successfully a few times before, but this part always makes me really really nervous!! But I can't put it off any longer because I have to get the finish on so it has time to dry...

[ironhat]

Real sweet! I'm partial to the girls because we have two and now two g.daughters (and two g.sons). Wait til she gets the idea to give one of her dollies a haircut. The result is probably how punk rock styles got their beginning - LOL!!