We try to make a big deal out of D everyday. Therefore, fathers day was just another day. We try to make a real effort to thank and appreciate D every day. Sometimes I forget to make this an outward sign or verbal thanks but I hope he knows we think and recognize how lucky we are to have him.

Being a parent changes things a lot. I think the biggest change is how much you appreciate your own parents. My teenager self had much different standards for a dad as I do now. (I love my dad, but as a teenager I am sure I could have told you things I thought he could do better) Something I have always appreciated about D is how good he takes care of the people in his life. He is the most genuinely selfless person I know. This has continued as he cares for BB. Everything I thought I wanted in the father of my children has gone out the window. I think that now a days there is an impossible standard on parents in general but there is also a weird thing about dads. I see a lot of things where dad’s are slammed because they don’t do this or they aren’t as hands on as people expect. Things where women treat dad’s like they are incapable.

D is an amazing dad. He is so patient, loving, tender, and genuinely there for BB. He would do anything for her but he also has the self control to not smother her. He knows that she is going to grow up and he wants to set her up for the most success possible. He is not driven by emotion which allows him to see and asses situations clearly. He keeps me grounded and makes sure that I am allowing her the breathing room she needs to be the strong independent woman we want BB to grow up to be.

He works so hard to provide for our family. He does everything he needs to do to make sure we are safe and have what we need. He effortlessly handles all the stress at work and stresses at home and makes sure that the two of us are taken care of well above his own needs. He keeps things light, he doesn’t let me get too overwhelmed or stressed out and he makes sure that BB smiles every day. He is so selfless and even after a long day at work he puts it all behind him and comes home and loves on BB and plays with her. He is so steady it really balances out my ups and downs.

The love he has for BB blows me out of the water. There is nothing more attractive to me than a man (my man) who is crazy in love with his daughter. We are in trouble in the future because they are the best of buds. They are each others favorites and I don’t doubt that, ever. She is so happy when she see’s him and she will talk and laugh and play. We have fun while he is at work but you can tell there is a special connection they have. He is so good with her. He knows her so well especially for not spending every second of every day with her. (That is an attribute I especially love about him, he is so aware of and able to really know what the people he is close to need or want. He is really good at observing and picking up on the little things) Often times when BB is fussing and I just cant seem to figure it out either he takes her and she is instantly better or he suggests something and it is the cure.

Above all, they play and enjoy each other. No matter where we are, what we are doing, or who we are with D is always playing with and making BB feel special. My favorite is when we go grocery shopping and he shows her all sorts of produce or products and often promises to give them to her when she is older. He loves to show her the world and she loves learning from him. I also love every night while I wash the dishes after dinner (yes dad, I do dishes, ask mom she saw) and I can hear them playing and laughing. He always makes her laugh the hardest and I just love to listen to them play. How did we get so dang lucky?

It is so much more than the number of diapers he changes or the number of times he wakes up with her in the middle of the night with her. I think too often a dad’s abilities and worth for lack of a better word are tied too much to those things. To me what makes a good dad is how much he loves her (us) and how hard he works to provide for us, the rest is just bonuses! I lucked out with an incredibly good looking, genuinely amazing husband and I am so thankful that nothing changed or was lost, if anything it just got better, when he became a dad!

We love him, more than words, blog posts, cards, gifts, pretty much anything will ever be able to express, and we are so incredibly grateful that we get to call him ours. Also we are slacking, I know, it’s been two weeks… we just wanted to keep the dad hype going a little longer! (They really don’t get enough credit)