To My Husband on Father’s Day

When I was pregnant with Kate my friend Beth made the following observation: “They say women become mothers the moment they find out they’re pregnant, but men don’t become fathers until they hold their child. That’s not the case with Greg, though. That man became a father the moment you peed on the stick!”

She was right. You’ve been an incredible father from the very start—reading the baby books, attending birthing classes and appointments, playing Miley Cyrus songs to my belly, getting me french fries when my hunger turned into a “code red” situation…the list goes on. You were so attentive and so eager for Kate’s arrival that I used to joke, “Somebody give that man a baby!!”

I’ll never forget the moment she arrived. We were staring at each other the first time we heard her, and your eyes went wide. I watched as your heart doubled in size that very moment and all that extra space filled up with the kind of love that only a father can have. It was an incredible moment–the moment our daughter was born and you became a father who finally had a baby to hold.

You fell so easily into your role as Kate’s Daddy–changing her diapers, giving her baths, picking out mismatched outfits and trying hard to give the “I Love Mommy” ones almost as much action as the “I Love Daddy” ones.   Before she could even hold her head up you already had little games you’d play with her and things you tried to teach her.  Now that she’s older, I watch in amazement as the two of you have such perfect and precious daddy-daughter moments: 

She tackles you, and the two of you roll around the floor in fits of laughter. 
Playing peek-a-boo with your baseball cap. 
Your endless patience as you read every single book she brings you before scooting up onto your lap. 
Teaching her how to “give me five!” and throw a ball…and my least personal favorite: saying “Ahhh!” after she takes a swig of milk from her sippy cup. 

I told Kate when she was born that I picked the very best Daddy I could find for her, and you prove me right every single day.  Happy Father’s Day to the most wonderful father a mother could ever hope for for her child.

Love, D