Babies and Their Power

I remember years ago (around 1993) when a buddy of mine made a comment to me that I heard but didn't really hear...

I lived in Maine at the time, and my buddy (who was also my boss) and his wife had just had a baby boy. Steve and I were driving back to his place from the video store one night and he said, "This is the closest Julie and I have been to the movies in almost a year... we don't do anything now that doesn't involve Justin in some way." He continued, "There's nothing we do that isn't about him now."

Let me explain that this conversation was mostly one-sided... Me listening and Steve absolutely brimming with pride and love about his 4 month old boy. He and Julie had made this incredible transformation into parents (and adulthood) and while I was impressed, I really didn't get it.

I think back to that conversation a lot. I think back to watching my buddy and his wife totally become different people upon the arrival of their son. It was a great "transformation."

The funny thing to me now, is that I'm realizing it's not really a transformation at all. I feel everyday like I was born to be a Dad. Like this has always been inside of me. I'm not going to go off on a tangent here about fate and destiny or anything, but I really believe this is the perfect "gig" for me... and Beck too. We have so much fun being Charlie's parents.

Honestly... I have ZERO desire to do anything these days without thinking of my daughter first. Funny. As I write this blog, Charlie is just now waking from a nap, yawning across the room from me... I've never smiled like this in my life.

Charlie now likes to go cheek to cheek with me when I hold her. She presses her face against mine and will just stay there for 10 minutes! All that chubby cheek power combined. The world better watch out!

By the way... remind me to tell the story sometime of how I agreed to actually FILM the birth of Steve and Julie's baby boy Justin! What an experience!