Father & Daughter Days

Well, the first week is almost over. Mommy went back to work this week, and Charlotte and Daddy have had a great week! It's certainly a difference from a few weeks ago when my baby girl cried and cried whenever I would hold her. Now she is my little snuggler again. There is just no better feeling than having your baby girl nuzzle into your neck and fall asleep in your arms.

It is so amazing how you can just "feel" that your baby trusts you. How she just knows that you'll do anything to help her through her discomfort or just hold her so she can calm down for a nap.

Charlotte has gotten back to really snuggling into my arms and relaxing herself to sleep. The way she stares at me when I hold her... man. It gets to me. I can just hear her saying, "I love you Daddy" in that stare. At least until she's 7 or 8 and starts hating me for making her clean her room. :)

I am so thankful that I get to spend this time with her. I can already see her growing up too fast. She is such a good little girl. I couldn't be more proud of her.

Charlie's World

There's no use denying it: My daughter is now the ruler of our house. Everything we do is for her or about her... as it should be. It's funny how people try to tell you this while you're pregnant and you just say, "yeah, I know, I know", but you can never really be prepared for how consuming having an infant in your house can be.

I have a buddy that always told me in the months leading up to Charlotte's birth, "your life is over." I'd always laugh and joke along with him, saying I would not let it happen, but you know what? It really isn't a bad thing. It's just an adjustment in priorities.

I'm a Dad now, and that is a great thing; not a burden. Have I mentioned how much I love being a Dad? We went to Beck's salon the other day, and all the girls were holding Charlotte, fawning over Charlotte, and just overall starring in amazement. Our friend Cheryl said, "now that's the picture we need. Daddy sitting there watching his daughter with that big smile on his face." She caught me. Being the proud Dad of my beautiful baby girl. I well up a little when I think about it.

I always have been that way to a degree. When I would watch videos of my nieces and nephew, it got to me a little. It's always been strange to me that I am so proud of kids that aren't mine... I use to bore people when they came over showing the latest concert my niece Kate was in, or the play Emma was in, or how well Maddie could ride her bike. And one of my favorites was Hope and Micah singing Grandma D "Happy Birthday", and then telling jokes. Those videos mean a lot to me because my brothers live so far away. Sometimes, it's the only time I see my nieces and nephew for a year or two (or three).

It's a whole new level when it's your own kid though. I lose it everytime I see the first video montage I put on this site (click HERE). Something about that song and the pictures we took when we first brought her home. That Kenny Loggins song used to be my nieces favorite way back when. Now she's almost 16... I can't believe that.

Did you ever notice that Martha Stewart says, "fentastic" instead of "fantastic"? And that EVERYTHING is just fentastic? Does that bother anyone as much as it bothers me?

2 Months Already

Well our two month doctors appointment went very well. We asked all our questions, and got the exact answers we expected. The internet is the best. In addition to the answers to our everyday questions, we also knew EVERY question the doctor would ask us, and what types of physical tests she would do. Seriously... word for word.

Anyway, I suppose it's just more comforting to hear it from a real doctor.

Charlotte is now 11 pounds, 9 ounces and she feels every bit that heavy. I'm sure all you parents out there don't pay much attention to this stuff anymore, but Beck and I are just amazed at how much she grows (and matures) from week to week. When people tell you things like "cherish this time, it will be over before you know it" and "take all the pictures you can", etc. etc., it doesn't really sink in until a few months down the road. Not to say that I haven't taken pictures!

Beck and I feel like we've had our baby girl forever. Like she has always been a part of our lives. When I talk to some of my buddies who have older kids, they always tell me, "she be there before you know it," and I believe it. Two months have flown by; no, rocketed by.

There is nothing in the world that makes me feel happier than my baby girl smiling and giggling at me. What a heart melter.