Change in Heart

Kaia does this funny thing where she backs up into me when she wants to snuggle.  No matter where I am on the couch or floor, she always needs to be near me.  I love it.  The past week of having Kaia has been an absolute joy.  I imagine its hard for some to believe that a man would enjoy being alone wiwth his daughter for an entire week and weekend, but I would not trade a single moment in for the world.  Its funny how my friends know now not to text me when I have Kaia because the answer will be no.  I still like to have fun, but I have the most fun hanging out with a 13 month old little girl who is sillier than I am.  Kaia’s new favorite thing to do is to stand behind me on the couch and smack my vald head unitl I turn around.  She then ducks down to hide, all the time she is laughing as hard as she can.  No greater joy. 

A friend of mine asked me what do I do now that I have Kaia for so many more days than before.  I replied the normal stuff.  Other than racing around the house, we go to the park( she is still not a fan of the swings), go shopping, read books… Just the normal father / daughter stuff.  I still watch football on Sundays; I just have a little girl curled up next to me on the couch.  I wouldn’t want it any other way…

Its sometimes hard for me to believe that it was just over a year ago, I was the life of the party.  Now the best part of my life is barely past my knees.  I hate to be cliché and one of those parents who completely lose their identity in their kids.  I am still crazy ol Oliver who loves a stiff cocktail, I just now enjoys those every other weekend when I don’t have Kaia… in between doing her laundry and cutting on coupons for diapers.

I just don’t get how some people can be “dead beat “parents.  I find no greater joy than watching Kaia laugh.  It touches a place in my heart I never knew existed until now, the scary thing is that each day, that joy and love grows deeper and deeper as she becomes more of “Daddy’s Girl”.    I unfortunately know that I am setting myself up for disaster once she turns 13 and I become a dinosaur, but it is my hope that she remembers all the Sunday trips to the park, and all the Sunday afternoon ice creams runs.  I hope she know that for the rest of my life, no single thing will ever make my heart skip a beat, like a smile from her…. Even if she still only has 4 teeth!