There’s Nothing Better....
Than being a dad! I am a very lucky man. I have a beautiful wife, a great family (on both sides) and a precious little baby girl. Maya is entering that age/stage where she is beginning to be interactive. Her looks, actions and reactions are all thought out now. She is moving away from a predominantly primal communication system to something that is markedly different. When she looks at you now, you can really see recognition. The first time I see Maya every day, she looks at me, takes a sec to figure out who I am and then promptly responds with the cutest, day brightening smile anyone could imagine. Toothless, chubby-cheeked and squinty eyed, her smile is really quite unforgettable (note the picture above...how could you not love a face like that?).
I’m pretty sure that my favorite new thing that Maya is doing is laughing. She no longer squeals, which is really cute as well, but now she laughs. Her little laugh is unique and all her own. It doesn’t sound like mine, or Michelle’s, it is a special little part of her that is all her own. Last night I was watching Maya while Michelle was out thrift shopping. I was lying on my back with her on my stomach sitting up. She was looking at me and smiling and I started to laugh because she was just staring. When I started to laugh, her smile went straight and then all of a sudden it was back and bigger than ever. Her mouth had opened, much like in the picture above. I started laughing louder and this only encouraged her to do the same. She started giggling. Ah ha Ah ha ha ha. Ah ha Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha. Before you knew it, we were both just laughing about nothing and everything. I would stop and she would stop. Then I would start again and she would start again. These moments are so incredibly special and exactly what people are referring to when they say that being a parent is a lot of work, but so worth it. This is one of those memories that I will treasure and lock away in my gray matter for whenever I am feeling down or frustrated. It’s too bad that she will probably never remember this moment. The only solace I find in that sad fact is that I’m 100% positive that there will be many more of these moments. I, on the other hand, feel very lucky to be in a position to remember all of them.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
