This is the first part of a long series of posts focused around my life as a father to 2 girls. It will explore my hopes and prayers for them, as well as highlight major achievements and overwhelming disappointments in the game we call fatherhood.

If you have not clicked the “me” tab to discover all things about me no one really cares about- then you would not know I have 2 daughters ALB and CEB. I am using initials to save them the embarrassment of being associated with me.  In what could only be described as God proving he not only has a sense of humor but he loves to use it- he blessed me with 2 daughters.

I was your typical male before we had our oldest child, ALB (currently 4), I thought I would have a boy and show him how to throw a discus, play football, collect sports cards- typical dad son things, then the unthinkable happened – my wife and I decided not to find out the sex of our first offspring. We played it safe- yellow and green color theme throughout the room – all the time I was hoping a boy would pop out. I will not forget what the doctor said on that day August 25th 2005 (the weekend Katrina hit the Gulf Coast),  during the delivery. ALB came out hand/arm first- doc stopped looked at me and said “you’re having a girl”. Now I did not do so well in biology but I was pretty sure the indicator of sex was below the belly button- so what was going on. Short story long – ALB  a healthy somewhat alienish looking child comes out- and I ask the doc- “how did you know?” he said “Girls come out reaching for daddy’s wallet.”

In that moment when I first picked her up- that exact moment- I was completely overwhelmed with emotions. I was not exactly sure why- but after a few months it hit me. That raw emotion still consumes me on certain days. After 4 years I have gathered great clarity regarding that emotion mostly in thanks to my wife. She once told me – how my girls observe me- how they see me as a father will someday be what they are looking for in a husband. WOW – think about that- think about the next time you want to yell at your child for trivial issues, think about that before you open your mouth and say something hurtful while in the car, or at the mall, or even your house. The other part of that- and again credited to my wife, my daughters will understand their  own beauty based on their perception of how I define their beauty. OK that came out unclear possibly- so I will explain. I look into their eyes every morning and every night to remind my girls they are precious gifts, that are beautiful beyond any measure. They are just as perfect a being as God could put here in this imperfect world.  Then I pray for the parents of the child who is raising my future son-in-law.

Right now – throwing a discuss and playing football have been replaced with tea time and braiding hair  on dolls, watching My Little Pony, quoting the Wiggles and playing dress up. And you know what – I wouldn’t trade it for a thing.

Part 2 will discus – what, my child has red hair and more gas then me?

Bonus Daddy Tip:  kids have awesome memories. In a moment of weakness I encouraged my 2 year old to pull my finger. I then cut the cheese. 6 months later after that one time I get daily requests to pull my finger and even better she asks me to pull her finger so she cut one loose. Moral of the story- Dont start something you are not prepared or qualified to stop.

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