I was thinking about the topic the other day…being a father. And a few weeks ago, I wasn’t even sure if I “felt like a father.” Not sure what I mean by that, but I know I just felt like “me” still, the same ol’ dopey guy who liked movies, sports, legos, comic books, the weather, etc.

I had a kid, but nothing had changed inside me to flip on the “father” feeling. Sure, I loved this little girl, I loved taking care of her, taking care of both my girls really. But it was probably just instinct. You just take care of things, that’s what we men do.

But when they were both away from me in Texas/Tennessee for four days, I suddenly had this change come over me. I missed both of them terribly. I’ve traveled a lot for work in the past, away from Jina, but it was different then.

This change made me realize that over the last seven months, Lyla had created this new space inside me that I didn’t know existed until she was gone for a few days.

It was like I just knew. Finally. I was a dad.

Not to mention the fact that ANYTHING I watch with a father and his little girl gets me all emotional now. And I can’t watch bad stuff about kids without it affecting me. We watched The Changeling last night and it messed me up…messed both of us up.

ANYWAYS, happy Father’s Day to myself and all of us dads out there, especially the first timers.

Now, I don’t know if Lyla is TRYING to say daddy or what, but lately she says “da da da” a LOT and it certainly sounds like her version of daddy.

Here’s a little video of it below and I defy anyone to find a cuter little girl. She just melts me down to my soul.