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Dear C:
So, this year, we probably won’t be celebrating this Valentine’s
Day with a romantic dinner out at our favorite restaurant… or even a romantic
picnic dinner on our living room floor. Instead, one of us will likely be busy
consoling our sick baby boy, while the other pretends to be a horsey in one of
Emmy’s imagined games. Maybe, if we’re lucky, we’ll steal a moment (and by that
I mean A MOMENT) to ourselves, in the kitchen, while we are preparing Em’s
dinner. Maybe we’ll even get a chance to share a kiss.
And even though that doesn’t sound like an IDEAL Valentine’s
Day, per se, it will still be wonderful. You know why? Because I will spend the
evening watching you be the amazing dad that you are. As you sit on the floor
in Emmy’s room, with a stuffed animal in hand, talking in silly voices, I will
be falling more in love with you. And as you make Em laugh hysterically with rubber ducky antics during bath time, I will be falling more and more in love
with you. And as you walk our son up and down the hallway, talking to him in
soft whispers until he stops crying, I will fall more and more and more in love
with you.
Parenting two little human beings might not give us lots of “alone
time.” And it might not be super romantic when I tell you I love you while I
rush Emmy to the potty or clean Oren’s spit up off my shirt. But parenting has
also allowed me to see just how incredible you are, in ways I couldn’t imagine
pre-parenthood. Parenthood hasn’t made me notice you or appreciate you less. It
has made me notice and appreciate you more. It shows me how darn lucky I am, to
have found not only a fantastic husband and friend, but also a brilliant father
for our children.
So thank you. Thank you for loving me, and thank you for
loving our children, in such a complete and wonderful way. Thank you for
treating fatherhood like a gift, and for giving your all to raising our kids.
True, it may not be the most romantic Valentine’s Day ever. But
please know that even if this holiday is full of poopy diapers and toddler
tantrums, I will be busy loving you and being grateful for your love, in more
ways than I could ever express.
Love you forever,
D
p.s. If we DO get that moment in the kitchen, let’s make
sure to make it a GREAT one. :)
