happy father's day!

Today is Chad's first Father's Day.

He's not one for holiday attention -- most years, I have to nag him to open his birthday presents, sometimes weeks after the actual day has come and gone. He's never once, in ten years together, asked me for a party or to make a big deal over anything centered around him. (I've thrown him a few anyways, because, come on, this girl likes to throw a party.)

But on this holiday, I've got to say a little something, even if it embarrasses him.

Seven weeks ago, we met our baby boy. And in the weeks since that moment, our lives have basically turned upside down -- with too many decisions and worries and amazing, joyful moments to count.

Before that moment, our ideas of motherhood and fatherhood were purely hypothetical -- "here's what we'll do when we have kids, someday." But in the last seven weeks, something changed -- we actually know our son. Our ideas of what we'll be as parents aren't just ideas, some of them are actually happening right now. Sure, we don't know him as well as we will in a year, or in ten years, but this little person -- with all his likes and dislikes and needs and wants -- is starting to become himself.

And, somewhere along the line, Chad and I became parents.

In these last few weeks, I have gotten so much joy from watching Chad with the baby -- whether he's rocking Bear to sleep, doing voices for his storybooks, or just snuggling with him at the end of the day. They haven't been the easiest weeks -- but they are weeks that I'll remember for the rest of my life. Our first moments of parenthood, our first days with our newborn son -- they're etched into my memory forever.

So on his first Father's Day, I am so very grateful to be sharing this journey with my wonderful husband. I know he will be (and already is) the most wonderful father to our baby boy, and I am so, so very excited to see their relationship grow.

Happy Father's Day to Chad, and all the wonderful fathers in our lives!