Daddy

I remember the day that you became Daddy
You had been my boyfriend and then my husband,
But you were still a boy, really,
And I was still a girl.

The day that she was born,
Your tender heart opened wider than you knew it could.
You started a journey that would bring you
To a completely different place--
One of giving your all
To a cause that could not possibly return the favor.

We didn't know what she was,
But then she was born, and you whispered
With teardrops in your throat,
"It's a girl! It's a girl!"

And since then,
Your heart has grown again and again
To welcome our second little girl,
Our only little boy
And anxiously waits
To hold our third little girl.

You are Daddy
To children who love you with a child's true love
Yet can not know how much you love them
Cannot know all that you invest in them
Of your time, your energy, your dreams.
They love you because you are Daddy.

And Daddy means silly,
Funnier than Mama,
Wrestling sessions on the living room floor,
Bubbles and water on the backyard slide,
Baby powder sliding on the hardwood floors,
Special rides in your truck and
Little gifts for no reason.

You are Daddy.
They love you.
I love you.
You're more than I ever wished for in my children's daddy.
Thank you.

Love,
Your Very Proud Wife