October 11, 2012
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Before I became a father....
...........and many times since, I would always hear people talk about the day their child or children were born. They would describe so many details and what they saw, did and felt throughout the day, usually with enthusiasm and wide smiles on their faces. Many cite their child's birth as one of the happiest and most momentous days of their life, and I always assumed that when that day came for me, I would experience the same feeling. But, as anyone who knows me well has observed, I have certain "Kramer-esque" tendencies that go against the grain set by seemingly everyone else on Earth. Don't get me wrong - the days my children were born were good days. However, my entire recollection of Erica's birth would go something like - "Well my mom, wife, and I went to the hospital at around 6:00 am. It was a scheduled c-section for 8:30...... so the surgery went fine....um....the doctor said "It's a girl" and uh......that was pretty much that." But it didn't take long to realize that the true joy of parenthood was developing relationships, sharing experiences, and watching them grow, but all of that comes later over an extended period of time. I watched my daughter go from struggling to support her own head to beating me in a game of Uno and telling me sternly as she points her finger "Daddy, you don't smoke cigars because cigars are bad for you, okay?!" Between those benchmarks, I've had so many great times and memorable days with Erica that the one that started it all has mostly faded away, like holding a candle up to the sun. This morning, she woke me at 9:20 (we're night owls) quickly picked out her own clothes, dressed herself head to toe, and ate breakfast to make it to the QPL's puppet show. Then to the gym, where daddy worked out while she played at the facility's daycare. On to swimming, where she was smiling and giggling for the entire 45 minutes we were in the water. After swinging by mommy's work for a birthday hug, she chose Steak-N-Shake for lunch, and ate all of her food plus some ice cream for mommy. Later she took a nap before heading off to dance lessons, followed by dinner at Fazoli's (again, her choice) with the grandparents, followed by opening presents, followed by an hour at Bonkers before returning home and watching The Fox and the Hound while mommy made cupcakes for Erica's classmates. Throughout the whole day she smiled, laughed, and had a great time all the while doing what I told her when I told her (She's taken a vow of "no tantrums" now that she's four). Today I spent the fourth anniversary of a day I barely remember doing things I'll never forget. Happy birthday, Erica. I love you so much. But now that you're asleep, I think I'll go sneak in that cigar now.
