Happy [belated] Father's Day!

This was Matt's first Father's Day, and what a joy it was! I am daily amazed at my little family and how it is changing and growing. BC brings out new and wonderful things in us every day. (We won't mention what else she can bring out in me at 3 a.m. but she doesn't do that too much any more!)

I knew that Matt had come to terms with the idea that we couldn't put off parenthood much longer before my head (or womb) exploded. But I didn't imagine the ways that he would embrace it.

Matt, your wife is awed by you as you have anticipated and then embraced becoming a father to our little BC.

When I was moving from hinting to pressuring about starting a family, you just came out and said, "Let's go for it."

When I came to you completely convinced I was pregnant because I was all of 2 days late, you may have thought I was crazy (and it wouldn't be the first time). But you went with me to buy the test. That positive result made me cry (like most good news does), and you sat on the floor of our bedroom where my knees had given out, and you held me and prayed with me and loved that moment just as I did.

You made me breakfast every morning that summer to make sure I ate well.

You did not use your brand new grill -- much as I know you wanted to -- because it made me pukey to smell BBQ. [Please, use it as much as you want to this summer. You've definitely earned it!]

You patiently listened as I read to you each week about our baby's newly developed arm buds or eyes or hearing or taste buds or . . .

I started researching how I wanted this baby to come into the world and I landed on Bradley's method. And I didn't give you enough credit. I thought you'd never do it, or you'd give me reasons it would never work. But the second I mentioned it, you told me to go for it. You faithfully went to every class and did the work and agreed with me completely that our baby would be born as naturally as possible. And you never doubted my ability to have a natural birth. I can't tell you what that meant to me.

You massaged my sore feet and watched my belly move with BC's hiccups and took on extra housework while I was pregnant.

The night of the big event, you didn't bat an eyelash. You knelt beside the couch with me as I experienced my first contractions and stared labor in the face. And then you calmly went about packing up the car, only to hustle in for my next contraction!

And you pulled me through that labor with a calmness and love I deeply admired. I know how much you love me, and that night was a shining example. You completely awed my mother!

As scared as you must have been, you embraced our little girl as she entered our lives. And you haven't looked back. You may have felt a little awkward as you took that tiny person in your arms; you may have been intimidated by those first diaper changes and dressing sessions. But you did it.

This summer, you are caring for BC with patience that I don't even think you knew you had.

For all of the crying fits and spit-ups and messy didies and tears, you are learning to be a source of comfort and happiness for our baby.

Even when you read to her from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles about judgment and hellfire and gory deaths, she hears your voice and it calms her. (But I don't recommend that particular reading material for much longer. Sooner or later she'll "get it," and it will make for long nights.)

When she needs horsey rides on your knee or belly tickles or airplane rides or roller coaster rocking, you are there for her . . . and for me.

You are amazing and I love you. Happy Father's Day, Bear! BC and I are lucky girls.