Why a girl needs her daddy...

.reasons even more important than sharing chocolate ice cream!

Jane's signature "love punch"... her sign of affection reserved especially for Daddy

It really hasn't been until the past 6 months or so that Derek has been able to feel like he had much to offer Jane. Due to his demanding work schedule, he wasn't as involved in taking care of her during her first year and it was a vicious circle because even when he was around and tried to take care of her, she had become such a momma's girl that the problem continued to perpetuate itself.

A lot has changed now that she's past her first year. Jane squeals with delight when she hears the garage door open and yells, "DaDa!", giving him the best welcome home. Most nights, Derek is the one to put Jane to bed. Tonight he wasn't home, so I took her into her room to do her bedtime routine, which Daddy established.

Admittedly, I wouldn't have started a consistent routine with her as early as he did, because I thought she was still too young to notice. But he persists in singing her a song (usually "I am a child of God") and then saying prayers. So tonight I did the same. She snuggled in my arms as I sang, and then at the end of the song she said something (her vocabulary is still not very clear) and adjusted her arms, and I realized she was folding them and said, "Prayer." I was so touched that at 20 months old this little girl already has formed a habit that will be a blessing to her the rest of her life.

Four kids later, and I continue to be amazed at how much they can learn at such a young age, especially pertaining to spiritual matters. I obviously still have a lot to learn myself.

Thank you, Daddy. I know you don't feel like you're around as much as you'd like to be, but when you are here, you're making the time count.