Father's Day with Daddy!

Last year, J celebrated his first Father's Day with some of his best friends at a brunch. But this year was completely different because E is so much more involved than she was at eight months. This year, J asked that we spend Saturday on the lake to celebrate. This request worked out perfectly with the recent acquisition of our boat and that the forecast called for 105 degree weather.

I was kind of apprehensive about how E would handle being on the boat for the majority of the day. She has been on a boat before, actually, it was almost exactly a year ago. She HATED the life jacket that she was required to wear at the time because the style restricted the range of movement for her neck.

2011

 In preparation for many hours spent on the boat this summer, I shopped around for a life jacket that would work for someone of her weight, but didn't have the attractive around-the-neck feature. Toys R Us came through for me. We tried it on at home a week or so before and she seemed pretty excited about it. 

2012

We packed up the night before and got up early in order to take advantage of E's most wakeful hours. I wasn't sure if she would be willing to nap on the boat, or just fuss until we got her in her crib at home. You see, E is not the kid that will fall asleep wherever she is whenever she is tired. She sleeps in her bed, and only in her bed (or pack n play at daycare). She hasn't granted her Daddy's wish of peacefully falling asleep while snuggling on the couch or in our bed since she was just a little fry.

The day far exceeded my expectations! E had a blast; she hung out with her Aunt and Uncle, didn't try to take her life jacket off, and seemed to feel very comfortable on the boat. She would even ask to sit on J's lap while he was driving. Maybe she'll be driving the boat while he wake boards behind it in a few years!

It was the perfect day to celebrate the perfect Daddy for our daughter. J has always been very involved with every stage that E is going through. He is more than I could have dreamed of as a father for my children and a partner in the journey that compares to nothing else. He is attentive and devoted to that little girl. Everything else falls away when she is in his arms.