A Daddy and his little girl...

This week is a Daddy kind of a week. Firstly, it was Father's Day -- Paul got to enjoy a day out golfing and the resounding cries of 'Happy Easter, Daddy!' from Maelyn. Now, we are thinking about the shift that is going to take place tomorrow -- Paul returns back to work, now that his parental leave is finished.

This time last year, Paul had never changed a diaper, given a child a bath, dealt with a tantrum, or given hugs to help make a boo-boo go away. Now, Paul is a certifiable Daddy expert! The change in him over the past year is not unbelievable, but it has been amazing to watch.

In the beginning, Maelyn wouldn't have anything to do with her Daddy. She attached to me first and just didn't have room yet to let another caregiver in her life. Over time, her bond with her Daddy has grown stronger and stronger -- to the point that now Daddy is her number one choice on many occasions.

I admire Paul for making the most of his time off with his little girl. He didn't waste a second! Paul and Maelyn spent hours riding bikes, playing at parks, visiting the zoo, going to toddler-type classes, attending speech therapy and so much more. Paul has a gift for being able to drop what he is doing and completely engage in play-time with Maelyn.

I also have to say that for me, it has been wonderful to have Paul at home -- coming home to cooked meals every night is a luxury I could easily get accustomed to! I am thankful that Paul now has an appreciation for the work that a stay-at-home parent does every single day. We are able to share the load because we both understand how much work it takes to keep things going around the house and with our little miss.

My kind, shy, compassionate, loving husband has changed over the past year -- into the most amazing father a little girl could ask for!