Celebrating Daddy

Fi loves her Daddy. You can tell by the way she lights up when she sees him, or how she follows him with her eyes as he walks around the room. They have a special bond that I would have never imagined from my husband.
While I have always loved my husband with all of my heart for the last (almost) 9 years we have been married, I was always unsure about how he would be with a child. Being an only child himself, he hadn't been around babies much and had never held one. In the last few years, opportunities have come up but he decided that since he had waited this long, might as well wait until he had his own child to hold him/her first. Unfortunately, having the rough labor we did, I was left on an operating table while they stitched me back up when he got the chance and so I missed it myself. I've seen the pictures though. He's never really spoken of it, being a man and all, but I know it was a special moment.
In our years of being together, he always told me he was fine not having children. Again, being a man, he didn't feel any clock ticking and had no real attachment to other kids so I can see where this stemmed from. And the first few years of our marriage, I hadn't given it much thought either. When I finally came to him asking to try, he was reluctant but gave in, I think mostly to keep me happy.
Once we found out we were pregnant, he had to rewrite the future he always saw and had to somehow incorporate a small living creature into his plans. I wasn't sure what to expect of him after our daughter was born but just like everything else he does in life, he does this well. (I could have guessed since he was so amazing throughout the pregnancy and through the labor and delivery.)
Even when our day-old helpless daughter was put into NICU, he stepped up to the plate keeping me strong thoughout the entire 5 days she was stuck there. When we got home and he was back to work, he still managed to help with the night time feedings and deal with me and my raging hormones.
But even all of that doesn't compare to the dad he is today. Before having Fiona, I could never imagine him changing diapers, getting down on all fours to play with a baby, or skip his "me time" to spend time with a baby. And yet he does all of that and more every day. He does more than I ever could to keep this house going. Between full time stressful work, taking college courses, and playing with Fi in the evenings, he still has time to keep her diapers washed and do dishes on the many occasions I fail to do it.
He truly is the foundation that keeps this family together and keeps me going day in and day out. While I fail at so many things in life (have you seen my house lately?), he pushes me to be better.
I know I test his patience regularly and yet he still loves me for who I am (though I'm sure there are many things he would change if he could). I think about a life without him and I come up empty. I never thought my love for him would grow more from having a child.
He gives me Tuesday nights out every week when he might go out once or twice a month. He comes home from a long day at work to continue to work around the house because I failed to do things during the day. He takes pictures without grumbling about it (it was all I could do to get a few photos of us once a year before Fiona was born). He is more than I ever expected in a husband. How did I get so blessed?! (I find myself asking that question regularly)
I am having a hard time trying to say what I want to but it comes down to me being incredibly blessed to have such a wonderful husband and Fiona having such a great dad! We love you so much, DonoMan.