I am a lucky father

I was 29 years old, only married for about two years. I woke up around 3 AM on a couch in the delivery room. I didn't move because I didn't want my wife and sister-in-law to know that I had woken up.

It was very kind of them to allow me to sleep while they were both awake and my wife was in labor. It was a 34-hour labor and I definitely wasn't the most tired person in the room. Nevertheless, I woke up with an incredible fear in my heart and with my arms folded. Since I was in position, I decided to pray.

I begged for a few more hours of just being a husband, and not being a husband and father. I wasn't ready, but that baby was on her way whether I liked it or not. This isn't to say that I didn't want a baby, I just suddenly didn't feel ready for it! Fortunately, I was granted a few more hours of sleep, and a few more hours of being only a husband.

I woke up a couple of hours later, feeling nauseated. Where was that baby? Where can I get a cola? How can I get a full breakfast at this hospital without spending more than $3? My thoughts raced. My wife, still in labor, was in good spirits between the painful contractions. She's a trooper, and she encouraged me to get some food and come back quickly.

The next two and a half hours flew by. It felt like maybe 45 minutes, but it was significantly longer than that. The baby was born and wasn't breathing right away. She turned out fine, but it was a nervous few minutes. One of the inattentive nurses kept referring to my very obviously female baby as "he" and even documented her as a male on a number of forms.

Flash forward 14 months and I have a sweet little girl who just started walking around. She's a laugh riot, a sweetheart, and sometimes a pain. Her smile lights up my day and her laugh is infectious. She truly makes life worth living and I never want to be without her in my life.

The fear of being a father has been replaced by gratitude. It's hard sometimes, but it's far easier than I ever thought it would be. Changing diapers is a breeze, feeding is harder than I thought, and bathing her isn't so bad. The hardest part is dressing her in an outfit that my wife approves of! Did you know that you shouldn't mix two or more shades of pink? I didn't!

Being a father is a joy so far and I hope it continues to get even better. Thanks for reading. One day I'll post from my computer so it will be easier to insert photos.