Mommy knows best. Someday, perhaps.

Learning.how.to.be.a.parent. 

That's a full sentence all by itself, up there. 

Heck, that's an encyclopedia, a never ending truth, a lifetime. 

Dude and I have been recently blessed with a little dolly of our own. My post isn't about her though. It's about a few of the amazing things I've learnt, seen and experienced in the few days since she came into our lives. 

For instance, today she had her little baby feed and then it was time for the all important little baby burp.
(for my parent readers, you know what I'm talking about. For my non parent readers who made a face just now and think I've crossed over to the other side - I haven't. Keep reading. This is important. I kid you not. Gas, as luck would have it - will happily fill your initial parenting days. ) 

Back to the burp. As I held her and continued a conversation with my own Dad, my mind drifted. I thought of Dad holding me as an infant and trying to burp me. I realized how completely dependent on you, this little bundle in your hands is. That adorable little burpy sound is one of the few bodily functions that she can actually carry out at this stage. And so you hold her and gradually take her through it, slowly, so she doesn't cry, get messy or scare herself. I thought of Dad going through all those feelings. Then I fast forwarded to my wedding day...and tried to put myself in Dad's shoes...to watch the little girl you burped; walk down the aisle.
Man. I don't know about you, but it made me a little wide eyed. That's a whole new level of sentiment that I didn't even know it was possible to feel.

Dude is a Baller. Has been one since I've known him and he's one of those typical 'boys'. Basketball, basketball, basketball. Then he plays the video games that are jam packed with cars, guns & shooting. He watches the movies with the violence and previously mentioned cars, guns & shooting. He's nuts about any and all sports and religiously sticks to all things boy.

Then Dude became a little girls Daddy. 

He's walked with me through a baby store, stood in front of racks of girly, pink, fluffy clothes, held a pink blanket up for me to see and asked, "This is nice, right?", started singing lullabies and asking about soft toys.
For those of you who know him, you'll understand what a bunch of 'No way!' moments these are. For those of you who don't, picture He-Man suddenly deciding to help the Powerpuff Girls plan a picnic.
Becoming a Daddy changes everything for a guy.
Bless. In the words of Salt 'n Peppa - He's a mighty, mighty good man.

All my life, my mother has been my best friend. And since motherhood knocked on my door, I've realized that she is still my greatest teacher. I suddenly see, all too clearly, the countless things she did for me as I grew up. I watch her hold my daughter and see this insane amount of love...and I begin to understand how much it takes to make your daughter, your friend. I can only hope to be able to do the same.... I am learning from her still.

The future looks like it's full of challenges and rainbows and dirty diapers and baby smiles. Truth be told, I am a little nervous...but when I look at these amazing people around me...my heart goes all fuzzy and I sometimes feel it may burst with all the things I'm feeling...but this, is apparently what parenthood does to you.
And what a ridiculously glorious feeling it is.

Have lots to write about (and no, it's not always going to be about parenthood) so promise to do so in a somewhat decent, timely fashion.

Here's a Stevie Wonder song I've been singing for a while, for my little humming bird.
One of those oldies that suddenly, like almost everything else; has new meaning.



Till later.