I’ve known Andy for 20 years, been together for 13, married for five. And of all the changes we’ve experienced and grown through together, getting to see him as a dad is the greatest, sexiest, most profound happening. Andy is an incredible dad.
His Father’s Day wasn’t anything glamorous or glossy. (although, I read that while looking at the photo above and think, damn, getting to live among those mountains is pretty glam) It was actually kinda harried and pitted-out. It was a real life day, one where I inserted little extra special touches wherever I could. It was funny and he felt adored.
See, we traveled several hundred miles to a wedding last Saturday and traveled home yesterday. And, this mama said, ok, just one more glass of wine a few too many times at the wedding. Come Sunday morning, I felt as though a tiny man with a tiny axe was chopping at the bone behind my eyeballs. Needless to say, I wasn’t much help for the first few early hours at Chico Hot Springs.
But, don’t you worry, I recovered pretty darn quick and we enjoyed a lovely breakfast buffet (NO, thank you, I don’t want a mimosa). We passed our daughters back and forth and back and forth while we ate omelets, blueberry bread pudding, sausage and homemade granola. We hung out with our friends and swam in warm waters. And, we drove home, stopping A LOT because Ruby and Margot pretty much wanted to be anywhere in the entire universe besides their car seats. Oh, I swear sometimes I wish it was the 70s and our kids didn’t have car seats. It’d be much easier to nurse Ruby in the front seat instead of on my hip between two car seats in the back, abdominals engaged, hard plastic digging into my side, breast cupped with my hand and elongated to reach Ruby. Thank heavens we have tinted windows…
So the drive home was really tiring and also unnerving with Margot singing the abcs for over three hours. OVER THREE HOURS. She sang them fast, she sang them slow, she sang them high, she sang them low. She sang them when she saw a train, she sang them when she saw a plane. She sang them here and there and everywhere.
We arrived home to a messy house and I hopped right back in the car with the girls to go fetch father’s day enchilada makings. I made dins while Andy played with the girls rough and fun the way only dads can. He and Margot took a bath together and I heard Margot say, Papa! I’m peeing! to which Andy replied, sweet.
Ruby asleep, Margot joined us at the dinner table where she made sculptures out of yogurt and corn tortillas until she dove into Andy’s lap. She insisted her blue flip flops remain on the table and she insisted Andy eat his spinach stems. And she hugged her papa a lot.
Through our nutty day, I fell more in love with the man I married. His even temper, his unconditional adoration of our daughters. His ability to find humor instead of frustration. His self-awareness and confidence with expressing his emotions and articulating his needs.
His love for good cake.
The way he cradles Ruby over his strong forearm.
Oh, he’s a good man and a good dad. Happy Father’s Day, love.
And, Happy Father’s Day to my dad. I aspire to have as much fun and love as he does when I am 60. For example, he had a day of modified golfing yesterday due to a broken knee cap and he was all smiles when I talked to in yesterday.
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In this week’s mama digs I talk about the NASA Posse. This is a real group of friends-since-childhood to which my husband belongs. They produce an annual hoodie that tells the world they belong to the elite club of boys-at-heart who love to ski, fish and tell dick jokes. Click here to read NASA Posse and my daughters.
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And, the b. handmade pinafore winner!
Anonymous said…
Thirteen years ago was 1997 right? I was one year away from graduating from MSU and interning at an office furniture manufacturer. We lived in Coeur d’Alene that summer and swam in the lake and walked all over town that summer.
Thirteen years ago was 1997 right? I was one year away from graduating from MSU and interning at an office furniture manufacturer. We lived in Coeur d’Alene that summer and swam in the lake and walked all over town that summer.
So, anon, e mail me your contact info. [email protected]. Everyone else, check out Becky’s stuff. There are more pinafores and her baby accessories and women’s clutches are killer cute!
25 Comments
wonderful post, lovely family xx
love the Margot stories!!
@ article: “heartbeats keep…our rivers” is lovely! @ post, oh I miss Chico & what a sincere ode to Andy.
Mountains: Love.
Bending over plastic and stretching a nipple: Love. …and been there.
Your Andy Tribute: Love.
Good dads are so sexy.
Off to read about the NASA peeps.
“papa! I’m peeing!” “sweet”. once again i’m laughing through my tears while reading your amazing article. I’m so glad i found you!
So sweet, Nici. Isn’t it amazing to watch the boys we fell in love with grow into men and become daddies? I know you are as proud of yours as I am of mine. We’re lucky girls!
Is Margot allowed to be in NASA? If any girl is going to get the first hoodie, I am sure it will Margot.
Miss you and hope to talk soon. xo
I’m with Jolene – that is a priceless reaction from Andy. Hysterical 🙂
The Chico people make amazing food, don’t they?
Sounds like a lovely Father’s Day. I took Hubs to the Oasis for prime rib on Saturday night and we ate leftovers yesterday. Quiet day, but he likes it like that. Check your FB wall-made some bigger booties.
“harried and pitted-out” I love that.
Glad you had a beautiful day and love the photos, as usual. Glam, indeed!
xoxo
I was sooooooo excited to see Ruby wearing the striped leggings!
i feel the same way about my husband… we’ve not been together as long, but it’s so cool to see him being a dad!
“She sang them fast, she sang them slow, she sang them high, she sang them low. She sang them when she saw a train, she sang them when she saw a plane. She sang them here and there and everywhere.”
She sang them sweet to her fam…she sang them to green eggs and ham! 🙂
I love Andy SO…he is truly the best hubby, dad and ‘son’…..great post Burb!
xoxo, Mom
,,,great family,,,
Yup, the backseat, extreme-breast-stretching nursing. I remember that, X2.
Lovely tribute to your man.
Andy is the only the second person I’ve ever seen to carry a baby that way. (The first was my sister, when my son was about Rube’s age.) Nifty.
P.S. Love that picture of the NASA Posse. Margot looks absolutely darling.
that last pic of andy holding ruby…woah. yes, it’s amazing. should be on the cover of some how-to-be-a-great-dad mag. seriously, love it.
the pics from your trip and the story of too many glasses of vino…i can relate all to well myself. damn, i love those kinds of trips.
love how margot wanted her blue flips on the table and made her dad eat his greens. good girl.
you are an amazing writer. you retell experiences so well.
you guys coming to miami?!
xoxoxoxoxo
Hilarious! Men always have the most creative way to hold the babes. Sounds like it was a good day.
It is really nice to see that there are 12 persons who were friends in their schools and still they are together. In these days busy lives it is not very often that you are even in touch with your school fellows but here are these people not only they are still in touch but they still have time to spend with each other on regular bases. I would also love to be a part of such a group 🙂
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I know you wrote this a couple of months ago but I just read this now and the reason I’m commenting is because YOU really make me laugh. You have such a gift for writing — I feel like I’m talking to my girlfriend on the phone. You explaining how Margot sings the ABCs is just hilarious! ah…thanks for the laugh — even if it’s 4 months later!
P.S. I love how you love!
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