I’ll have to admit, the more I watch my husband be a father, the more I fall madly in love with him. Nick is an outstanding father — so outstanding I have trouble putting it into words. This Top Ten list won’t skim the surface of the depth of excellence, but it will give you a glimpse.

1. He does all things baby. Diapers, laundry, feedings, baths, bedtime, all of it. With joy.
2. After our second daughter was born, he realized how badly I wanted to stay home with her. And he wanted me to stay home with her too. So he did whatever it took to make that happen. Major sacrifices.
3. He works two jobs to provide for our family. And he has never complained once.
4. He plays with the baby in the floor. Her toys, Her books, Her eye-level. No distractions. He makes her laugh constantly, and she LOVES her “DaDa!”
5. He practices softball in the yard with Katelynn for hours. Literally hours. Not because he’s that guy in the bleachers who needs his kid to hit a homerun for his ego…he just wants to spend time with her because she asks him to. He takes her to gymnastics as well.
6. He helps me around the house more than you could possibly imagine. I didn’t realize how unusual this was…until I’ve heard other girls discussing it. In addition to all the traditional “manly” stuff (cutting the grass, taking out the trash…) he sweeps, polishes hardwoods, vacuums, uses windex with precision, picks up toys, puts away laundry, cleans the bathrooms, unloads the dishwasher, hangs things, assembles things, goes to the grocery store….seriously….it’s amazing. I never ask him…he just does it.
7. He models servant leadership for the girls. He serves us, serves tirelessly at the church, helps his friends, family members, random people he doesn’t even know…he has a true servant’s heart.
8. He puts up with me, which can be quite the challenge. Putting up with me involves things like long photography sessions, girly music, lots of Food Network, paint in the carpet, glitter on the floor, endless construction projects at church, always taking longer than I should when running in for “one thing” at the grocery store…it’s never-ending.
9. He protects us and kills all creepy things including spiders, ants, flies, and any other insect who dares enter our home.
10. He wants our girls to have the best lives possible, and be the best versions of themselves they can be. No matter what that requires. Including installing custom beadboard for 20 hours.

I am so thankful to Jesus for him.
And thankful that my girls get to see a picture of His love.