My Modern Man!

As I'm coming to the end of my pregnancy I'm having to rely on Dan even more then I previously did. It's getting harder to pick up toys off the floor, lift Carter, and do dishes. He brings the laundry up and down the stairs for me, does pretty much everything around here that requires lifting and bending over, and sleeps on the couch so I can get a better sleep. Everyday when he comes home for lunch he even spends half of it putting Carter down for his nap.  I can't imagine going through this without his help!

It does make me wonder though. If this was 50 years ago or I was with someone not nearly as helpful, how would I get through it. Would I just have to suck it up and do it. Would I have had to stop after one child (that I can pretty much guarantee would have happened!). Would I have ended up in the hospital more then once each pregnancy due to dehydration from not being able to take it easy and therefore keep some food/fluids down. Would I resent my husband for putting me through this while he went on with his normal daily life. It's too hard to know.

All I do know though, is that I love and appreciate my "modern" man so much. That isn't to say that all men in the past weren't helpful or even that the ones now are. It's just that things have changed a lot. It's a pretty well know fact that men now a days see their role as fathers differently then those of the past. Even just 30 years ago when I was baby things were way different. Though from what I can tell, Dan learned a lot from his own dad so it shows that not all men are the same, regardless of the times.

When Dan and I were first getting to know each other (10 years ago!), I asked him once what his biggest fear was. His response was that he wouldn't be able to provide for his family. I knew then that he was a stand up guy, but I couldn't possibly understand how much so until I saw it with my own two eyes over the last 10 years.

I'm not going to sugar coat it and say that he does all the things I listed above with a smile on his face, but he does do them without complaining and many times without me having to ask. Even last night I went to bed forgetting to put the laundry in the dryer. I later remembered but when I went to do it he had beaten me to it. That one small act put a smile on my face and reminded me how lucky I am. He's had to take on way more then his share during both pregnancies and he's never made me feel bad about it.

Most importantly, Carter (and JoJo) couldn't ask for a better father. I know the last thing Dan would want to do is take an arts and crafts class or swimming class with a bunch of two year old's, but he does it. He also goes to the park, follows Carter around in a giant jungle gym, goes to see disney movies, changes poopy diapers, gets thrown up on, reads children's books ad nauseam, and most importantly gives up his daily naps, all because he's a great dad!

I love you Dan! I can't wait to start this newest journey with you...we are finally in the home stretch!!