A Journal Entry from Seven Years Ago When My Daughter Was Just Under Two

My 19 month old just woke me up screaming at midnight... This is something she almost never does; she has slept through the night for over a year now. Usually she only wakes us up if she's managed to soak herself. (This little girl is like a faucet at times). She even manages to calm herself to sleep without us when she's cutting teeth.

My wife had pneumonia and was sleeping outside of the little one's area of effect so I was alone on daddy duty. I went to check on my daughter and her diaper was not even saggy so it made it all the more frustrating that she kept yelling in my face.

I laid her down and asked, "What do you want. Can I get you some milk?"

She responded, "Nuh...cry uhh... cry" oooo..."

Everything is "No" to her lately so I continued, "I'm just going to get you some milk. I'll be right back."

She screamed vehemently back, "NUH... OOOO"

My mind started to think about how much I needed sleep to catch up on work I'd been placing as second priority to take care of the little girl last week so that my wife could recover. The daddy temper started igniting, but I tried to stay calm. In a last ditch effort, I tired to reason with her, a mistake I had made many times before.

"What do you want, then?"

She looked up at me in the dark and calmed down a little. Through her tears she said, "Dah... ahh... eee..." ("Daddy").

My heart melted and all frustration disappeared. I picked her up and let her lay on my shoulder for as long as she wanted while I rocked her and rubbed her back. It's so easy to take the little thing for granted.