Sunday, June 15, 2008

Happy Father's Day!




When I was in college a girlfriend told me you could find out how a boyfriend would be as a (potential) father by watching how they behaved with your dog. I took this advice to heart and was horrified when my then-boyfriend, Eric, asked if my 10 month old puppy, Otto, could "live with your mother" instead of coming with us as we moved in together for the first time. Well, Otto and I drove across the United States together after college graduation (Ithaca College, NY, 1992); luckily Eric had smarted up by then and we all lived happily together in a shack behind an apartment building on Castro Street in San Francisco. Eric truly loved that dog, and even bought him his own "puppy pack" for our hiking trips around the Bay Area, and later Lake Tahoe, where we moved in October 1992. Our next "baby," puppy Maxwell, came from a window at the pet store (not a puppy mill, abandoned mutt litter) because through teary eyes I convinced Eric Otto needed a playmate. That is Max in Eric's arms; he became Eric's special buddy and I knew the day I took this photo I wanted Eric to be the father of my children.

Eric will be a super father, I have no doubt, and he is so looking forward to getting "his boys" home! Today I found him on the computer listening to words in Marathi, the boys native language, so he may be able to communicate easier in the first few weeks together. To say that Eric is a hard worker is truly an understatement, and I know he will instill in the boys that classic New England work ethic, not by force, but by example. Eric and I are lucky to have close relationships with our four nieces and one nephew; we "practice" with them on overnights and trips so we have some inkling what we may be in for going from zero kids to three, although in the past I do remember being thankful it was time for them to go home at the end of the weekend! One of the best things about my husband Eric, is that he is truly a kid at heart! I can't wait to see him playing with our kids - he's the kind of guy that gets down on the floor and plays legos, trucks, school; he even lets the girls stick barrettes and ribbons in his hair!

One last note - a big Happy Birthday as well as Happy Father's Day to my father (John to Eric)! He has been such a positive influence in both our lives; we are so fortunate our boys will have him as their "GeeGee!"

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