Mamama

A brief note on the dichotomy of Dad-hood:

Sophie is, we're pretty sure, starting to teethe. She woke up wailing and sobbing at 2 a.m. and the only thing that would calm her was an ice cube. Add some Orajel and infant Tylenol, plus more sobbing, and an hour and a half later, you have a sleeping baby. 

Despite the sadness and frazzled nerves of that experience, something good came out of today. 

Sophie laughed. 

A real laugh, from the belly, not a squeak or a squawk.

And it was for something I did. It was simple. I said, "mamama!" She laughed, too, when I said, "dadada!"

That laugh. I mean, she has smiled at me and made noises. But this, this was a straight up laugh. 

It melted my heart. 

There will be ups and downs in our lives, I know. That's how things go with parents and children. 

But I will remember that laugh, and how it almost made me cry with joy. 

And things will be OK.