Fathers

** The day Moses entered the world. Queanbeyan, Australia- March 11, 2011**

As I've said before, watching Andreas become a father made me fall in love with him all over again. Moses has taken to waking up a lot at night. Most of the time he goes straight back to sleep so usually I can deal with it. But on more than one occasion, exhausted because I just couldn't do it anymore, I've woken up Andreas (usually with the sound of me crying but we don't need to mention that), handed him his son, and literally collapsed back to sleep. And at 3 am when sleep is all you want with everything in you a husband who does that without question- he's a keeper. I love watching the two of them interact. Moses is already smitten with his father. He tracks Andreas' movements around the apartment and grins like a monkey ( a very chubby one) whenever his dad looks his way.

** Oslo Fjord, Norway- June 2009**

My whole life people have told me that I look just like my dad. I think that's a good thing- a compliment. I have learned so many things from my father. He taught me how to work, how to paint a room, the beauty of a organized space, to show kindness to others in invisible ways. He tried to teach me to wake up early with a smile on my face. He never succeeded with that. Now that I've become a parent myself I have more respect for my own and everything they did and sacrificed for all of their children to succeed. I appreciate the sheer number of hours my father worked (and still works) to provide for his family. It's interesting how your relationship with your parents changes when you become an adult yourself. Over the last few years, through working 'together', living in Norway and learning norwegian I feel like I've gotten to know my father is a whole different way. A good way- a way that we are friends. I like that. Happy Father's Day Dad.