Our Baila Bee. Happy Birthday!!!

Monte's tribute to Zech's first Father's Day

My Monte

I just remembered that I have a blog! I can't explain why I never find time to write here, I certainly have plenty to write about!

Today is Father's Day and since I am a sentimental kind of girl, I always find myself being reflective on red letter days. So if you don't mind, I am going to dust off my old blog here and use it to honor my Monte today.

Monte married me having had no children of his own. Asking me to be his wife involved taking on my four crazy children as his own. The day he got down on one knee and told me that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me, I knew that he would not only love me forever but ALL of me, which included my children ages 13, 11, 8 and 6. He did not make this decision quickly or without much time and thought. He knew, as well as I did that this would change his life in every way imaginable and that we didn't get to just ride off happily into the sunset but that he was going to be gaining an instant family. A BIG family, with a teenager no less.

Those of you that know Monte or who have been on this journey with us know that he has done and amazing job and that we have managed to blend our family with great success. But there are many thing you might not know and these are the things I want to share with you today:

Monte makes us laugh everyday. Yes, everyday. There is no way to detail for you the various way he makes this family laugh out loud but just trust me when I say, he brings so much laugter and joy and lightheartedness to our family. We needed that.

Monte will do whatever needs to be done. (Except laundry). He cooks, he cleans, he does homework, he drives kids here there and everywhere, he buys slurpees, he disciplines, he loves, he tucks kids into bed, he even can pull of a fairly decent ponytail in a pinch. He isn't a spectator, he is part of the team, he rolls up his sleeves and gets dirty. He is involved and commited and 100% in this.

Monte has a very sensitive heart. I have learned to be more kind and patient and giving and gentle because I learned early on that my words or attitude, when not considered, could hurt him. I was shocked by this because I love so deeply but I am also bossy and busy and opinionated. I learned that it's not enough to mean well, or to feel love but to live it. In words and actions and attitude. He tells me and shows me every single day how much he loves me.

Monte admits when he's wrong. I have been a parent for 17 years. Monte has been a parent for 4. In many cases, he is the better parent. He isn't tired. He is fresh and new to this and has been a respite to my weary single parent soul. However, there are things I have learend along the way and I know my kids better than anyone else in the world. He knows that and he doesn't let his ego get in the way. He defers to me when I ask him to or when he instinctively knows he should. This makes us a fabulous team.

Monte gives us his best. We are all ourselves at home. We can let all of our faults hang out, we can be loved for who we are, flaws and all in this family. But sometimes, that means we give the world out best and our family gets the worst of us. Monte has taughts us to give each other our best. To be ourselves AND to give to our family to best of what we have to give.

Monte loves all of us with all of his heart. When we got the news that Novella was born, he named himself Poppy and embraced her with all of his heart. You should see her face light up when she sees him, his love has captured not just me, but all of us. His great big heart has pulled us all together as a family, a crazy imperfect family that loves one another no matter what happens.

There are a million more things I could say but I think you are getting the point.

Happy Father's Day Monte. You are the best bonus dad anyone could ask for. You have loved us whole, you have patiently become the Dad in this house by earning everyone's respect and heart with your commitment and love. I am so proud to be your wife and I am so thankful to have you to share all of the joy and sadness that life brings. Here's to many many many more years of craziness!