.....Happy Father's Day.....

......One of the things I love most about him is his heart.....it stretches so big and feels so deeply, but you only know this about him if you are in his very tight circle.....he has always been like an unparalleled mystery.....he is full of surprises......he's abundant in wisdom, perspective, sensitivity, passion, honesty, and a desire to excel at the most important thing in his life.....being a husband and a Dad.....

.....he fell head over heels in love when he saw his own flesh and blood, but became ecstatically giddy when the doctor told us, "It's a girl"..... 

                             Elsa Grace Balderach 11/24/07

......and the same thing happened again, 15 months later, when the doctor said again, "Congratulations! You have another daughter".....

                                Callie Anne Balderach 2/26/09

.....he thinks about our family in everything he does.....he considers our present, reflects on our past and always has the future in sight.....

.....he takes pride in the fact that little girls look to their fathers to teach them how to set their standards high.....he knows Elsie and Callie will watch the husband that he is so they can use his example as a benchmark in their own future marriages......he knows they will look to him to for approval, reinforcement, encouragement, guidance and discipline......he knows that his love for them will help set the foundation of healthy self esteem and assertiveness.....

.....he regards those things in all that we do, talk about, plan, enjoy....which is why it made perfect sense that he wanted another family weekend at the beach for Fathers Day....it didn't matter we would be spending the actual day in the car on our drive home......it's the experience of the weekend that he wanted......another time to savor the moments of these years when our girls look to us for everything....

......but I also salute him today for pitching in with the good, the bad, the mundane routines of everyday life.....the dirty diapers, the potty training, the dinners, the messes, the walks, the stories, the giggles, the tantrums, the bathing.....he wants to be involved with all of it.....he wants to capture the time, pause it and replay it as many times as he can.....

.....like first time outdoor showers that start off cold before they get warm.....

.....and they love him as fiercely as he loves them....yes, there are Mommy moments that melt my heart......but my heart also melts when I admit that they are full fledged Daddy's girls.....

....whether it's needing a soothing hug.....

.....or wanting to share a delicious turkey sub.....

.....to our girls, Daddy hung the moon....

.....so thank you, Stefan, for being everything I ever dreamed of wanting......thank you for the husband you are, the love that we share and the father these two sweet girls are so blessed to have.....

.....being a Daddy is so natural for you.....it's part of your genes.....you were made to do this......you were made to be with us....

.....and as many little fun and enlightening surprises you have given me over the years, it wasn't surprising when you said to me today, "Spending time with our family is all I ever want to do"..... 

......good....we like it that way......Happy Father's Day, babe....we love you....

......and Happy Father's Day Pops, Papa T, JJ, Poopop, Uncle Kirk, Uncle Mikael, Uncle Markus, & Uncle Tony......we love you for the fathers you are and the love you bring us.....