my sweaty and exhausted wife handed me our child, and I held her in my arms for the very first time.

She was very quiet and sleepy, having just undergone something of an ordeal. She nestled into the crook of my arm and slept.

All parents think their child is the most beautiful, and I understand that, but we had lots of other people tell us she was, and in retrospect, they were right. She was beautiful from the womb and she is now a lovely young woman.

I was warned that she would change my life. I had no idea, nobody does. She still has all of life ahead of her, but I can’t help but think at this moment, Dad would be happy with the job we have done in raising her so far.