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Before we even knew the gender, my sister came to me in a dream with that familiar, sly smile and said three words: "Take care of her." From that moment, I knew I was a Girl Dad. But being a father to a daughter carries a weight I didn't fully grasp until I started thinking about the "First Love" effect.

In this episode, I’m looking at the responsibility of being my daughter's daily example. Through a conversation with a friend and my own reflections, I’m realizing that the way I love my wife and the way I treat my daughter will shape the standard she sets for every man who enters her life.

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When my daughter was a newborn, she had this specific stretch arms up, elbows bent, and the cutest little "duck lips" you’ve ever seen. I watched her do it every morning until, one day, she just stopped. It was the first time I realized that in fatherhood, every beautiful habit has an expiration date.

In this episode, I’m grappling with the "milestone trap" and the bittersweet reality that they really do grow up as fast as everyone says. From the exhaustion of the 2:00 AM wake-up calls to the weight of carrying her while she still lets me, I'm learning that everything is a season.

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Traditions are often just things we do because "that’s how it’s always been." But for Rick, a new tradition was born out of a promise made in a hospital room. In this episode, Rick explores the bittersweet reality of his daughter growing up without her aunt, and how he is using "February Christmas Cookies" to bridge the gap between the sister he lost and the daughter he’s raising.

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Before the baby arrives, every dad goes through "The Prep." For Rick, it wasn't just about moving a desk or mounting a shelf, it was about making the transition from "Me" to "Her" physically. In this episode, Rick discusses the weight of a crib (literally and metaphorically), the "first daddy move" of giving up his office, and the immense gratitude he feels for his wife’s journey through pregnancy.

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Episode Summary: 

In the quiet chaos of a hospital room, a simple text message triggers a massive identity shift. Rick shares the raw, unedited realization of moving from "son" to "father" in a matter of hours. From the terror of the "near-slip" to the humility of learning five different swaddles from five different nurses, this episode is a tribute to the steep learning curve of day one.

What You’ll Hear:

• The Text Message: The moment the word "Dad" stopped being about someone else and started being about Rick.
• The Learning Curve: How "not knowing what a swaddle is" turns into a masterclass from hospital staff.
• The Grace Period: Why perfection is impossible in parenthood and why "giving yourself grace" is the only way forward.
• The "She Didn't Break" Report: A firsthand account of overcoming the fear of a fragile newborn.

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