As soon as we found out we were having a baby girl, I imagined the day I would come home from the store or a photoshoot or something and walk into the house to find Max having a tea party with our daughter. I imagined this big, strong man wrapped up in a pink boa, tiara on, pinky finger out as he drank pretend tea with our little girl.

A week or so ago, that vision became a reality.. kind of.

No tiaras, and a pink scarf (on Peanut) rather than a boa… but there they were, at a Little Tikes table in our messy living room. Sharing invisible tea and plenty of giggles.

And just like I imagined so long ago, I melted.

I had been putting away some of our Christmas presents as I unpacked from our trip, and I pulled out the tea set. Little did we know it would be such a hit! I was also putting away a scarf I was given, and as I asked Peanut if she wanted to have a tea party, she insisted I put the scarf on her. She kept it on the whole time – so sweet! Baby girl wanted to get dressed up for her tea party with her daddy.

I was lucky enough to get in on the party for a little bit too.. 

Seeing that wild-haired little Peanut in polka-dot pajamas grinning ear to ear as she shared tea with her daddy just got me… I know these moments won’t last forever. We’ll pack up the footie pajamas, she’ll outgrow the Little Tikes table, the tea set will be passed on to another little girl.

But what I hope lasts is her love for her daddy. Her love of spending time with us.

I am so incredibly thankful to get to see Max be a dad. He is caring, sweet, encouraging, firm, and selfless with Peanut. He is willing to be silly with her. He is willing to play games that are “girly” with her. And in doing so, he becomes the best kind of man.

And for those of you who feel like that last paragraph got a little too mushy… here’s a little gem. Because tea is always the best when you drink it like a rockstar.