On this day in 2021, I was suppose to be a dad already.
In two days from now, we’ll celebrate the second birthday of our Olivia, the cutest, happiest, smartest and most ornery child to enter my life in the last few years — though her older sister gives her a run for her money on every one those qualities.
Being a father was always something wanted but never knew if it would come. Finally, at age 33, it did. Olivia was born on Aug. 11, 2021, and one week later, I became a father a second time when I adopted our now-8-yearold whom I met at age 3.
I waited a while to become a dad, but you can’t knock my efficiency.
As the second birthday and family day come around, I have been looking back at these last 730 days feeling it’s been more like 1,730.
Olivia may feel the same, if only she could string together the exact words to describe it.
Arriving a week late, we were worried in her first six months if she would suffer any developmental delays due to her ventricular septal defect, which required her to undergo open heart surgery in June 2022.
Though her body was overworking itself and she was considerably smaller and weaker than she should have been, the girl knew nothing but fight. Her strength in those four days, which doctors expected to me more like eight or nine, is still an inspiration.
Her second year on Earth has been filled with milestones and memorable moments every day.
It’s truly amazing to watch a child begin to start forming a personality, learning what they like and don’t like to eat, building a vocabulary and becoming more engaging and curious.
Her personality is much like mine, as Jordan says. She’s fun-loving and full of sarcasm, quick to hit you with an eye roll then flash a smile and giggle.
Her diet is exactly like mine — she eats about everything. I’ve been called the garbage disposal of the family in multiple houses, and she has assuredly inherited my un-picky eating habits.
One of her favorite foods recently has been pickles. Spears, chips or whole, if you have a pickle, she wants a bite, or just give her all of it.
Speech-wise, we think she’s about average, given half the people we talk to say she’s a little behind and the other half say it’s too soon to expect too much.
He favorite words are more, thanks, yeah and happy, and when she’s not being ornery and you aren’t prying a word out of her, there’s plenty more words she can say.
A week or so ago, I got my first, “I love you.” I was overjoyed, but also immediately felt bad because Jordan wan’t there to hear it. She has yet to repeated the phrase.
Just last night, I gave her half a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. She started hollering at me and I asked why she didn’t want the sandwich. Through the wails and arm gesturing, she clearly replied, “I don’t like peanut butter!”
She does like peanut butter, just not that time. Through all of our worries about development, what we are most astonished with when it comes to our toddler is her ability to understand her surroundings and follow instructions.
It takes very little time to teach her just about anything. When I feed our two dogs now, she comes running in — she literally runs everywhere — to help pour in the dry food. Lately, she’s even been taking the bowl from me and holding it herself while pouring the food in.
Then, she tosses the cup back in the bin, closes it, then runs to where Baxter’s food bowl goes, points at the spot, cocks her head sideways with a smile and questions, “There?”
I could go on and on about all the fun we have, especially with her older sister. Some may say six years is too large an age difference, but for us, it’s absolutely perfect.
As we enter Olivia’s third turn around the sun, I am excited to see what the year will bring. She will soon be approaching the age Ellie was when we met, likely pulling me into her room to play with her baby dolls just like her sister did.
As that nears, I can’t help but think my time with a baby is coming to a close. Being my only experience in that regard, there’s plenty of late nights and cleanup jobs I won’t miss. What I will miss is that feeling of holding something so precious and innocent, and the happiness in giving that child the best care you can provide.
Looking ahead, there will be more of that, just in a new form. Cleanup jobs have gone from diapers and thrown baby food to toys littering the floor and, well, still diapers for a while.
I wouldn’t trade a single second.
Kyle Troutman has served as the editor of the Cassville Democrat since 2014 and became Publisher in 2023. He was named William E. James/Missouri Outstanding Young Journalist for daily newspapers in 2017, and he won a Golden Dozen Award from ISWINE in 2022. He may be reached at 417-847-2610 or ktroutman@cassville-democrat. com.
