My Life As a Girl Dad

Yep it's been a while since I've written something, but I will try to do more, life is crazy and busy, but I have been encouraged by some people to start writing so here I am, and this is a topic I was asked by someone to write, I'm sorry I forgot who requested it, but it's about being a girl dad, which I love being.

Often guys will often talk about how they want sons; to carry on the last name, to play catch with, to hunt with, to watch sports with, to do manly things with, but not me. I was in 7th grade English class, daydreaming like I did in school often, staring out the window. On this day, I started thinking about being a dad one day and all I could about was how I wanted daughters. I even had a name picked out for my first daughter, if I ever ended up having a daughter; that name was Gloria, named after Grandma; Gloria Arellano. Then I eventually ended up watching my favorite musical; Fiddler on the Roof, and was inspired by Tevye, to perhaps one day have 5 daughters.

Now let's fast forward to July 4th 2012, my wife and I were expecting our first child and we were going to have; a boy or girl. We did not know what the sex of the baby was, only my sister in laws knew. We had a big party, with everyone guessing what the sex of the baby was going to be; you could either vote for "Team Ezekiel" or "Team Gloria", yes I wanted a girl, but I thought it was going to be a boy, so I wrote down for Team Ezekiel. Well we opened a box and pink balloons flew out, which meant Gloria was on her way, her due date was Thanksgiving Day 2012, but Gloria had other plans. At midnight on the night of November 10, 2012, my wife woke me up telling me of some discomfort she was having, regarding Gloria. She asked to call a number that Kaiser had given to us regarding any questions or concerns regarding the pregnancy, it was a 24 hour line, so I called. I got on the line with a nurse, I explained the discomfort my wife was feeling, the nurse said; "Oh that's normal, no need to worry you don't need to come in." Then something (it was God) reminding me to let the nurse know that the baby is breached (Gloria's head was up not down). When I said that the nurse said; "Oh my gosh, you need to come in as soon as possible!" So we got out of bed and rushed to the hospital (Kaiser in Fontana). We got to the hospital, went to a room, and they said we need to get this baby out now, a emergency c-section. I was honestly scared to death for my wife and for my daughter. My wife said text my family and let them know Gloria is coming, I said it's 12:30 AM, she said they will come. At 2:14 AM, Gloria arrived, at just 5 pounds, she was tiny, so small newborn clothing was too big for, newborn diapers were too big for her. She came came screaming and crying real loud, the nurse handed her to me, we took her to a table and the nurse asked me to count her fingers and toes, and asked me to cut the cord, which looked like a bratwurst. I officially was a father of; Gloria Rose Arellano. After that they took us to another, for what Kaiser calls the family's "golden hour". Well Gloria was hungry, real hungry, she ate from mom with no problems at all (by the Gloria still loves to eat and she can eat a lot). My sister in law texted me asking if they can come see Gloria, I said not yet, she won't stop eating; my sister in law responded with; "Yep she's Armenian." Gloria (and Amalia) are Armenian, Mexican, Salvadoran and white. 

Needless to say I was beyond happy and blessed to be a dad, to a little baby girl named Gloria. Gloria as a baby and even to this day is a mommy's girl. The first day mommy went back to work and I stayed home with Gloria, Gloria screamed and cried the entire time, until mommy came home she stopped. We even had video of us passing Gloria back and forth, when I had her she cried, when she went to mommy she stopped. Eventually that stopped, and we were able to do daddy/daughter dates to Chick-fil-a and to Kings games. But one thing I miss, at the time it cause me to lose sleep. But on nights she would wake up crying and not hungry. or just waking up to not sleep; it was my time to take her to the living room and stay awake with her until she feel asleep, if she was hungry only mommy could feed her. But those nights staying up with and then her falling asleep on me were precious, same thing with Amalia. Speaking of Amalia, 2 years and 3 months later on February 25, 2015, we were blessed with daughter number 2; Amalia Nina Arellano.

Amalia's birth was completely different than her sister. Amalia came on her due date, it was a much calmer day. Amalia also was a much more calm baby, when it came to her staying home with me, she would just sit in my lap all day, eat, poop and sleep, no crying at all. In fact when we go to church or family events Amalia would let anyone hold her and not cry at all. Gloria only let mommy hold her. But I was and still am loving, having two daughters.

Now one thing I love doing with my daughters, and they love doing it too (especially Amalia) are daddy/daughter dates. We have also done tea parties, I've had my toe and fingernails painted, and I love it. When Gloria was younger she would watch Frozen (which she called Anna) at least twice a day, if there was a trivia game on Frozen I would had beaten anyone. Something else I love so much, is when the girls just want to cuddle, Gloria is getting older but every now and then she'll just come sit next to me and put her head on my shoulder, Amalia is a little cuddle bug. Gloria loves to read and discuss books, she also is a foodie, a dinner date with her can be pretty expensive, she likes good food. Amalia loves going to McDonalds and going to the dollar store, Amalia also loves going to LAFC games and is always asking when we are going to a game again.

Unfortunately in 2020, we got divorced, which meant and currently means a lot less time with my girls, then I would want. But I have learned to cherish each moment I have with my girls. Being a divorced parent with children and having to split time up with kids, is something I would not wish on anyone. But I love being a dad of the two most wonderful, beautiful girls.