Prompt: Paul - "Your mom also said I was ready for fatherhood" - '8 Simple Rules'
"Come here little man," I said softly, reaching down to pick my screaming son up from the bassinet. Like so many other times during the week sine we had brought Kurt home, the thought of how little he was crossed my mind. Carefully, I cradled him close to me, his screams quieting to whimpers.
"Are you hungry?" I asked, knowing that the tiny infant in my arms couldn't really answer me. Still it seemed natural to talk to him.
As Kurt continued to whimper, I turned and left the room. Despite the fact that I normally deposited him with his mother and then went to get his bottle, my feet instinctively kept walking past our bedroom and down the steps. Though she hadn't said anything out loud, I knew that Kathleen was expecting me to be more involved in the care of our son as she had been explaining things to me as she did them the entire week. Tonight seemed like the perfect time to feed Kurt for the first time.
"I know mommy usually sings to you while she gets your bottle ready but I don't think you want to be subjected to that," I told him as I headed for the kitchen. "Your mother has all the musical talent. And hopefully you'll inherit that from her because it makes the house so much brighter and having two beautiful voices feeling the air can only make things better," I told Kurt as I opened the door to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle.
I continued a one sided conversation with Kurt as I prepared the bottle. Then, heading for the living room, I settled in the rocking chair and slipped the nipple of the bottle into his mouth. Kurt began sucking greedily on it.
"For such a little one, you sure do eat a lot," I told him, my eyes focused on his little face. I couldn't help but wonder why I hadn't done this before.
"You know, your mama kept telling me I was ready for fatherhood but I was having trouble believing it. I realize now though that she was right. You make our lives complete Kurt, and I'm proud to be your Dad. Oh, I'm sure I'll make some mistakes along the way, no one's perfect, but know this - no matter what I will always love you," I told my son softly, making a promise that I knew the infant couldn't yet comprehend. I planned to make him understand that promise though as he got older with both my words and my actions.