Epsilon started to roll the other day. It was long anticipated, but that didn't stop it from being thrilling. Being a parent has taken events that I once would have classified mundane and turned them into occasions to break out the nice dishes. Watching them crash into stuffed animals, blocks, and the dog brought about surges of overlapping emotions.
The process of becoming a parent has certainly taken longer than I had expected; it hasn't been an immediate change. It is a role that I have tried to grow into. I can still remember the first few weeks and months waiting for a bond or a spark. It happened piecemeal, imperceptibly, and continues to grow even now. I have mostly convinced myself that I'm not a sociopath at this point.