I can’t wait to show my niece the world. Here’s why.

My niece, Doulari, just turned a year old and my parents and I took a trip to California to celebrate the milestone.

She’s already growing so much and is easily one of the cutest babies I have ever seen. My brother and his wife really hit it out of the park with this one.

Every time I see her, I find myself thinking about what she’s going to be like when she grows up…

• Will she collect Pokemon cards?

• Will she read comic books?

• Will she root for Arizona sports teams?

Hopefully, with my influence, the answer to those questions will be yes.

But all kidding aside, she has me thinking a lot about my legacy.

I’ve always wanted to be a dad. I think I would be a pretty good one. I always envisioned part of my life with a kid, imparting my wisdom, guiding them, hand-in-hand, through the trials and tribulations of life. But as I get older, my opportunity for fatherhood seems like it’s drifting away.

Yes, I do feel sad that being a dad may never be in my future, but like most things in my life, there’s always another opportunity. I now get to have the chance to leave a little piece of my legacy with the next generation. I get to show her that life is an incredible gift, the good and the bad. I get to show her that patience and inner strength are incredible assets to have. I get to show her that family will always be there for her.

I hope to be the best “funcle” a girl can have. Be her biggest cheerleader and the best listener whenever she needs it. Fatherhood for me may have taken a detour to unclehood, but that’s a journey I can’t wait to take.