Each month, iParenting.com spotlights a father who inspires and moves us, who embodies the qualities that we all admire in a person, a man and a father. Above all, the Dad of the Month is dedicated to his children. Rich or poor, famous or not, he shines as an example of what fathering is all about.

Our choice for February is Mark Pahl, a stay-at-home father of one.

When Mark Pahl first held his newborn daughter, Caroline, and marveled at the wonder of her existence, he had no idea what to do with a baby and worried that he would hurt their new precious bundle of love. But just three months after she was born, he became her full-time caregiver and built his life around her happiness.

A Stay-At-Home Dad
Mark Pahl spent seven years as a sales representative for a software company before venturing out and joining the team of a wireless technology start-up. Unfortunately, not long after joining the entrepreneurs, the company was unable to secure the second round of funding necessary to keep it afloat. The company folded two months after Caroline was born. His wife, Jennifer, was about to return to work from her maternity leave. Originally thinking he would watch her for a short time until he found work, Mark stepped in as Caroline's full-time keeper. After a few weeks he loved being with his daughter so much he couldn't imagine leaving her. He has now been caring for her for eight months.

Mark's growing love for his child made it harder to return to the business world. "I have this beautiful, fun, wonderful little girl at home all day long, and she happens to love me," says Mark. "So it's pretty tough to walk away from that combination." He knows someday he will have to return to work, but he can't imagine why any father would want to miss out on such an amazing opportunity. He is going to savor every moment until he must return to the corporate world.

Pahl learned to graciously accept the sacrifices that come with parenthood and made adjustments in his life for the betterment of his daughter. "Having a baby certainly forces you to be less selfish," he says. Caroline is his life now and fatherhood suites him well.

Keeping Mom Involved
To keep his wife involved as much as possible in raising their daughter, each day he e-mails a photo of Caroline to her and calls so that she can hear Caroline's voice. He has created a Web site to keep loved ones appraised of his daughter's every advancement.

Watching Her Grow
For Pahl the most gratifying part of fatherhood is watching his small child develop new skills. "So many veteran parents have told me that I shouldn't encourage her to crawl or to walk, because then I'll really have my hands full," he says. "But, I love seeing her achieve every milestone. It's so exciting for her, Jennifer and me. Parents say I'll feel differently with the second child. I hope not."

Mark attributes part of his fathering instincts to his own parents. "Both of my parents influenced my desire to be a father," he says. "They both had such great relationships with their fathers, I could tell it was a worthwhile pursuit. I've grown up a bit. In addition to being my parents, they have also become my friends. I think that has made me realize how fulfilling parenthood could be for the rest of my life."

His relationship with his wife has blossomed along with his love for his daughter. "It's so much fun to be with our little girl. It can't help but bring us closer together. Caroline provides so much laughter for us, along with a greater focus and sense of purpose."

Although Mark Pahl doubted the need for researching topics relating to childbirth and raising babies, he followed his wife's lead and is glad he did. "Jennifer attacked all issues related to pregnancy and child rearing as if she was going for a Ph.D. I'm merely swimming in her wake," he says. "But the knowledge that I've gained has paid off in a big way. I think I now have a lot more fun, a lot more sleep, and a quite a bit more money in my pocket than if we had winged it."