A Dad has a special place in a daughter's heart. Dads are a support system that every little girl needs in her life. My Dad means the absolute world to me and I want him to know how much I love him. So Dad, this one is for you. I love you.

1. He is probably my first kiss.

I was definitely too young to remember this, but I know that the minute I was born he gave me a soft kiss on my cheek.

2. He let me nap on his belly on Sunday afternoons during the football games, which meant he couldn’t make any noise because it would wake me.

This is honestly true love. My dad loves football and he is always very quick to react to a good or bad play.

3. He carried me on his shoulders on Halloween when I was tired of walking and couldn’t finish trick-or-treating.

This happened on more than one occasion. I said that I could make it the whole way up and down the street, but alas, I couldn't. Dad was always there, though, to give my little feet a rest.

4. He helped me conquer my fear of heights by taking me on Superman at Six Flags when I was eight years old.

I seriously thought that I was going to die waiting in line for this ride, but my Dad was set on us sitting in the front seat. Once the ride was over, I wanted to get right back in line.

5. He made me a fan of Phil Collins, the Steelers and old Western movies. And ever since then, I believed everything he liked was cool.

He could have said that he was a fan of sleeping standing up, and I would've thought it was cool. My Dad has such passion for everything that he loves that it's almost impossible not to enjoy what he does.

6. He showed me what true love really meant by the way he loved my mom, no matter what obstacles or difficulties came into the picture.

If we were crunched for money or dealing with an illness, my parents never got frustrated with each other and always worked things out. I never doubt the love my Dad has for my Mom. They're inseparable.

7. He taught me not to retaliate and to be the bigger person. People would respect me more if I didn’t react in the way they wanted me to.

If I had a disagreement with someone or was insulted in some way, my Dad told me to always be respectful and not to give in to the negativity.

8. He supported me at every cheerleading competition, every softball game, chorus concert and every art show.

I know that deep down he didn't always want to sit through eight hours of cheerleading routines, but he did it anyway, because he loved me.

9. He still loved me through my Jonas Brothers phase.

I had 27 posters up in my room at one point showcasing Nick, Joe, and Kevin. My Dad definitely thought it was weird, but he said he was the same way with Marilyn Monroe and Dolly Parton, so he couldn't judge.

10. He taught me lessons about compassion, understanding and respect that I can never learn from anyone else.

Remember how Danny Tanner always gave his girls life lessons at the end of every episode? We may not have a TV show, but my Dad still teaches me something every day.

11. He used to call me “Boo” all the time when I was younger. Occasionally, I’ll catch him say it here and there, which means he still thinks of me as a little girl.

This melts my heart. My Dad can't control how old I get and he can't keep me young forever, but one thing that he can keep from my childhood is my pet name. I will never get tired of it.

12. He saved his coins and cashed them in so that we could get breakfast on Saturday mornings.

Two chocolate chip pancakes and bacon for me. The "2 x 2 x 2" special for him.

13. He let me use his car when I was first learning how to drive even though I could see him cringe at every turn I took.

I will admit that I have a lead foot, and it was evident from the day I first turned the keys in the ignition. His blood pressure may have escalated, but so did his love of teaching.

14. Whenever I cried, he made sure that I felt like the most beautiful girl in the world, even with my mascara running down my face and boogers coming from my nose.

I've had my fair share of crying spells throughout the years. Whether it was from school, work, friends or whatever else, my Dad always had tissues with him and would still somehow make me smile after I had had a meltdown.

15. He never let me get down on myself after a bad test grade. He told me that as long as I tried my hardest, that’s all that mattered.

I'm a perfectionist when it comes to school work, but there were times where I didn't do as well as I had hoped on an assignment. My Dad always encouraged me to keep trying and to remember that effort is what isimportant.

16. He was my hardest goodbye when I left for college.

Not that my Mom wasn't a hard goodbye, but just knowing that the person who has protected me my whole life wasn't going to be in the next room over anymore, hurt me immensely.

17. And he still is on every move-in day.

I always cry the most when I have to say goodbye to my Dad. I've had four move-in days and it has never gotten any easier.

18. He never came home from the Produce Barn without a pickle for me.

My love for pickles is outrageous, and although they can have a potent smell, my Dad always made sure I had one in my Easter basket or in a birthday bag.

19. He never let people be mean to me if he could help it.

I was bullied as a child like everyone was. There were times where I couldn't stand up to the boys who were being mean to me because I was too afraid. When my Dad ended up being their football coach, they learned really quickly not to mess with the coach's daughter.

20. He gave me my love of football – the greatest gift of all.

Although I was never able to play football, it never stopped me from learning the game. During the summer time, you will most likely see me on the sidelines with my Dad, picking plays and cheering on his team.

21. When I started dating my boyfriend, my Dad told me that he would still be there for me, even if the boy wasn’t.

This seems to be very cliche, but it is definitely comforting to know that I'll always have a special man in my life, whether it's a boyfriend or my Dad.

22. He makes everything look so easy, which is why he’s like a superhero to me.

My Dad balances a lot in his life. He has my mom, my two sisters, my brother, me, his siblings, his grandkids, his job, his team and so many other people and activities to juggle. He could be stressed out to the max, but no one would ever know. He makes life look like anyone can do it. I swear he secretly has a cape because there is no way that someone could do all of these things without losing their mind. But that's my Dad. He can do anything.