Enough to buy a whole season’s worth of diapers. Enough for a month’s worth of take-out Thai. Even enough for that fancy new Balenciaga purse which Powergirl spotted in the window of a shop downtown.

With all of these winnings from the trip, it could be the first and only moment that my baby daughter has put me in the black; a situation which I know will change the moment she discovers dolls, the fun of swimming lessons and, of course, Taylor Swift (that’s not even accounting for college, by the way).

I certainly never used to see Vegas spoils as such ephemeral trophies. Are these kinds of transitions common for all dads? In what other ways am I going to start looking differently at finances? Does fatherhood of any kind inevitably make you more of a fiscal conservative?

Whatever the answer, it’s certainly good to be home.

After I disembarked from the plane, I poked my head into the back seat of Powergirl’s waiting car and received the biggest and most toothless “Welcome Home” smile from L. For the remainder of the night, which the baby I and I spent together, she cooed and kicked and flailed her arms in delight.

I admit: this red-carpet treatment had me teary at multiple times throught the night. Daddy’s back, baby Bean. And thanks to you, he’s ready to start spending.