The role of a grandparent

Let me start this off by saying that I adore my father in law. He took me in as a teen and gave me a safe home; he showed me unconditional love though his words and actions, he is an amazing shoulder to lean on when times are tough or when I just need someone to talk to. Since he has moved in with us he has been becoming more and more one of the first people I run to when I need to talk or when I want to spend time with someone. Often Dad and I are the ones giggling and laughing at some silly joke while D is busy being serious or watching football (Yes, I am a football widow!)
Yesterday Aunt Jessa dropped Doodle off at my office and I took her home. Dad, Doodle, and I stopped at Baker's to pick up asparagus (or as Dad calls it "aspagrus" lol) and some other items for dinner. After a late dinner I put Doodle to bed on the air mattress. About 20 minutes after I put her to bed she comes out because she has to use the bathroom (even though she had used it before she went to bed).  Sometime later she comes out trying to stall her bedtime more by asking for me to remove a bracelet that she had worn to bed the night before and all day yesterday. I told her to go back to bed and stay in bed. About 5-10 minutes later I go in to check on her and she is sitting up on Dad's bed with Dad trying to remove the bracelet.
What happened to the Dad that made his kids stay in bed when they tried to weasel extra awake time?! He's turned into a softie!!!! Correction-he's turned into a grandparent. While Doodle may not be my child he is a Popop for her.
I talked to Aunt Jessa about this and she said her parents are even worse. If she's visiting and goes to punish Doodle, Doodle actually RUNS behind "Memaw" and Aunt Jessa can't do anything about it! I don't remember having grandparents that went that far. I guess I was raised with stricter grandparents. It's odd to see the changes that Dad has gone through that took him from a strict but loving parent into a mushball grandparent!

Doodle and Papa Randy