Daddy's Girl: Your Love Letter From Daddy

Dearest Ensley, Your beautiful mother started this blog for you about a year ago as a gift to you. She is much better than I am at writing and getting things done. My goal for you is to write you a letter once a year after your birthday. So here it is my precious little girl. Dearest Ensley, Words cannot express enough how I feel about you. It all started when your mother and I tried and tried to have a little baby. When I found out that you were going to be coming into this world I was working at school selling tickets at one of Norte Vista’s home football games. Your mom sent me a text message with a picture of a pregnancy test on it showing that we were going to have a baby. I was beyond excited; it brought tears to my eyes knowing I was going to be a father. I will never forget that day. We didn’t know yet that we were having a little girl but I was excited. Deep down inside I was hoping that you were going to be a little girl and it turns out you were. That takes us to the day we found out that you were a girl. I still watch the video to this day from time to time and of course get tears in my eyes. We found out on Christmas day that you were going to be a little girl, for me it could be a television commercial the only other things that makes that day great is that your Auntie is dressed in a pair of bunny PJ’s. So for the next 6 months I eagerly anticipated your arrival. One of my biggest joys before your arrival was constructing your room from the endless colors of paint we tried to Coach Nichols helping me put the chair rail up it was an adventure that in the end provide me great joy it was my first gift to you. We also searched for day trying to find the perfect furniture for you which we had to put together ourselves. We built you crib outside of your room and when we went to put it in it was too big, so daddy has to take off the front and put it back together again when we got half of it into your room. These are just some of the crazy and amazing things that happened before you even came into our lives. Arrival I will never forget the events of this day, May 7th, 2012. It all started at 5am when daddy woke up to go to work. He rolled over and noticed that mommy was not in bed and then he overheard her talking to the nurse on the phone. Mommy came into the room and then said that the Dr. wanted her to come in. Mommy insisted that daddy go to work because she thought it was not big deal but daddy said no I will go with you. We got to the hospital and the nurses made mommy comfortable and they confirmed that she was going into labor. You were coming and we were excited. You mommy was so amazing on this day; she is such a tough and incredible woman. It was a running joke that since daddy hates needles that if mommy had to have a C-section that daddy would pass out. I knew that the excitement of seeing you would prevent me from falling flat on my face, daddy knew he had to be strong for mommy and you. They took mommy away first and I had to put on scrubs and wait until they came for me and when they did they rushed me over to your mommy. Your mommy has never looked as beautiful as she did on this day; well she was pretty hot on our wedding day too. I sat looking at mommy for about 15 minutes while they did the final touches on her C-section and then you arrived. They wouldn’t let me stand up to see you because you wouldn’t take your first breath right away, mommy and I like to say you have been stubborn from the start. After they got you all squared away we went back to the room where we first started. This is another fond memory I have; it was just you and I for about 40 minutes you looked at me like I have never been looked at before beside by your mommy. Your stare into my eyes was intense and deep your little hand grabbed my finger and squeezed from that moment on I knew we had a bond and that you were special. I will never forget those first moments with you with all the emotions from excitement to pure terror were running through my body. We have had many moments together from the start, I got the chance to change your first diaper and boy was that an experience and I got to help give you your first bath. Rest of the Story of Year 1 It had been crazy how fast your first year has gone by. All parents say this but I feel like it was just yesterday that we were bringing you home. Now you walk, talk a little, understand us (even though you don’t always listen), and you make us smile every single day. This summer has really made daddy thing about the future. Daddy has always worked and worked hard since he was about 18 years old but this summer you mommy gets to spend all this amazing time with you. I want you to know that I work only to make a better life for you and your future. I look forward to the summers, starting next summer if mommy can stand daddy being around that much, that we get to explore the world together as you continue to learn, grow, and develop. It’s amazing how fast and how much you change every week. You have kept mommy and daddy guessing during your whole first year. Often times I feel silly because I don’t know the answers to all the questions we have. So I hope as you read this message you feel that we have done a good job raising you and loving you. Ensley you have brought a joy to my life that I have only felt one other time and that was when I married your mommy. I look forward to the adventures we will have this next year as you move to being 2 years old. You are my “Mini Me,” you are my heart, you’re my soul. I love you and as the song said when you were born I could not ask for more. Love Daddy