I will never forget the feeling that I got when the ultrasound technician said the following words, "It's going to be a girl". We assumed this would be our final piece of our family's puzzle, and to hear that after having the pleasure of beginning to raise two boys we would now enter the realm of being parents to a little girl was off the charts exciting.
Now, 3 1/2 years later, I realized that I have never put my thoughts and feelings about Katelynn in writing. She is such a beautiful little girl that I know she will receive several "love letters" in her life, but I think the first one she gets should be from the first man to ever love her. Katelynn - I am not a great writer of these types of letters (ask your mom), but I will do my best to list just some of the ways that I love you. I am eternally grateful for being your Daddy.
I love you, Katelynn
I love looking into your sweet, big, brown eyes.
I love the memory of your mother lying on the bed at the doctor's office while the technician performed an ultrasound while your brothers eagerly awaited the announcement of what we had coming to join our family. I wish you could have seen the look of excitement on Brady's face when the announcement was made that "It's a girl!" becuase he had been predicting a girl.
I love the memory of your little cry when you were a baby. You were so tiny, yet so strong. I love talking with you and listening to your little voice as you begin to figure out what words mean and how to use them. (I even love it when your words do not make any sense) I love the way you call Sleeping Beauty, Super Duty I love how you refer to your brothers as "the boys". I love how you don't back down. There have been many times when you and Alex have gone toe-to-toe. This trait will help you stand your ground as you get older when it is time to stand for what you know is right. I love how you love to see babies. I love how you touch my face to get my attention when you have something important to tell me. I love how you "shoosh" others when your babies are sleeping. I love how I get to brush your hair after your baths. I love how you change clothes 100 times each day. (Okay, I went overboard on that one - it drives me crazy to see all your clothes on the floor from wardrobe changes, but I know that one day I will miss that memory so I am jumping ahead and loving it now :) I love how I can make you laugh and the sweet perfect sound of your laugh. I love how you talk about being brave. I love your smile and how you already know how to turn your head when you smile to help encourage whoever you are talking to to see things your way. I love how you dance when music is played. I hope I will always be alert enough to act on these opportunities to dance with you. I love that you are mine. That God blessed me with the joy of being your earthly father. I love how you still refer to a Nutella sandwich as a "Chocolate Sandwich". I love how, if it is in God's plans, I will be the man that will be there to hug you and love you as you go through life's journeys. I love that whether you know it or not, you will use me as the baramoter of how you feel a man should treat you. I hope I do not dissappoint you. I love to hear you call me "Daddy". I love how you hugged the roses I gave you for your birthday without knowing that deep down there were thorns on those roses that could hurt you. You only see the good in things, including me. I am thankful for that. I love that by looking into your face, I can now see how your mother looked when she was a little girl. I love to hear you say "ta-da" when you have done something that you are proud of. I love your little pouty lip. I love to feel your arms around my neck and to hear you whisper "you're trapped Daddy" as I lean in to tuck you into bed. I love to watch others smile as they set their eyes on you. I love to feel your sweet kisses. I love you you run to me when you get scared. I love how you cross your little legs sometimes when you sit. I love how I have to hold your seat down in the movie theater so you don't get folded up in it. I love how you assume anyone wearing a dress is a princess. I love how when we hear you doing something and we ask what you are doing, your answer is "nothin', nothin', nothin'" I love to hear you yell my name and run to me when I get home from work. I love how you sing Justin Beiber's "Baby" for no apparent reason - and that you think he is a girl. I love to watch your mom smile as she watches us play and dance together. I love that one day we will be in Heaven together, not as father and daughter, but as equals, honoring our Heavenly Father together with your mom, Brady, and Alex. I love that God gave me you and that I get to be the one man in your life that you call Daddy. It is an honor and a blessing. I promise that while I will not always make the right decisions, I will always TRY to make the right decisions. Love, me |
