Two years old!!!!!

My Dearest Rebekah,

Tomorrow is your second birthday, and I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around that fact.  They all told me when you were born that you would grow up fast.  And boy were they right.  Two years old.  When did this happen? When did my newborn become a toddler?  When did my beautiful baby girl become curious enough about the world that she began to ask questions?  Two years old! At times it feels as if you were born last week, and at times it feels as though you have always been in my life.  I remember the day you were born so clearly.  I was running on about three hours of sleep.  It all still seemed so surreal.  I was about to become a father. About to meet my daughter for the first time.  And there you were.  So calm and relaxed. Taking it all in.  Our eyes meet.  We introduce ourselves with a smile.  And my life has never been the same since.  

Two years old.  And in case you are wondering… yes you have entered the “terrible twos” stage of life.  But surprisingly, I’m enjoying it.  There is a little more attitude.  But there is also more intrigue about the world around you.  “Daddy, what’s that?” is a pretty common questions these days.  My favorite thing is when you grab a book and want me to read to you. Then you want to read to me and I cannot understand a word you are saying, but you get so excited and just keep on reading.

There is a joy that comes from being a father.  A kind of joy that I had never known before you were born.  A joy that grows every day.  I still have moments when it hits me that I’m a dad.  Moments when I’m holding you in my arms and nothing else matters.  Moments when we laugh until we cry.  Moments when we discover new things. I imagine that feeling is pretty close to what God feels when we grow closer to him.  When I see you sharing with others and giving hugs to everyone, I get a glimpse of how he must swell with pride when He sees us love others without holding back.  And I share heartbreak with Him when you are hurting.  There is a reason why we so often refer to God as a father.  I do my best to set a good example of what a father is like.  Unfortunately, I fall short on a regular basis.  I am not perfect by any stretch of the imagination and am not comparing myself to Him, but I do my best for you.  I love you because God has loved me.  And I hope that you know how much you are loved by your Father in heaven and your one on earth.

-Daddy

Where Has My Baby Gone?!?

My Dearest Rebekah,

I don’t know where my baby has gone.  She was just here.  So tiny and fragile, needing me for everything. She would stay in her swing or bouncer until I picked her up.  She loved to be rocked to sleep.  Her eyes were always staring in amazement at things she had never seen before.  She was so adorable, and would cuddle with me for hours.  But, I don’t know where she went.

I now have a little girl.  So curious and adventurous. She loves to go for walks and play outside.  She will study something until she knows how it works.  She’s starting to talk a lot too.  And I understand most of it.  She loves to read and has dozens of books. One of her favorite things is to help around the house, by sweeping and picking up her toys, and even helping to unload the dishwasher.  She is very independent and doesn’t need my help as much as she used to.  Yes, I now have a little girl. 

Everyone told me, “before you know it, she will be all grown up and off to college.”  So I made sure to enjoy every single moment. Told myself not to take anything for granted. Did my best to always have my priorities in the right order.  And because of all that, it has been an incredible year and a half.  But just as they all predicted, in the blink of an eye my baby is gone. 

And now my beautiful little girl is here.  Sweetheart, you are truly amazing.  You are so smart and pick up on things so quick.  You have a heart of gold and love to bring a smile to everyone’s face, and your laugh still fills the room. It is such a blessing to be your dad.  Keep growing into the woman God has called you to be, and my prayer is that you will always know how much you are loved by your Father in heaven and your father on earth.   

-Daddy