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Dear Holly: Your Uncle Jake’s Wedding at Tom Ham’s Lighthouse (San Diego Vacation/2016 Mitsubishi Outlander)

5 months.

Dear Holly: Your Uncle Jake’s Wedding at Tom Ham’s Lighthouse

Dear Holly,

After our family spent most of the week enjoying our vacation with attractions like the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and Legoland, the time had finally come for us to celebrate the actual reason we had flown out to San Diego to begin with…

Dear Holly: Your Uncle Jake’s Wedding at Tom Ham’s Lighthouse (San Diego Vacation/2016 Mitsubishi Outlander)

Your Uncle Jake and Aunt Stephanie’s wedding!

Dear Holly: Your Uncle Jake’s Wedding at Tom Ham’s Lighthouse

We didn’t have to drive the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander very far. In fact, the wedding venue, Tom Ham’s Lighthouse was so close, we could have just walked. But hey, we had a fancy ride so took advantage of it.

Dear Holly: Your Uncle Jake’s Wedding at Tom Ham’s Lighthouse (San Diego Vacation/2016 Mitsubishi Outlander)

I had very high expectations of what their wedding would be like, with good reason. Both Jake and Stephanie had been planning it intensively for many months.

Dear Holly: Your Uncle Jake’s Wedding at Tom Ham’s Lighthouse (San Diego Vacation/2016 Mitsubishi Outlander)

As I imagined, my expectations were valid. Their wedding made me think of a movie wedding: It was right there on the water. There was a string section providing the music. Jake and Stephanie even read vows to each other, which were both well thought out.

Dear Holly: Your Uncle Jake’s Wedding at Tom Ham’s Lighthouse (San Diego Vacation/2016 Mitsubishi Outlander)

It was classy, extravagant, and yet not over the top. It was the perfect wedding ceremony.

Of course Mommy made sure we were all properly dressed for the occasion. Your brother Jack and I enjoyed our bowties, and as for you, Mommy found such a beautiful dress for such a beautiful little girl.

As you sat in Mommy’s lap during the ceremony, you took it all in. You paid attention the whole time.

Dear Holly: Your Uncle Jake’s Wedding at Tom Ham’s Lighthouse (San Diego Vacation/2016 Mitsubishi Outlander)

However, I couldn’t tell you about the wedding if I didn’t mention how you made everyone in our section laugh during one of the most serious parts of the wedding.

The officiator was explaining, “The ring is a perfect circle. It is a symbol of…”

Pppffffftttt…ppfftt.

That was the sound that came from your bottom.

Dear Holly: Your Uncle Jake’s Wedding at Tom Ham’s Lighthouse (San Diego Vacation/2016 Mitsubishi Outlander)

What made it so particularly funny was that it was from a precious little baby girl in a lovely dress- a baby girl who was sincerely appreciating the wedding ceremony. You were completely oblivious to the hilarious interruption you had just made.

Needless to say, anyone within a 15 foot radius of you couldn’t help but laugh, or at least pretend not to.

Dear Holly: Your Uncle Jake’s Wedding at Tom Ham’s Lighthouse (San Diego Vacation/2016 Mitsubishi Outlander)

But fortunately, the wedding went on, and now you officially have a beautiful new aunt.

The wedding couldn’t have gone any better. It was a like a dream.

Love,

Daddy

Dear Holly: Your Uncle Jake’s Wedding at Tom Ham’s Lighthouse

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Dear Jack: Our Family Went to Walden Farm Pumpkin Patch

5 years, 11 months.

Dear Jack: Our Family Went to Walden Farm Pumpkin Patch

Dear Jack,

This past Saturday made the 3rd year Mommy and I have taken you to Walden Farm to pick out some pumpkins and to enjoy all the related festivities. Of course, it made the 1st time for your sister.

Dear Jack: Our Family Went to Walden Farm Pumpkin Patch

Though we dressed for fall weather, it actually felt more like summer. Had we known, we would have all worn shorts.

We started out by going on the hay ride. You always love to find all the hidden objects out in the field.

Dear Jack: Our Family Went to Walden Farm Pumpkin Patch w2 w3 w4

It was funny because just earlier that morning I was telling Mommy how I would like to take you to a “scary house” at some point. Fortunately, they had one there at Walden Farms.

Dear Jack: Our Family Went to Walden Farm Pumpkin Patch

For 5 Walden Bucks, you and I got to access the playground area which included a scary house that was appropriate for you. At your age, I would have been too afraid to even enter. Not you though- you went through it twice. You thought it was really cool.

Dear Jack: Our Family Went to Walden Farm Pumpkin Patch w7 w8 w10

You also got to go on the cool tube slide on the hill. Plus, you climbed the haystack mountain.

This also made the first time you rode the tractor train by yourself.

Dear Jack: Our Family Went to Walden Farm Pumpkin Patch

I love how our visit this year was different than the others- because now, you are old enough to do the big boy stuff.

Before this year, you liked to hang out at the toddler table, playing with the toy trucks and bulldozers in the sand.

But this time, you just enjoyed exploring the parts of Walden Farm that you never had before.

Dear Jack: Our Family Went to Walden Farm Pumpkin Patch

Meanwhile, your sister Holly had a much more relaxed experience; enough so that she was asleep for part of it.

We had a wonderful time as a family. Maybe next year your sister can join you in the train.

Love,

Daddy

Dear Jack: Our Family Went to Walden Farm Pumpkin Patch

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Dear Holly: I Love You, Period

5 months.

Dear Holly: I Love You, Period

Dear Holly,

In the routine of coming home from work each day and playing with you while Mommy makes dinner for our family, one of the things I catch myself saying is, “Daddy loves baby ‘cause baby’s soooo sweeeeet!”

And while it’s true that you are undeniably sweet, and everything I could ever hope for in a baby girl, I began overthinking my catch phrase; in an “if/then” format.

It’s not, I love you because you’re so sweet.

It’s, I love you, period.

While I do my best to love everyone, even those who may be perceived as frenemies, enemies, or people who are simply indifferent towards me, it’s different for you and it always will be.

You are my daughter. I love you in a way that I love no one else in this world. The way I love you is so special.

No one else can make me feel the way I do about you.

I felt it from the moment you were born on April 24th. I will never forget holding you for the first time.

It wasn’t that I simply had another kid now. Instead, it was the instant and euphoric understanding that for the rest of my life, I will be the loving father of a daughter.

I will be responsible for showing you what love looks like. I am honored to be the most influential example of what a man is, in your life.

That’s huge responsibility and I take it very seriously.

You will be loved. You will know every day you are loved. Yet at the same time, I will carefully balance giving you room to grow on your own.

I never realized until this year, 2016, how much I needed a daughter. You have already changed my life forever.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Your Special Drawing about My Grandma’s Funeral (“My Fall Break Fun” Worksheet)

5 years, 11 months.

Dear Jack: Your Special Drawing about My Grandma’s Funeral

Dear Jack,

Mommy showed me a worksheet you completed last week, in which you described and illustrated what you did over the 4 day Columbus Day weekend. Immediately, I noticed the section you devoted to my Grandma’s funeral.

You clearly drew her casket, with the elaborate flowers that were on top, with one of the pews next to it. I am definitely impressed by the details you put it to that.

I know that when Nonna finds out about your drawing, she will especially appreciate the fact you remembered the flowers, because it was very important to Nonna that Grandma’s casket had beautiful and elaborate flowers on top of it.

You noticed those flowers enough to include them in your drawing. That’s amazing to me.

Throughout history, people have naturally created art to preserve images of things they value. You valued those flowers. You valued being there at my Grandma’s funeral.

You also drew Nonna and Papa’s house, and the pool next to it.

And apparently the road trip back to Tennessee was of value to you as well, since you made sure to document a picture of us driving back home, from Alabama where the funeral was.

Dear Jack: Your Special Drawing about My Grandma’s Funeral

I love how you did your best to spell:

“I with at my nons.” (I went to my Nonna’s.)

“Foonrul.” (Funeral.)

“My friz: Jack, Jine, Veru.” (My friends: Jack, Jenna, Vera.)

“I with hom.” (I went home.)

“I had fun.” (Correct.)

Since your school was out both Friday and Monday for Columbus Day, you went to the extended day program at your sister’s daycare.

You enjoyed being there so much! You were so excited to go back on Monday, having been there Friday. As your drawing indicates, you very much valued spending the day with your friends Jenna and Vera.

I will always value your artwork. It’s never just about your drawing skills. Instead, it’s about the stories your drawings tell.

Thanks for being so creative.

Love,

Daddy

Dear Jack: Your Special Drawing about My Grandma’s Funeral

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Dear Holly: You Slept through the Entire Night for the 1st Time in Your Life, after Day 5 of “The Cry It Out” Method

5 months.

Dear Holly: You Slept through the Entire Night for the 1st Time in Your Life, after Day 5 of “The Cry It Out” Method

Dear Holly,

Last night made the first time in your life in which you slept through the entire night, from 8:20 PM to 5:40 AM, without ever crying or waking up, whatsoever.

If you had, I would have known, since I had the baby monitor right next to me the whole night; as I have the past 4 nights as well. I myself went to bed at 10:30 PM, and was so surprised when my alarm woke me up a 5:20 AM and realized I had been asleep the whole time without having to get out of bed.

That also means Mommy got another great night of sleep, as she went to bed at 9:45 PM. And of course your brother Jack went to sleep the same time as you, and also slept all through the night; as he always has, since I successfully applied “The Cry It Out” Method on him 5 years ago.

Now that your body has officially adapted to remaining solidly asleep for an entire night, I am confident to believe this will be the norm for you from now on. Granted, I am prepared for the next few following days for you to possibly briefly wake up, but then to fall right back asleep.

But really, this should be it. No more of Mommy losing sleep by having to (illegitimately) feed you through the night.

I had been ready for months to go ahead and sleep train you; but between Mommy being psychologically ready (ultimately meaning she hadn’t yet reached to the combination of “fed up and exhausted”), and you getting sick, and us going on vacation for a week in San Diego, then to Alabama last weekend for my grandma’s funeral, the timing just wasn’t right.

But that all came to a head this week.

I very much appreciate Mommy trusting me to take over. I couldn’t have been successful without her agreeing to let me do what I am wired to do, which is what she is not wired to do.

She never once came upstairs to interrupt me in my craft, as you cried it out for up to 20 minutes at a time.

Clearly, Mommy is the feminine nurturer. And clearly, I am the masculine enforcer.

Love,

Daddy