I love you in a way I’ve never loved anyone before. You have completely added to my quality of life over these first 6 months of your life.
It reminds me of a song called “Everything” by Lifehouse, which is actually a song about God. However, there is a line that I feel completely describes the effect you have on me:
“How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?”
It is beyond my comprehension that throughout the history of the world, including now, there have been and still are fathers who don’t feel the same way about their daughters as the way I feel about you.
I cannot relate to the concept of a father brining a daughter into this world, only to ultimately abandon her, neglect her, or simply not completely adore her.
Before you and your brother were born, it was quite normal for me to consider what the meaning of life was.
However, this is the first time since 2010, when your brother was born, that I’ve thought about “the meaning of life.”
Because since becoming a parent, I haven’t needed to think about that.
God has given me great blessings and great responsibilities: You and your brother.
I don’t take my role as your Daddy lightly. I’m a big deal to you both, whether I want to be or not.
The outcome of your life is largely based on how I express my love to you and your brother.
And while I love your brother just as much as I love you, there is undeniably a specifically different role in being a father to a daughter, as opposed to a son.
I simply must adore you and nurture you and guide you and protect you and lead you.
Over these past couple of months, you have curiously been listening to Mommy and I occasionally discuss Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. You have definitely been interested in learning about how the upcoming election will determine our next President.
You’ve gone to sleep to the sound of all 3 of the Presidential Debates, as your bedroom is right around the corner from our TV.
I think it’s particularly interesting that you have witnessed Mommy and I sincerely try to figure out who to vote for. You are not being raised in a specifically Democrat nor a Republican household.
Instead, I feel that Mommy and I have legitimately been trying to make the right decision; not based on an allegiance to a certain political party, but instead, based on which candidate we truly believe will be the best leader for our country.
As the debates have been on, I’ve listened to some things Donald Trump has said, and I’ve turned to Mommy and said, “Okay, I totally agree with what he just said.”
But then just a few minutes later, I would say the same thing about what Hillary Clinton just said.
And the opposite is true as well: I just as much told Mommy how I disagreed with certain statements both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump made.
For me, I just couldn’t bring myself to make a decision on which major candidate was better, or worse, for the job.
So I decided not to vote for either.
When I came home Tuesday night after participating in “early voting”, Mommy asked with a curioius smile, “So who’d you end up voting for?”
Not Hillary Clinton. Not Donald Trump. But instead, former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, the Libertarian.
He embraced the things that I liked about Clinton and Trump, without the things I didn’t like about them.
I know. The likelihood of him winning the election is not great.
I know. I ultimately took a vote away from either Clinton or Trump. But to me, that’s fine- because I didn’t favor one over the other anyway.
My conscience was not okay with me “voting for the lesser of two evils.”
Because that would still have meant I knowingly voted for someone I believed was evil.
In reality, I don’t think either Clinton or Trump are evil. I don’t see things so polarized. I see gray; not just red or blue.
That’s not to say that I believe everyone else should vote for the person I voted for. Instead, I just encourage people to actually vote- for whoever they believe is the right person.
Even Mommy. I have no idea who she will vote for, yet that has no emotional effect over me; nor does anyone else’s vote.
I have voted in every single election since I was old enough. Perhaps that has something to do with the example I saw with my own parents; your Nonna and Papa.
Clearly, I will be raising you the same way. You will see me lead by example, not by simply talking about my political beliefs, but instead, by me faithfully voting for who I personally believe is the best candidate.
It goes back to my letter to you last week about your homework assignment on your opinion whether we should still celebrate Columbus Day.
I found out from your teacher this week that you were the only student in your class who marked “no,” that we should not celebrate the holiday.
That makes me proud. Not necessarily because of the belief itself, but more so because you’re not at all afraid to be the only one to believe, in a society where mainstream society is set in their beliefs.
Today is your very first half-birthday. It was 6 months ago today that I first got to meet you, just 4 days after my 35th birthday. And my life has not been the same nor will it ever be the same.
I have to say, you are such an easy baby to take care of. I say that because, for me as your Daddy, keeping you alive is kind of the main concern during your newborn days.
When I see your smiley face and your bouncy body, I am reminded of what a joy it is to take care of you.
Just look at this Instragram I took of you this morning…
It helps that I know what I’m doing this time around, unlike with your brother Jack; back when I was a first-time dad.
But now I know how it works. I’ve just completed the first 2 weeks of sleep-training you, by applying “The Cry It Out” method. And now you sleep through the night.
It was such a scary thing to try out on your brother. But with you, I am not trying out The Cry It Out method; I am simply applying it, in full confidence.
I suppose that’s a big part of you being such an easy baby: Because Mommy and I get to sleep more than we did when your brother was your age.
Your ability to sleep through the night at this age also goes hand in hand with you now beginning to eat solid foods. A couple of weeks ago Chicco sent us their new NaturalFit bottle for you to try out.
I didn’t even know Chicco made bottles. I just recognized the name from the old car seat we haul you around in, which you inherited from your nearly 6 year-old brother. (See below.)
Mommy quickly admitted the Chicco Natural Fit bottle has an easy flow to it, that it’s easy for her to hold, and that it never leaks; which is a big deal. Too bad we don’t have these bottles this entire time with you!
This past week though, I could tell that the formula alone just wasn’t enough for you. After drinking 6 ounces at a time, you would spit up the final ounce but still seem hungry.
I will say, you’re not totally excited about the concept of actually eating solid food. You act disgusted by the texture, which is likely the case.
However, you seem very curious when Mommy and I eat chips and salsa.
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…
Your Uncle Jake and Aunt Stephanie’s wedding!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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