It is all so good

Dear Marlie,

We had some fun this weekend! I picked you up from your babysitter on Friday and we immediately went and looked at some houses closer to you and your mommy. A couple of weeks ago your mother and I met with our friends and I am getting to see you so much more. I can't even tell you how happy that makes me. Anyway, with as much as we are getting to hang out now I just need to be closer to you so that all of our time isn't spent driving! So we went and looked at some houses and you got to meet my Realtor's daughter who said "Hello Mawie" because she was young and couldn't say your name.. You have been sick so you had a sad cough, but you were a trooper and we had a lot of fun and maybe even found a house!

You slept through the night, only waking up once for a brief moment. It is so awesome waking up knowing you are here. The moment I know you are awake I bring you to the bed so that I can hold you and play with you for a while before the day begins. I am certain that after not very long, I will wish that I still could do this. Your father never stays still. I like to be going all of the time and it is a fault of mine. I work hard and always have 1000 things going through my mind. But when you are around, nothing else matters. I want to soak in every moment we have together because although we will always be together, these baby moments are fleeting. And as quickly as you are growing, I want to hold on to this time we have together as much as I can. If I could, I would make time stand still.

Finally, I got your middle name tattooed on my forearm this weekend! :) But don't think for a second that I will allow you to do this to your body when you get older!

I'll see you tomorrow, mama. I love you from here to Pluto.

Love, Daddy

It's our first night

Dear Marlie,

Tonight is a very special night. I have been waiting so long for this evening and as I listen to you coo in your crib, I am consumed with absolute joy because tonight you are staying with me. I watched over you earlier as I put you in your crib, turned on your favorite toy, and watched you lay there with your binky in your mouth. To most, it seems like such a small thing. But for a father that has never gotten to watch his baby daughter fall asleep in his own home, the thought that I have you here simply reduced me to tears.

I wonder if those fathers that get to put their daughters to bed every night know just how lucky they are. I'd do anything to be able to watch you sleep every night. To bathe you, put you in your nighty, get you all tucked in...I couldn't think of a greater end to an evening. Daddy's life is so good right now and having you with me as I ate dinner and winded down the evening tonight trumps all of the other amazing things that I have going on. Tonight has been a long time coming and the road to get here has certainly been painful, but, Marlie girl, listening to your toy sing you a lullabuy and knowing that you are here, asleep has made this journey seam trivial in relation to the smile in my heart right now.

I can't tell you how happy you made me tonight, sweetie. And the thought that I will wake up tomorrow and you will be here really is something special. I hurt for the days that we have not been together, but my heart celebrates with fatherly love the fact that tonight is the beginning to new days for us. Because of you my understanding of Jesus' love for me is so clear now. And for that, I thank you more than I will ever be able to express.

I'll see you in the morning, baby girl.  Ioves you from here to Pluto.

Love,
Daddy

Things are getting better!

Dear Marlie,

So much has gone on since the last time I wrote you! All I can say is that I fall more and more in love with you every time we are together. You are such a perfect little girl! And you are growing so fast! Last week I got to see you sit up on your own for the very first time :) I caught it on camera. Look at you!

I was so proud of you when you did this. And you think it is fun to fall over. You are grabbing for everything in sight now and when you are leaning back in a chair, you try your hardest to pull yourself up. Maybe you are like me. I have to be able to see in the distance and maybe you do, too :) You are talking up a storm now and you are always smiling. It's just the cutest thing ever and I can't get enough of you!

So last week your Nana, Auntie Sonya, and cousing Faith came to see you. Your auntie and your cousin both got checked to make sure they weren't sick and guess what?! They aren't! Auntie Sonya wasn't feeling very well for a long time and your cousin Faith was born during it all. Those two are super strong. I hope that when you get old enough to understand, Cancer has been beaten that way we don't have to worry anymore. Until then, WE will keep praying!

While they were here, you could tell that you and your cousin are beginning to recognize each other. Y'all held hands and your cousin even kissed you on your head :)

She is crawling now and she walks when we help. She looks like a little soldier because she steps so hard, but it won't be long until she is walking and YOU are crawling. It's all going by so fast. Your personality keeps coming out more and more. I think I might be in trouble and no picture says it better than this one

Well today we got to hang out a little bit. We went and walked around the mall in your super neat stroller that daddy's friends got for you at the baby shower. Everywhere we went everyone talked about how stinkin' cute you are. Your cheeks are tubby and your eyes are gorgeous. I am a proud, proud father :)

Things are getting better, Marlie. We are seeing each other more and more and that's all I want. Daddy's friends are meeting with mommy's friends in just a little bit so that we can really create a schedule that will let me see you all of the time! AND you are about to start spending the night with me sometimes! This means we can play more, you get to see your aunties and uncles and Nana and grandpa and you get to see Chloe :) You love Chloe. You reach out for her and want to pet her all of the time. And she loves you, too. She gives you these really soft kisses on your face and you love it. This is when you and Chloe met for the first time

Well I get to see you again in two days and hopefully next week will be our first time to stay the night together. I can't wait :) I love you from here to Pluto, Marlie and I miss you already. See you Thursday!

Love,
Daddy