The rest of my life

Dear Marlie,


Hey, you :) It's been so long since I have written you! Life seems to continue to get faster and I am not so sure I like it. You are growing like a weed. You are 3 years old now and it's just hard to understand how so much time has passed since you were born. I find myself looking at pictures and watching videos of when you were younger and I can't help but cry a little. When I look back, I feel this great peace knowing where God has brought us. I am getting emotional thinking about it as I type. It, our story, is just, well, special.

Ok, so....BIG news! You are going to be a BIG sister! As you like to say, "Mom has a baby in her belly!" We are so excited that you will be having a little brother, or a little sister. You are going to be so wonderful at it. We are trying to teach you that not everyone has a baby in their belly though. We were eating at our regular hibachi restaurant not long ago and you pointed at a lady at our table who was a bit overweight and you said, "Look! She has a baby in her belly, too!" Fortunately she didn't hear you. We would have been embarrassed and more importantly, she would have been hurt :( The things that come from your mouth sometimes....

This past weekend we went to Mom's hometown to see family and celebrate Ashley's birthday. Nessa and Jordan's new daughter Sutton was there with them and I got to hold her a while as she slept. I found myself getting lost in the moment. You see, when you were a baby, I didn't get to hold you while you slept nearly as much as I wanted and when I was holding Sutton, I couldn't help but think back on all of the times I was at my apartment missing you. I remember the very first night you spent with me. As you slept in the crib in our little one bedroom apartment, I just cried tears of joy. I was so happy to have you home with me. I was so happy to be able to pray over you and tuck you in for bed. I was so happy that I sat back, in the peace and quiet, and just let myself cry. My heart had been wrecked in the previous months, but in that moment I knew that God was preparing us for our restoration and a beautiful future together.


I am so proud of you, Marlie. I am so proud of us. I am proud of the family we are, the love we share, the relationships we have with one another. And you are just the smartest, sweetest and still the happiest little girl in the world. You are kind and hysterically funny. I could have never imagined having so much love in my heart for you, little one. Thank you for changing my life, Marlie girl. I owe my life to you and I will forever work to make sure you know how much you are loved and I strive to make you proud that I am your daddy.


Anyway, I thought I would just swing through and write since it had been a while. We will see you this weekend for Easter. Miss you tons. I love you Marlie. From here to Pluto.


Love,
Daddy