Once Upon a Time: My Other Half

I often wonder when or if Ryan will realize how blessed she is to have Josh for her father. I'm sure she will one day, even if it's well past the trying and traumatic teenage years! As I've said before, I blog to try to record memories and feelings but also for Ryan's future. I want her to be able to read this and learn more about who she is and who her family is. I remember what a complete brat I was in middle school--and probably during high school as well. I didn't fully appreciate my parents and all they did for me and cringe about it now. I definitely didn't know or understand how much they loved me. As much as I'd like to think Ryan will be the exact opposite of myself during her teen years, chances are she will probably go through a bratty, ungrateful, everything-revolves-around-me phase as well. :) Should that happen, I wanted to have a way for her to be reminded of one something she should NEVER take for granted and always be thankful for--her father.

This is an open letter to my beautiful baby girl about the one man in her life who will NEVER, EVER let her down.

Dear Ryan,

To say your daddy is a great guy would be an understatement. He's a wonderful guy. He's the best guy. The very best guy, other my own father, who I've ever known. He came into my life at a time when I really needed him, and he swept me off my feet. First, we were friends. And best friends make the best relationships.

He is tall, dark, and handsome. I know, I know--you're gagging right about now. :) He's quiet, until you get to know him--and then you realize how funny he is! He makes me laugh until my stomach hurts almost daily. He has a heart of gold. He loves his grandmother and family fiercely and has taken care of his cousins as if they were his own children. He is fair and good to everyone he meets. He has a way of looking at the positive side of things. Your daddy always knows what to say to calm me down and make me see whatever I'm worried or upset about isn't really as big as I think it is. He is a Christian and brought me close to God again after I'd strayed. He is a skilled craftsman and can fix or build almost anything. He is kind, caring, warm, and considerate of others. I could go on and on about this amazing man.

But nothing prepared me for how I would look at him after he became your father. Ryan Michelle, I can't put into words how it makes my heart feel when he looks at you. He loves you more than there are stars. From the moment you came into this world (and we were there!), you had him wrapped around your tiny little finger. This big, strong, 6'8 man turned to putty when you came into our lives. He gives you baths and talks to you about your day. He reads to you and sings to you. He lays on the ground and plays on your play mat with you. He rocks you to sleep on his chest and explains football to you on Sunday afternoons. He can pick out a killer outfit and finds shoes and a bow to match. He even asked me to show him how to braid hair (and he practiced on me!) because he wants to know how to fix yours when you get older. He cuddles in the bed with you on Saturdays to get you to go back to sleep--5:30 is REALLY early on a Saturday! He posts pictures of you proudly on Instagram because he wants to world to see his beautiful little girl. He switches middle of the night feedings with me every other night. He works home improvement jobs on the side because he loves doing it, but also because he wants to provide the best possible life for you. When he walks into the room and sees you, his whole face lights up. He is calm and loving and is so very good to you. He dreams about what you'll be like as you grow. By the way, I apologize in advance for any scare tactics he may use on future potential suitors.

He was absolutely wonderful before you came along and now he is even better. You've made him (and me) see the world in a whole new way. Your daddy would do absolutely anything for you and to protect you. You are so very blessed to have this wonderful, loving, supportive man in your life. My wish for you is that one day you, too, will have a husband who loves you and cares for you and your own children the way your father does. He will always, always be there for you. That's something to be thankful for, baby girl. God provided a great father for you and a wonderful husband for me and for that, we are beyond blessed.