Happy Birthday Monkey

Dear Monkey,
Your Mom asked if I would write you a letter in honor of your 3rd birthday and I think it’s a fantastic idea! Maybe we can use this blog as a forum each and every year on your birthday to write you a letter. But since this is the first one and three years have slipped by, I’ll start at the beginning.

The morning of your scheduled birth date, your mom and I were very nervous. The first words she said to me when we woke up was “what if this (having a baby) is too much for us?” I said, jokingly “Well, both of our Moms seem excited about it. Tell you what, why don’t we go through with it and if we’re not happy we’ll let them keep the baby.” She smiled at me knowing that wouldn’t be the case. And it wasn’t.

When I picked you up for the first time - everything changed. Everything. How we felt about life, about relationships and love, our needs/wants and the world in general. We were now responsible for your well being and happiness and we gladly accepted the role. What we weren’t prepared for was how happy you would make us! It is hard to imagine without you in our lives. Not a day goes by now that you don’t bring a huge smile to my face.

Below are some milestones and random things/thoughts that have happened over the last three years:

• You were diagnosed with hip dysplasia and underwent a 5 hour surgery at 2 months old (worst day of our lives to date)
• You were in a full body cast for 3 months and actually smiled when Dr. Campion took the cast off (one of the best days of our lives)
• You walked 3 steps on your first birthday EVEN THOUGH you were a few months behind others your age due to the surgery/cast
• Dora the Explorer is pretty big in your life right now and has been for the last year or so
• You and Sammy next door are HUGE buddies and we get such a kick out of watching you guys interact and play

Just this past weekend I pulled in the driveway from a week-long business trip and you were standing on the front porch chewing gum (!) and not wearing a diaper (!!). You said nonchalantly, “Hi Dad.” I swear you aged 5 years in 5 days. Then I tickled your belly and you were back to a 3 year old but it wasn’t lost on me how fast you’re growing up.

You wear a shirt right now that says “My Daddy Can Fix Anything” and I love it when you wear it because right now I feel like I can fix anything (get you juice, fix a toy, mend a scrapped knee, etc.). I’m sure there will be a time that I can’t fix everything in your life. Boys breaking your heart, not making the dance/soccer/cheerleading/tennis or whatever team. But you should know that your Mom and I will always try to fix everything because we love you more than words can express.

Happy 3rd Birthday Kiddo.

Love,
Dad