Dear Baby Girl

Dear Baby Girl,

Do you know how lucky you are little girl?

Do you know how lucky you are to have a Daddy like you do? A Daddy who sacrifices so that the rest of us can live the life we sometimes take for granted.  A Daddy who willingly puts on his uniform day in and day out because he loves what he does, because of an inner duty that drives him.  A Daddy who had to be away from his little girl and her mommy because of a cause bigger than all of us.

Baby Girl I wanted to write you this letter because I know you will not remember.  You won't remember this time when your Daddy wasn't here.  

In a way we are comforted by this but at the same time I want you to know what it was like for him.  The days leading up to his departure were rough.  Baby girl he wanted to spend so much time with you, to make precious memories.  We soaked up each and every moment we had.  We laughed and we cried.

It was like you knew something big was about to happen, girl.  To watch you two together those few weeks just about made my heart explode.  Your Daddy became your world.  You lit up when he entered the room and the smiles you two shared were breathtaking.

We marveled at the little accomplishments you did knowing that in the back of our minds he was going to miss quite a few in the months to come.  He was so strong, Baby Girl.  He tried not to let it show but it was those quiet moments that got to him.  When you held his hand so tightly, not wanting to let go.  When he comforted you in the night.  Those were the hardest.  But oh girl how he loves you.  It was so hard because of just how much he loves you.

The day we said good-bye to daddy was rough but you were such a comfort to both daddy and mommy.  You went right to your daddy and snuggled into him.  Although you were asleep you seemed to soak in these precious minutes.  You grasped his coat and buried your face into his neck.  Daddy was doing the same, kissing your precious head and smelling your wonderful smell.

Giving you back to mama was probably one of the hardest things Daddy had to do that day, girl.  Thankfully  you woke up to flash him that smile of yours and give one last open mouthed kiss.

We are a military family, baby girl, and that sometimes means we will have to be apart.  That your Daddy will have to leave to go protect others.  This is just one of the sacrifices we choose to make as a family.  I pray that when you get older and look back at this time through pictures and stories that this is what sticks out most to you:  that Daddy doesn't love you less because he had to be away but that his love for you will always hold despite distance and time.  It will never falter.

Love,
Mommy & Daddy