3 years in the eyes of your father

To my little sweet baby girl. Today, you turned three years old. Three years ago from today you changed my life forever. You changed my life for the better in so many ways. You added meaning into my life that words cannot capture the true meaning of. You have such an innocent soul and heart. I will always be here to help guide you through this "sometimes” -difficult world. I will help in a way that ensures you grow and accomplish goals on your own. I will be here to pick you up; I will be here to encourage you to keep going. I will show you what I can, and you will have the tools to take and interpret life and use it to flourish. This past year you have grown amazingly into this little person that I am joyfully, tearfully proud to call you my daughter. You have mastered potty training, feeding yourself, counting numbers, performing the alphabet, recognizing objects, asking funny questions and having the most fantastic statements. My favorite statement that you say is "that's a good idea daddy". Everyday I come home, something new is happening and evolving in your life, I can hardly take how much happiness you bring into mine, your mommy’s, and your brothers life. You are absolutely an angel that your grandma Deborah Jean has sent down to her baby girl, aka my wife and your mommy.

Your mom and I are running around today trying to get a bunch of stuff together for your party. Honestly, I think you would be okay with not much, but your mommy and I love you so much it makes us feel good to put effort into attempting to make you have a special day. You are aware that you have a party today, you know how to sing happy birthday and are very excited that people will be celebrating you today. You deserve this day as all children do. Soon, you will start preschool, I know it will be tough for you to go, and for your brother and mommy to let you go, but you will go, and you will grow. 

There are many times I pass on places to go with friends and acquaintances, I pass because I love the time I get with our family. Also, on the weekends, your mommy needs a break from the rough and tough weeks you little heathens put her through. There will be a “hopefully temporary” time in the future when you want nothing to do with your brother, mom, or me. I intend to use that timeframe to do many things that I have elected to pass on at this time in your life.  I know that family is the most important part of life, and fatherhood is not only my duty but also my passion in life ever since 4-13-2012, your true birthday. For my dedication and time commitment to my family, you can one day thank your grandpa Don for instilling that in me, not by any words he expressed or any lectures he has given, but solely based on his actions. I aspire to be available to you while you grow as my dad, your grandpa don, was/is to me. 

3 sweet sweet years old

My little love you are THREE!!! I cannot believe how quickly the time has passed. I still remember the day we found out I was pregnant. How excited I was, how much I couldn't wait to be your mommy. How sick I was during pregnancy. How afraid I was that I wouldn't be good enough. How absolutely stunning you were the second I laid eyes on you. 7lbs, 14oz and oh so sweet. You were quiet and sleepy and oh so sweet those first few days. Then the REAL Deb showed up. Sassy and screaming and demanding my every second. Me being a new mommy, I just assumed babies were supposed to kick scream and cry allllll day long. One of my mothers friends came to visit you and tried to soothe you for HOURS..and nothing. She suggested I take you to the doctors and then we found out you were a colic kid. Now bounce forward three years and you are the HAPPIEST baby on the block. You love everything. You're enthusiasm for life is contagious. You're learning so fast, talking so well and ready for all the new things that come your way. You love to paint, play with chalk, anything Ariel, thread beads, do puzzles, count to 20 (okay you. Heat a little) , know the alphabet. Your favorite tv shows are little bear, props pig and bubble guppies. You repeat EVERYTHING. When the door rings your running to answer it "who's there?" You mostly call yourself DJ when people ask you your name. When daddy leaves the house you ask him if he's  "going to Home Depot". You love cuddles and hugs. You're learning to share with brother, can't say you're a big fan of it at all. You LOVE Disneyland. "Mommy, we going to Disneyland today?" You ask this at least once a week. We took you lay week on your actual birthday and you had a blast. You are always the center of attention, demanding to be seen and heard. I know I dreamt about you for years before you came but I never knew how much I could love you, how much you could push me, how much you can make me be better and stronger. You have proven to me that I can be a great mother and that I am capable of this intense amount of love in my life. You have brought me joy when there were moments I was sure it wasn't possible. You came into my life at a perfect time, proving to me my mother was somewhere in my spirit and in yours..you help me see her and feel her in you all the time.  

Your hair is blonde, your eyes are greenish brownish. You always tell mommy that "E-lllliiiii and mommy have green eyes" "DJ and daddy have same eyes" you love strawberries fresh from our garden and playing with your cousins . You are the apple of my eye. I love everyday I get to call you my daughter and you get to call me mommy. Happy 3rd birthday Deborah Jean Alexander