From Daddy

It has been a very long time since I've written anything on here.  Anna has done such an incredible job keeping all of you updated.  Now... I'm no Anna Simmons Bloch, but I'll do my best.


It's late, cold, and rainy outside tonight.  As I sit here in front of our beautifully lit Christmas tree, I just felt a rush of just how truly lucky and blessed I am.  I have a wife who is incredibly loyal, caring, and appreciates the small things in life.  Anna could care less about fancy clothes, expensive purses, or sparkling jewelry (except her engagement ring).  She cherishes a nice dinner, falling asleep together on the couch, or playing on the floor with Lierre and me while attempting to make both of us laugh.  I constantly tell Lierre that I hope she grows up to be at least half the women her mother is.

Dear Lierre:

I can't believe how much you have changed our lives.  Gone are the days of sleeping late, weekend trips, and spontaneous trips to hang with friends.  Since the minute you were born, you had my full attention.  Even late at night or early in the morning, I find myself standing over your crib, staring at you (desperately hoping I don't wake you).  I still wonder how such a beautiful miracle was placed in our home.  You look so peaceful when you sleep, and every now and then you twitch due to your sweet baby dreams.

Mommy took a full-time job to make sure you get to enjoy the finer things in life such as descent clothes, a college education, and a safe place to live.  Your mommy and I are one great team.  We constantly talk about your future and everything we can do to make it that much easier in this hard, cruel world.  It pains me to think about the first time someone insults you, doesn't want to play with you, or tells you that you're not good enough.  All we can do is try and prepare you for all of the "firsts" in your life.  I wish you never had to face anything negative, and your little baby dreams continued to be full of new beginnings, smiles, and excitement.  I will continue to watch you sleep, at least until you are old enough to know that it's creepy and uncomfortable.   

I hate that your acid reflux is getting worse again.  You try to laugh, but it seems that it literally hurts you.  When you arch your back, turn red, and start screaming, it cripples me.  I want you to know that we are trying everything possible to take the pain away.  Baby Zantac doesn't seem to work as well as it used to.  I will continue to research the issue, and ask everyone in an effort to make you feel better.

I thought your smile was the most beautiful and exciting event, but then I heard and saw you laugh.  Your laugh could make me smile on the worst of days.  You get a bad case of hiccups every single time you laugh.  The great thing right now is there is no in-between, either you break out into minutes of laughter, or remain steady as a very serious, focused little baby.  Mood swings like mommy?  Just so you know, when you see mommy smack daddy on the back of the head, it's for remarks such as that one.  We still love one another despite the physical abuse.

Today you got to see your first lit Christmas tree.  I held you as I turned it on.  Your mouth literally dropped, and your pacifier fell to the floor.  It was hilarious!  You stared at the tree with a puzzled, yet astonished look on your face.  For all you know it's a new piece of furniture.

I have the privledge of caring for you all day when I'm off and Mommy works.  A normal days consists of the following events.  First I hear soft, funny sounds through the monitor.  Each morning I look to see you kicking away on your stomach.  As soon as I enter the room, your kicks increase in speed.  I always roll you over onto your back and the second you see my face, you smile with the biggest dimples.  I then escort you to the changing table where your smiles instantly turn into a cry's.  I quickly (I use the word "quickly" very loosely now that you have learned how to kick) change your diaper.  I position you on the couch where I feed you your cold formula.  That's right, cold formula.  You are the only baby that prefers cold formula.  God forbid I don't get the bottle to your mouth quick enough, you would think the world was ending, but to your small world, you probably think it is.  I watch Boy Meets World while you eat, and I have to constantly turn you away from the TV because you love to watch it.  Then you play, eat, pee, sleep, and repeat.

   To get you to take a nap I have to lay you down in the corner of the crib so the top of your head is slightly touching the side.  Then I place your duck pacifier, "Ducky-Yee", in your mouth.  Then you scream and I have to dabble a little tummy medicine on the pacifier because you love the taste, or you spit it out and continue to scream.  I follow this up with very light strokes across your face while I barely pat your back.  I continue this for about ten minutes while you scream, quiet down, scream, lift your head, quiet down, scream, and so on.  Again, it's all worth it because I get to watch you sleep.  I get to observe my innocent, beautiful, miracle of a daughter safely enter her own dream world.  I love you Lierre, I can't wait to watch you grow.  Thank you for being the baby that you are.  We couldn't ask for anything more.