AdventureDad

Dear Annika, 

Can you believe it's already been a year?!? Time sure goes quickly like everyone says, but I must admit the first six months didn't pass quickly. Your colic, acid reflux, and overall crankiness did test my patience more than once. But look at you know! You're a healthy, incredibly fast learning, and amazingly cute little toddler.

I'm so happy I'm taking 6 months of paternity leave to spend time with you and your brother.  To see you learn new things each day is such a privilege.

We got off to a very good start, maybe a little too good. 18 hours after we entered the hospital we left with you in my arms. It was a relief to once again leave with a healthy baby. We figured everything was going to be as easy as with your brother Daniel.   No offense but we couldn't have been more wrong.

Sometimes I feel like I'm in the middle of an Alien movie with Sigourney Weaver, you sure know how to scream.  And nag. I complain about this at times but deep inside it doesn't bother me.  You're too young to know this but there are many parents who are unable to have children for different reasons.  And there are even more children who are ill, abused, or to poor to eat properly. Who cares about a little screaming and complaining?  In the big picture, and that's how me and mommy like to look at things, it's not important.

I think we realized fairly quickly you were in pain. We both felt bad there was little we could do. And your non existent patience? I blame that on your mother. So much frustration early on. It's clear that you want to go places, and in a hurry. Your mood improved after learning to sit at 5 months and once again after you walked at 10 months. You must have felt constrained and confused not being able to go places.

I've seen few 1-year old babies run around like you do today. It's a treat to see even though you killed my back during the first month of trying to walk. You amaze people on a daily basis. When I walked into Daniel's room the other day and you were sitting on Daniel's huge helicopter high on the window ledge I wanted to scream. And you sure surprised the nurse yesterday after taking your vaccine. Just how did you manage to climb up on the table while we looked away for 5 seconds?  And no screaming after the vaccine?

Do you know I have walked  hundreds and hundreds of miles with you in the stroller this past year?  Snowstorms, rain, sunshine, I've been out walking so you could sleep.  I know it's not easy to sleep with a sore stomach, I just feel bad not being able to do much about it. 

At times you have tried my patience.  You're a stubborn little shit girl who probably thought Daddy was no match.  I appreciate the challenge, but by now you've learned that I'm one stubborn bastard father.  All this time we're spending together has given us a special bond, I can already see it.  It was the same with your brother.  Future will tell how great our relationship is but lets just say I feel very good about the coming years.

I was really impressed today when you gave yourself a great birthday present. You just grabbed my fork and started eating by yourself. It was one surprised father who sat back in the restaurant looking at you devouring that chicken. The second present of the day was surely meant for me. You started saying "Pappa!". Not just once, about a hundred times in that restaurant. 

After raising your brother to speak three languages at once we know it's not easy at your young age. But you seem to handle the challenge well. You know, friends are often telling us how happy we must be of your fast development. The truth is we don't care. You know those useless parents who are obsessed with percentage charts and compare their kids with the neighbor?  That's not us.  Although we are delighted you're are learning  fast we want you to develop at whatever pace you feel comfortable. 

Our greatest joy is probably seeing how well you get along with your brother Daniel. Mommy and Daddy can't always put a smile on your face but Daniel can do it at any time. You should know that he's the nicest, loving, and caring big brother I have ever seen. You're too young to realize this but it's very unusual to have such luck as a little sister.

He has loved you from the very first day. I swear, I have both pictures and video to show you as you get older. You kids are already having so much fun together. I can't wait to see you grow up and be best friends.  You know, Mommy and Daddy won't be around forever but hopefully you and Daniel will enjoy a lifetime together.

It's been one crazy year but I look forward to many more. It feels like we've handled difficulties well and become stronger.  The rest should be a piece of cake.  At least until you become a teenager.  

I've put together some memorable photos from our first year together in the slide show above.  Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Love Daddy

Categories: Annika, Family, Video
Tags: