I forgot to mention one thing about being gone on my two trips.

Apparently, it was soooo traumatic on you, T, that what I was gone…

You said your first sentence!

Mom said you were asking about me.

Apparently, you were wondering around the house with a little inflection in your voice saying:

My dada? My dada?

I’m so sorry I left you!

You sure smiled big when I called you on the phone.

I love you forever.

I love you.

-Dad

T, you took your first steps today.

Mom said that you started doing it earlier in the day while H and I were at basketball practice.

But later you did it again when I was sitting in the floor playing with you in H and K’s room.

You stood and steadied yourself a few feet away from me and smiling wide took a little step towards me and fell into my arms.

The crazy part is that you crawled back to the same spot and did it over and over again like you were intentionally practicing!

We’re so proud of you – all of us were clapping and cheering you on at each attempt.

H and K both were laughing and hugging you when they saw.

Goodness, I got all sappy later thinking about it and just wanted to weep.

Absolutely can’t believe our last baby has taken her first steps now.

For maybe another week or two, you will still reach for me.

And I’m gonna enjoy each of those moments as they come.

I love you.

-Dad

T, you have moved from baby phase to ragamuffin phase.

Gone are the days of mellow cooing, easy naps, and fresh shirts from laying around in mom’s lap all day.

You hair is longer and always fuzzed into a mess.

Your clothes are always dirty from school – or crawling all over the floor at home on the weekend.

And you point and grunt at everything, saying a rudimentary version of “that.” You mean “look.”

You are a little hot mess express right now.

I mean, we got you home from school yesterday and your feet stank!

Babies feet are not supposed to stink!

You’re growing up.

You still have sweet little baby chub on your arms and legs though, and I try to kiss it as often as I remember.

My sweet beautiful girl.

I love you.

-Dad