Father still knows best (haven't you seen the movie Taken)

No lengthy commentary on my lengthy absence here. I'll get right to the juice. So, here goes some reflections on year one of life for wittle Vale from her dad's perspective.

First off, if anyone were to ask me for a general, single sentence, summation of my experiences with fatherhood, love, family, life and the intermingling of those things, I would simply reply: Hands down, the best thing I've ever been a part of.

I'm really not sure that I can put it any better than that without waxing on for pages and pages about how every little thing she does is something to be treasured, and how I've never known love like this before, and other stuff that would make you laugh out loud (or quietly to yourself).

Anyhoo, Karla thought I might want to write a message to Vale on her first birthday and I immediately thought, "Duh, she can't even read yet." But then I thought that it may be possible for her to read it years from now, and that's probably what Karla meant in the first place. I'm not sure this is the right place for that message, because I'd want to include some super mushy stuff that'd make her want to cry her eyes out on her first night away at college or something, and then want to come back home and stay with us until we get tired of her.

Truthfully though, I'd likely shed at least a tear or two trying to write a piece like that, and I don't even want to think for a minute about what it'd be like to be away from her for any amount of time now, or sometime in the distant future because I love that little baby way too much.

Sincerely,

Dad