Welcome to the world, sweet girl

Yesterday, at 11:38pm local time, you came into the world. Unlike your older brother, you were not sunny side up, and at a mere 8lbs 9oz, were small compared to the last child your Mother pushed into this world through pain and struggle. She was thrilled that she was right, and I was mistaken in thinking you were going to be a boy. She loves when I am wrong… Mostly because I am insufferable when correct.

So far, you have been the quickest and smoothest delivery, with absolutely zero complications. Yet another breathtaking display of what women are capable of, the love that they have for their children, shown through their willingness to go through pregnancy and labor repeatedly, despite the pain, discomfort and struggle. You were welcomed by Mom, me, and Aunt DJ, who has been present for all births in the family since 2018, when she walked into our lives.

While your Mother calmly pushed through, seemingly unfazed and superhuman in her composure, DJ sat and stared down the barrel, watching you come out, and then proceeded to cut your physical connection to Mom.

All the while, I sat carefully positioned by Mom's head, careful to stay out of view, due to being a total wimp when it comes to childbirth. If you ever break bones, are gushing blood, or are otherwise injured, I am your man. If you are in birth, I will be standing off to the side, crying my eyes out and recognizing how absolutely insignificant I am compared to the miracle that is life and Motherhood.

Welcome to the family, the newest miracle to arrive. I say miracle not as an exaggeration, but a real and literal statement of fact. When your Mother and I were dating, she explained to me she could not have children. That has repeatedly been proven wrong, thanks to modern medicine, a determined woman, and some form of luck or divine intervention.

You have an older sister who is going to push you. How do I know that? Because she has never seen anything in the world and decided not to push against or through it. Watch her carefully, you can learn ingenuity, cleverness, and fearlessness from her. You may also learn a few lessons through watching her crash and burn that you can avoid repeating.

Your older brother is extremely excited to have a baby in the house. I am not sure he realizes that means sharing Mom, so that excitement might flame out quickly. Let him in, he is sweet and kind, and will love you like you can't believe. That is who he is, a teddy bear that wants to hug and hold everyone. I suspect you will never need protection while he is around, he tends to dive into stuff, generally face first in a very literal sense.

Right now, you are limitless potential, a completely unwritten story with options innumerable. Pay attention, and you will notice that you are surrounded by love, and opportunity. Enjoy your time to learn and grow, you only get one life to live.

I am excited to get to know you. To see whether you are tenacious, without fear and care, perhaps strong willed like your sister. Or maybe observant, mild and full of sweet love like your brother. Realistically, you will probably be somewhere in between, similar while unique. However you turn out, I am thrilled to be able to watch you and learn about you.

Welcome! You are loved. We are not perfect, but we try our best. I cannot wait to watch you discover the world. It isn’t perfect either, but right now, you are.

Love,
Dad