Dear Annabel,
A year ago this Saturday you came into my life and brought with you a light that I feared had been extinguished forever. There are so many things I am thankful for when I think about you, but here are just a few:
How you have a smile so contagious that it can melt any dark mood;
How you never tire of “playing ball” with me;
Your enthusiasm to play guitar with me (even if all you want to do is grab the strings);
How you say “Dada” when out with Mommy, and “Mama” when out with me;
How you look enough like you sister to bring forth sweet memories;
But different enough to be your own person;
How you dance to any and all music and already have better moves than me;
How you put the sunlight back into your Mommy’s eyes;
How you hate to snuggle, but will snuggle with me;
How you look like your old man (sorry about the forehead);
But most of all I am thankful because you made me a Dad again.
So Happy 1st Birthday, Annabel. Daddy loves you forever and ever.
Love,
Daddy
{ 77 comments… read them below or add one }
Tears in my eyes.
Happy Birthday, Annie, and happy first anniversary of her birth, Heather & Mike. Lots of love to you all.
Kate @ UpsideBackwards´s last [type] ..Jabs
Happy BIRTHday, Heather & Mike! And Happy 1st Birthday to Miss Annie.
Such a beautiful letter, Mike.
Alison´s last [type] ..And now Johnson & Johnson!
aw man, you made me cry. Happy Birthday to you all.
mamaspeak´s last [type] ..Week Two- Points Plus
Happy Birthday sweet annabel- mike, what a beautiful beautiful post. you are special people. i hope you know just how much.
Mike, that was really sweet & touching! Happy almost-first-birthday Miss Annabel!!!
This is so heartwarming. I love all the pics. Annie is such a doll.
But Mike, you never did stop being a dad. You are and always will be Maddie’s dad. And you were the best dad she ever could have had.
Loved this post. Happy almost birthday, cheeky little girl.
xo
CrYiNg….Beautiful!!!!! Good Job Dada!!!! Good Job!!!
So touching and heartwarming… Happy Birthday beautiful girl!
Yaye for 1!! Happy Birthday sweet Annabel!
AmazingGreis´s last [type] ..Goal setting for 2011…
I know that you’ll have a wonderful first birthday, Annie. Your Mommy & Daddy will make sure of that!! Can’t wait to hear about all of the great adventures that will take place going forward into your second year! Thanks for bringing so much laughter, and smiles, into our homes each morning, as we read all about you, and most of all, thank you for bringing lots of happiness back into your Mommy and Daddy’s life. You’re a beautiful, and much loved little girl!!
Beautiful words Mike. Annie is so lucky to have you and Heather for her mom and dad. I hope you guys have a great weekend celebrating her!
Tears are rolling. Happy Birthday to your sweet girl.
This is so sweet and touching that I may or may not be crying now. Annie will treasure reading this when she is older.
Deborah´s last [type] ..Strip Club Fine Art Photographer
Happy Happy birthday Miss Annie. You are SO loved.
I agree with Sally- you never stopped being a dad. But I’m so happy that Annie came into your life so you could actively be a dad every day again. And what a great dad you are. You’re both so lucky to have each other
If Annie could speak in sentences I’m sure she would say, “Thanks for making me feel special. My first year rocked!!!”
Wow, the part about putting the sunlight back into mommy’s eyes is where I lost it.
Happy Birthday!
Amanda´s last [type] ..Spoiler Alert- Sometimes My Baby Does Not Wear a Hat
beautiful!!!
happy 1st birthday annie!! mike & heather, you are both fabulous parents!!!
enjoy the day!
More tears…I wake up in a funk and now am smiling through my tears. Happy birthday Miss Annabel and thank you Mike and Heather for sharing your family with us.
Happy 1st Birthday, Annabel. I also love that you are blogging again, Mike.
mel´s last [type] ..Day 06 → Something you hope you never have to do
“How you put the sunlight back into your Mommy’s eyes;”
This line brought tears to my eyes, what a loving husband and father.
Happy Birthday Annie!
Me too.
Me three. What a beautiful birthday letter. She is so precious and full of sunshine and spunk herself! Happy Birthday Annie!
Lovely, lovely post for your sweet baby girl. You are a truly awesome dad and Annie is lucky to have you.
Lisa´s last [type] ..Subchorionic Hematoma
Your sweet little girl is so lucky to have you both as parents. Happy birthday!
No tears here, I felt pure joy after reading this, many thanks and I hope you celebrate all week long. She’s a unique little person, congrats and enjoy.
tears of joy, Mike. What an awesome post.
I LOVE the pic of Annie and Heather
What a beautiful letter. Happy early birthday Annie!
Kristin´s last [type] ..Update on Lola
Nothing like starting off the day with a few tears over a beautiful letter. Seriously, daddy/daughter pictures get me enough, but a full letter? There’s no hope for getting through it without tearing up a bit. Annabel is so blessed to have you and Heather! I never had (still really don’t) a close relationship with my dad and I don’t want my children to be the same way. I love hearing about parents where their children are their whole world.
What a wonderful sweet tribute to Annie on her first birthday. I hope Saturday is full of sunshine and lots of hugs and kisses! Happy Birthday Annabel!
Anjie´s last [type] ..Wordless Wednesday
This letter brought me to tears. I hope Annie’s birthday is nothing but wonderful. She and you both deserve it!!
Sweetest.post.ever.
To me, there is nothing like the display of a father’s love. And, for a husband to be so concerned about his wife.
Kudos to you, and happy birthday to Annie!
Staci´s last [type] ..youre welcome
I was totally doing okay reading this until I got to the line about putting the sunlight back in Heather’s eyes, then the tears welled up.
You are such an amazing friend and husband to Heather, it is truly touching to see you put her feelings first so much.
You were a father the day Maddie came into the world and you were still a father when she left this world, a hell of a father at that.
Her light shines on now through sweet Annie.
Hope you all have a blast with Annie’s birthday celebration!
What a beautiful post! Congratulations to Annie on her first birthday. I’m sure it will be a spectacular celebration for all of you.
I just had surgery a few days ago and have been in a lot of pain, plus I’ve been going out of my mind trying to relax and recover but this post really brightened my day so thank you. The photo of you and Annabel laying together makes my heart smile.
Elle´s last [type] ..Did someone say housekeeping…in the buff
Mike,
Tears! You have a beautiful and simple way with words that tugs at my heart.
Annie is lucky to have you as the man she will forever compare all men!
Sending you love!
Jenny
Jenny´s last [type] ..Wordless Wednesday – Christmas Card 1984
What a beautiful letter to (both) your darling girls!
What a great year this has been — for all of you!
Snarky Mommy´s last [type] ..Overheard
Awww… way to make a girl cry at her desk at work. Beautiful words Mike. Annie is so cute. I am glad you all have each other.
Hugs
That was SO beautiful. It brought me to tears.
Kristin (MamaKK922)´s last [type] ..Grief
Beautiful!!! and it brought tears and goosebumps! thanks for sharing your beautiful Annabel with all of us. Happy 1st Birthday Annie!!!!
What a beautiful letter – i’m so glad that Annie is your and Heather’s life.
10000 happy smiles.
Happy Birthday to Annabel!
Mike, you were always a dad. From the moment you learned that Heather was pregnant with Maddie, you were a dad. Parenthood is something you can never go backwards with.
I’m also happy to see sunlight in Heather’s eyes again. Beautiful post!
Absolutely beautiful post Mike.
Happy birthday sweet Annabel.
Love, love, LOVE this letter to your baby girl. You made me cry. Happy birthday Annabel! xo
Beautiful. Happy almost Birthday Annie!
Krystal´s last [type] ..krisy0987- @BabyBmama lol i just saw your reply & im @ work & just spit out coffee at my desk lol! we are much alike- thats how i get my dishes done
Happy Birthday Annie! Here’s to keeping both your parents on their toes. It’s your biological imperative to drive them nutty so have at ‘er!
Smooch.
REDNECK MOMMY´s last [type] ..Don’t be THAT Parent
you are an amazing father and husband. What lucky girls they are to be blessed to have you in their lives. Love the pic of Annie nomming on mommy’s cheek!
Beautiful post. Someone once told me that her son was a sunshine baby. She explained that after her daughter died the sun did not shine again till he was born. Annie is a sunshine baby.
Have a very happy birthday Annie! Take care.
amourningmom´s last [type] ..Sawyer’s Story part 7- 2-46 am
Your letter to your beautiful daughter brought tears to my eyes. Like so many others have said, you were always a Dad even after Maddie’s passing and a WONDERFUL one at that. I hope you guys have a kicking birthday weekend with your sweet Annie.
Annabel’s generation is so incredibly lucky. She’ll be able to look back one day and say wow, my dad wrote that for me, when I was 1? There is nothing like a daddy and a daughter. I’m an only child and my mom is my best friend. But my dad, he’s my rock. He’s my constant. When I was little, he was in the Army. He would come home at lunch every day because we lived on base. I used to sit on his lap. After he’d come home in the afternoon, we watched Scooby Doo together, He always used to ask me if I loved him a whole bunch or just a little bit. At almost 40 I still answer (mostly in cards) that I love him a whole bunch, not just a little bit. Annabel is lucky to have a daddy like the one I have.
PS. When Annie gets a bit bigger or even now I suppose. Sit on your sofa or in a chair and put your feet up on an ottoman. Put a big blanket or throw over your legs and then push the blanket down to make a nest. Sit Annie in it. I called this making a hole. I used to ask my dad all the time to make me a hole. I think that’s the safest I’ve ever felt, anywhere in the world. We joke about this to this day, because I’m the same size as him now.
Okay, let me clear the tears out of my eyes….ok, got it. WOW! What a sweet, sweet letter! She’ll always cherish that! Happy Birthday Annabel!
Just beautiful!
lovely post. annie is just beautiful.
i think i have the same shirt you are wearing in the second picture! go giants!
Totally crying over here. MUST show this to my husband. Love it.
Jessica´s last [type] ..Black and White Wednesday
So sweet Mike! I’m so happy you had a little light let back in. You deserve it!
Happy One Year of being Annies Daddy!
That was sweet. It brought tears to my eyes there aren’t many guys who know how to express their feelings with words.
so sweet. hoping your beautiful daughter has a wonderful birthday!
So, so, so, so, so, so, SO cute! All of it!
Ohhh Mike. This is so sweet. Annie will read this one of these days (not long from now I bet) and feel so loved.
Crying like everyone else. Perfect. Just perfect.
AWESOME Post Daddy! Brought tears to my eys, I love it.
Enjoy Annabels Birthday weekend.
What a wonderful post! All those little moments that just tuck themselves into your heart.
Neeroc´s last [type] ..Happy Birthday
just beautiful..
Tears in my eyes as well. Annie is really one of the most adorable babies on the face of the earth!
What a sweet and wonderful post, brought tears to my eyes.
Happy birthday to your little girl.
monstergirlee´s last [type] ..Another Fleeting Snow Photo
Thank you so much for sharing your heart with us once again. I too have tears. Annie has bought SO much joy to your lives and to the world through this website. I am blessed to know her, through this.
Annie is SO blessed to have you as her Dada
)
Happy Birthday, Annie.
I’m so glad she’s there to put some light into your dark.
This is so sweet! It brought tears to my eyes. Having lost our first daughter as well I love seeing my husband with her little sister. Great post.
Happy Birthday Annie!
Beautiful….just beautiful
Happy Birthday Annie!! What a joy it has been to read about you each and every day. You are a blessing to your parents and you are deeply loved!
*Sob*. Beautifully written. Annie is so lucky to have these posts to read when she is older. Wishing you all a wonderful 1st birthday weekend!!
i totally cried when i read this!!! so touching!
lots of of love to you guys as you celebrate Annabel’s 1st birthday!
Katie´s last [type] ..I worry I wonder all the time- why worry It’s killing me- forget about it!
PS. (I commented above) I still have Annie’s birth announcement. We redecorated my bathroom this past week and that card sits on it’s own little shelf in there. I told my mom I wanted it in there because the main color of my bathroom is now purple. I told mom to look at Annie’s middle name and then pointed out that her birthday is tomorrow. We both
This birthday letter made me shed a tear! Happy 1st Birthday, Annabel! NO TWO OTHER PEOPLE COULD LOVE YOU MORE! YOU ARE BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE! And Mike I’ve said this before but I’ll probably say it a million times more: “You are an AWESOME father!”
Oh boy, all the posts I am reading over here are making me cry!
Annie is sure lucky to have a daddy like you! xo
It was all beautiful and when you said “put the sunlight back in your Moms eyes” accompanied by that gorgeous picture I was overcome. What a lovely family you all are.