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
Kate @ UpsideBackwards says:
Tears in my eyes.
Happy Birthday, Annie, and happy first anniversary of her birth, Heather & Mike. Lots of love to you all.
Alison says:
Happy BIRTHday, Heather & Mike! And Happy 1st Birthday to Miss Annie.
Such a beautiful letter, Mike.
mamaspeak says:
aw man, you made me cry. Happy Birthday to you all.
Gemini-Girl says:
Happy Birthday sweet annabel- mike, what a beautiful beautiful post. you are special people. i hope you know just how much.
Lisa says:
Mike, that was really sweet & touching! Happy almost-first-birthday Miss Annabel!!!
Sally says:
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
Jenn says:
CrYiNg….Beautiful!!!!! Good Job Dada!!!! Good Job!!!
Natalie says:
So touching and heartwarming… Happy Birthday beautiful girl!
AmazingGreis says:
Yaye for 1!! Happy Birthday sweet Annabel!
Sue says:
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!!
Claire says:
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!
sarah says:
Tears are rolling. Happy Birthday to your sweet girl.
Deborah says:
This is so sweet and touching that I may or may not be crying now. Annie will treasure reading this when she is older.
Kim says:
Happy Happy birthday Miss Annie. You are SO loved.
Skye says:
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!!!”
Amanda says:
Wow, the part about putting the sunlight back into mommy’s eyes is where I lost it.
Happy Birthday!
susanmig says:
beautiful!!!
happy 1st birthday annie!! mike & heather, you are both fabulous parents!!!
enjoy the day!
Terra says:
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.
mel says:
Happy 1st Birthday, Annabel. I also love that you are blogging again, Mike.
Stacy says:
“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!
Kate says:
Me too.
Rachel says:
Me three. What a beautiful birthday letter. She is so precious and full of sunshine and spunk herself! Happy Birthday Annie!
Lisa says:
Lovely, lovely post for your sweet baby girl. You are a truly awesome dad and Annie is lucky to have you.
Steph says:
Your sweet little girl is so lucky to have you both as parents. Happy birthday!
Colleen says:
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.
keri says:
tears of joy, Mike. What an awesome post.
I LOVE the pic of Annie and Heather
Kristin says:
What a beautiful letter. Happy early birthday Annie!
Rebecca says:
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.
Anjie says:
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!
Elizabeth says:
This letter brought me to tears. I hope Annie’s birthday is nothing but wonderful. She and you both deserve it!!
Staci says:
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!
Trisha Vargas says:
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!
patty says:
What a beautiful post! Congratulations to Annie on her first birthday. I’m sure it will be a spectacular celebration for all of you.
Elle says:
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.
Jenny says:
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
Lisa_in_WI says:
What a beautiful letter to (both) your darling girls!
Snarky Mommy says:
What a great year this has been — for all of you!
Rachel says:
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
Kristin (MamaKK922) says:
That was SO beautiful. It brought me to tears.
Glenda says:
Beautiful!!! and it brought tears and goosebumps! thanks for sharing your beautiful Annabel with all of us. Happy 1st Birthday Annie!!!!
Miriam says:
What a beautiful letter – i’m so glad that Annie is your and Heather’s life.
Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] says:
10000 happy smiles.
Tara says:
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!
Issa says:
Absolutely beautiful post Mike.
Happy birthday sweet Annabel.
roo says:
Love, love, LOVE this letter to your baby girl. You made me cry. Happy birthday Annabel! xo
Krystal says:
Beautiful. Happy almost Birthday Annie!
REDNECK MOMMY says:
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.
monica says:
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!
amourningmom says:
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.
Lynnette says:
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.
michelle in MO says:
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.
Jessica Harrison says:
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!
Brigid says:
Just beautiful!
Jenna says:
lovely post. annie is just beautiful.
i think i have the same shirt you are wearing in the second picture! go giants!
Jessica says:
Totally crying over here. MUST show this to my husband. Love it.
Amy says:
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!
MrsP says:
That was sweet. It brought tears to my eyes there aren’t many guys who know how to express their feelings with words.
cj says:
so sweet. hoping your beautiful daughter has a wonderful birthday!
Emily says:
So, so, so, so, so, so, SO cute! All of it!
Rebecca says:
Ohhh Mike. This is so sweet. Annie will read this one of these days (not long from now I bet) and feel so loved.
eliza says:
Crying like everyone else. Perfect. Just perfect.
Michele Wallace says:
AWESOME Post Daddy! Brought tears to my eys, I love it.
Enjoy Annabels Birthday weekend.
Neeroc says:
What a wonderful post! All those little moments that just tuck themselves into your heart.
Amanda says:
just beautiful..
Annalien says:
Tears in my eyes as well. Annie is really one of the most adorable babies on the face of the earth!
monstergirlee says:
What a sweet and wonderful post, brought tears to my eyes.
Happy birthday to your little girl.
Tori says:
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 :o)
Jamie says:
Happy Birthday, Annie.
I’m so glad she’s there to put some light into your dark.
Amber says:
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!
Lisa from WV says:
Beautiful….just beautiful
Karin says:
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!
Momma Lioness Michele says:
*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!!
Katie says:
i totally cried when i read this!!! so touching!
lots of of love to you guys as you celebrate Annabel’s 1st birthday!
michelle in MO says:
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
Ray says:
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!”
amanda says:
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
Michelle W says:
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.
Alexandra :) says:
I love how Annabel is dancing while watching Glee, clearly she has good taste!