Happy Birthday

Five.
You are somehow already five years old.
Where did the time go?
Sometimes I look over at you and see the grown women you will become standing in front of me, and it takes my breath away.

I know, far too soon for your daddy’s liking, you will become that woman.
There will be the last time you ask to hold my hand in the street.
There will come a day when you won’t ask me to watch a superhero movie.
At some point, you won’t ask me to pick you up.
One night you’re not going to want to sleep on the floor in our room no more.

While I would never try to keep you from growing my beautiful little girl, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t dread those days.

You know, before you, death never really scared me all that much. I always thought if I were dead on gone, I wouldn’t be missed much, and to be frank, I wouldn’t miss much myself.

But, you changed all that. Leaving you alone in this world before I’ve ushered you into adulthood scares me immensely. The idea of missing every little step you’d take and all the milestones you’re going to reach crushes me. You, all by your perfect little self, changed the world for me.

You make me want to be a good man.
You make me want to provide for you and your sister.
You make me want to honor your mother.
Because of you, I want more than anything to be worthy of the title, “Daddy.”

So, as we complete this fourth trip around the sun, please know how much I love you. I will protect you with my dying breath. I will come to get you, from anywhere, at any time, no matter how far or how late. I will always make you the best sandwich and seal it in love with a daddy squish.

You are the apple of my eye.
You are my pride and joy.
You are #Riverlynnemybestfriend.

Happy birthday baby girl.
Love Daddy.
7/23/2020