From Daddy, with Love

November 22, 2011 was one of, if not the greatest day of my life. It was, by a long shot, my proudest day, leaps and bounds over even my graduation from Troy and, believe it or not, the day when I married your mother. On that November night, I felt the most beautiful and indescribable emotion I have ever felt. Nothing has, or will, ever compare to the love I felt for you when they showed you to me. Granted, you did look like a red/blue/not-quite-purple alien, but God, you were beautiful. Before I get caught up with the end, let me start at the start (worry not, it's the highlight version).

The summer of 2009 was a rough time for me. I was dealing with a break up and your mom was there for me. Shortly after, we started dating. I knew from the moment we began to hang out she was special. She was, well, is truly my better half. As sappy and "Jerry McGuire" as I am about to get, she completes me. It was that love I felt for her that led me to propose to her. On April 18th of 2010, I took her to the Georgia Aquarium and had to fight her from digging into my pockets for the ring. I finally proposed to her shortly before we left, in the place that meant the most to both of us, the Beluga Tank. (Don't worry, you'll see them plenty.) As if she couldn't be more my equal, she knew for a week or more before we went to the aquarium that I would propose and how I would propose. She knew that it couldn't have been a more perfect way (Her words, not mine. :D)

By that November, we were husband and wife. The 20th of November 2010 is the second happiest day I have ever had in my life. There were some ups and downs with the day (tuxedo mishaps and a Troy Trojan loss to South Carolina), but nothing could ruin that day. When I saw your mother in her wedding dress, white with accents of purple, my heart melted and I fell truly, madly and deeply in love with her once again. The easiest decision I ever made in my life was saying "I do" and pledging my love to her forever. Marrying Anna was the best thing that ever happened to me; now it's a very close second.

Alright, now that you know what led us to you, I'll tell you about when you got here. Things were crazy. We were in the middle of celebrating our one-year anniversary on the 20th. We were getting ready to watch a movie when the doctor came in, checked your mom's vitals and said it was time to get ready. I was elated that I would finally get to meet my Katharine Claire. Even though you had been growing for nine months, the reality was dawning on me that your mother and I had created you and that you were really and truly ours, 23-chromosomes-apiece ours. Surreal doesn't even begin to cover it. The hardest part of it all came late Monday night. I had stayed out of my training for my new job because we had expected to meet you that day. Once we realized that you weren't coming, I had to call and try to get another day off, but I couldn't. Heartbroken didn't begin to cover it. I was a mess. I didn't want to leave your mom alone. Granted, her Aunt Laura was going to be there, but I felt hopelessly useless.

The next day, I reluctantly left for work. Aunt Laura was there and was a godsend. She kept me updated through texts all day on your mom's condition. As soon as five o'clock hit, I ran out the door as fast as possible and drove, let's say, in a very excited manner. I got to the hospital around 5:30 and found nurses all around your mother. They were prodding her, trying to place an IV and she was shaking and in pain. My heart ached for her, because I wanted to help and would have gladly taken the pain from her if it were possible. I kissed her on her head and they told us a C-section was the best course of action, since your mom was no closer to having you than when she started. I called and let everyone know that it was going to be happening within a few hours. It was a great relief when I texted your Godfather, Uncle Justy. He was to the hospital within 30 minutes and helped talk me down from a pre-birth, gonna-be-a-daddy, I'm-so-not-ready-for-this freakout. We finished dinner and I went back to the room and spend time with your mom. We held hands and talked about how excited we were to have you here with us. Finally around eight o'clock that night, they came and got your mom. They told me they had to take her to do some procedures with her first and then they would come get me.

I got dressed in my scrubs and started to wait. I can say without a shadow of doubt that time has never moved more slowly that it did during that few minutes. I was overcome with emotion and foremost of those were equal parts excitement and worry. I paced around the room, turned on the TV (to which I paid no attention and your mom made fun of me for later. I can't defend my nervous actions. I just wanted to have you and your mother both in my arms), and finally went out and asked Dr. Torrence, one of the doctors who did the C-Section, if I could go back. They told me it would be a few more minutes. Those extra minutes were agonizing and I was so exhausted from emotion that when they got me to go to the operation room, I forgot to put on my mask and almost walked around the wrong side of the table your mom was on. I don't think I could have looked at her the same if I had seen that. ;P

I sat down beside your mom, who was sick from some medicine and waited for a minute or two before handing the camera off to a nurse to take pictures. Your mom said I looked like a deer in headlights and that I looked woozy, but the truth was that I was truly drained of emotion and tired from worry. Finally, we heard your cry. It started out small, but it soon became a bellow, much akin to your mother's singing voice. As I said before, you were the most beautiful red/blue/not-quite-purple alien I had ever seen. They cleaned you up and weighed you and let me hold you for the first time. To be honest, I was most scared about that part. Before you, I think I had held all of three babies and I may be overestimating by two or even three. The amazing part, though, was that as soon as the nurse put you in my arms, it felt natural. I didn't have to work to hold you. My arms knew how to hold you. I knew how to care for you and protect you.

As if you weren't already endearing to me, once your bath was complete, the nurse took you into the nursery to weigh and measure you, as well as, give you some shots. The entire time your Mops and Pops, Mimi, Aunt Bailey, Aunt Laura and Uncle Justy watched through the windows. I tried to look at them, but my eyes kept dropping back to you. To be honest, I was fighting tears the whole time, because my heart overflowed with joy and love at the sight and feel of you. During your mom's pregnancy, the only contact I had with you were ultrasounds and a few times when you kicked my hand from inside your mom's belly. But through the whole time the nurse examined you, you held on to my index finger, gripping tightly with your tiny hands. You may not remember that, but I hope some part of you knows that whenever you need me to and no matter how old you are, you'll always have Daddy's hands to hold on to any time you need them.