Happy birthday, kid

Dear Charlie,

Hi kiddo, it's Dad. One year ago today, around 10:45 a.m., you made your grand appearance into the world. Despite coming three weeks early and giving Mom quite a few health challenges, you emerged healthy as can be. I remember those first moments in the delivery room so well. Once we got back to the room, I remember everyone taking turns holding your tiny body, and feeling something completely new within me. A couple of days later we headed home, and I tell you, the following 363 days have gone by intensely fast. I'd like to think I remember everything, but watching an infant become a toddler, especially one as active and gregorious as you, makes time go into hyperspeed.

So here we are, with one year of experiences and stories under our belt. I look at you now, such a happy child, full of mischief and playfulness and a joy in being with other people, and I find myself so pleased to be a part of this. I'm sure your Mom, siblings, grandparents, uncles and aunts, and everyone else that makes up our big family shares this.

As we enter your second year of living, I hope to write much more in these pages, to document not necessarily the big events that all children go through, but the small things that make you who you are.

I love you, Charlie,
Dad