Kat KittyLove   

Dear AJ,

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I’m sitting here looking at a picture of you. I can’t be there with you right now and that definitely hurts, but it’s for the best given the situation. Oh my god, you’re just so precious, cute, and squishy! I just want to hold you and your mama more than anything else in the world. Everyone here is excited to really meet you. Call me sappy or call me crazy, but you’re just so beautiful in your own way. You’re here now and I couldn’t be happier.

Your mother is an amazing woman who I have no idea how I ever had a chance with. The fact that we got together and you came out of it amazes me, in a good way. You and her make everything worth it. Your brother Gabe makes everything worth it. All your siblings and family make it all worth it at the end of the day. But you kid, you’re the real deal. You are the proof that me and your mama can bring something good into the world.

You have your whole life ahead of you and who knows what you’ll do! The possibilities are endless. It’s important for me to remember that we are here to guide you, not shape you into the person we want. I promise to do my personal best to uphold that rule. I can’t promise to always be the perfect father. Heck, ask Gabe, I’m definitely not, but I have had plenty of time, experience, and examples to learn from.

I can’t promise your life will always be easy. In fact, I can safely say it won’t be, but I will do my best to help you every step of the way until I can’t anymore. You deserve that much. You will always deserve that much.

Speaking of which, my advice to you is this: Always know your worth but be humble anyway.

Be kind as much as you can to everyone you can. You never know what another person is going through. They may never know what you are, either, but how you treat others is what ultimately defines you as a person. I’m not saying to let people walk all over you or mistreat you. I guess what I’m saying is that the best paths in life are those less taken and often the harder ones.

I’m not particularly religious but I know there’s something bigger than us out there. You are proof of that as much as the universe of stars above. I may never know how I ever got this far myself but I can tell you this: it was just my stubbornness and luck. I mean, that definitely helped. Either way, Hallelujah! You’re here! You are special to us. You mean the world to me. I could not be a happier Dad than I am today.

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Sincerely,

Your Father.