My Daughter and I: 31 days later

Dear Baby,

The “What the @#%$ have I been born into!!” look you give whenever you see your mom and me looming over you is something you will be feeling and saying throughout your lifetime or at least until Dad and Mom are around ya.

It feels weird to say that. To call myself a dad, I mean. Between, your mom is super awesome, and we both are fortunate to have her. You can ask me to talk about her, and I’ll go on for ages. But then, this is about the both of us. I just wanted to tell you how I feel.

The first time I saw you as a fetus, I almost fainted. I wasn’t ready for you. But then, when I held you in my hands for the first time (P.S: I held you before mommy did.) I knew everything would be all right. You got my nose. But your eyes; it’s all your mom.

You will be the apple of my eye. You will be my second most favorite woman on this planet. But then remember this though, it’s not your dad’s job to protect you. Instead, it’s my job to teach you to defend and protect yourself. So, giddy up, my sweet princess. You are in for a sweet ride.

The last 31 days were so different, but yet it was familiar in many aspects. So different, in the sense, everything in our life revolves around you now. It’s in-between your napping time and feeding time that daddy and mommy spend time with each other. Remember, this will not be a permanent thing. Daddy doesn’t like sharing mommy.

But then, you also feel very familiar in many aspects. As I look deep into your eyes as you stare back with your scanty eyebrows scrunched together and that silly pout, I feel at home. I feel calm. I feel as if the entire world has now shrunk, and it’s just the two of us with the voice of your mom being heard somewhere faintly just outside the horizon.

Also, I would like to warn you. Your mom and I love food. We won’t be the parents giving up the last chocolate piece or pizza slice just because you, the kid, asked. So you better be ready for a fight to pick up the last morsels of a tasty lunch or dinner.

Although, truthfully speaking, I never knew a human being so small could put out so much shit. It’s like all you do is drink milk, shit, sleep, and cry.

But then, most human beings do that pretty much their entire lifetime. So hopefully, you will outgrow that phase.

Also, looking at your behavior over the past one month, you seem to have got your father’s stubborn streak.

Well, over the course of your life, as your parents, your mom, and I will tell you many things and ask you to follow their set of rules, remember you are not here to live the lives we want for you. But, at the end of the day, a voice inside you will tell you to reach out and capture the stars, and it’s that voice you must follow.

That being said, your dad is a huge Harry Potter, Doctor Who, and Star Trek fan, and you will be hearing a lot of quotes around this. Hopefully, there will be a remake of Harry Potter by the time you hit 10 years old, and we can go to the theatre together and live the magic together.

One most important thing though, as you become old enough to read this letter and make your way into the world, remember hate is always foolish, love is always wise. I knew these words long before I met your mom, but it was only after her that I truly understood what it meant.

Also, always try to be nice to others but never fail to be kind. That’s just us.

My little baby girl, with you in my arms, everything just seems to make sense. The world is a beautiful place full of good human beings, and with you in it, it has become slightly better.

Also, one of the craziest habits your dad has, which you will soon take over, is that we are never quiet. They will always be a sound, and that sound will be us.

What else?

Oh, ya.

Little baby girl.

Appa Loves you.

Forever.