My daughter is already over 6 months old!

Ok, this blog might be a little sappy so please skip it if you want. Please do not take my man card away.

Dear Samantha,

Before you were born, I am not sure if I have ever even kept a plant alive for 6 months let alone another human being. It amazes me how much you change even on a day to day basis. You now love to roll and roll and roll. You are finding your voice more everyday and you have two teeth. On a side note, thank God that you are over the teething temporarily because you have started to sleep for 11 hours at night. Thank you. You have become quite the little traveler and you do an amazing job with it every time. You still love hanging out at the Purple Otter and watching some sports. To be honest, you love watching sports on TV. Lets hope this stays. In this short six month period, you have added such much vibrancy, excitement, and love to our house. It is really indescribable. On days where you are not at home (staying with Nana and Papa) or on trips where you are not with us, the house/the atmosphere just is not the same. Your smile alone can light up a room. You are quite the social butterfly and do not like to sleep if people are over. I would like to take this moment to apologize for giving you my hair. I know. It is not good.

Now, on to more important details. Over the last 6 months, we have come to certain agreements. I just wanted to put them in writing so we can look back on them 14-20 years from now.

1. This is a big one. You said you would not start dating until you get a draft card (Lauren - You are not allowed to talk to her about this).
2. Michelle and I will pay for college or a wedding but not both.
3. When you go away to college, it will be in a warmer climate than Chicago (south or west) (unless you go to Loyola).
4. For every year before the age of 16 that you want a cell phone, take that many years and add it to 16. That is the year you can start dating. For example, if at 13 you want a cell phone, then you can start dating when you are 19.
5. Makeup follows the same rules as a cell phone. I glad we agree on this.
6. If you bring a boy to my house that has a popped collar, I get to pop him in the mouth.
7. We agreed to talk about clothes at a later date. You allowed me to have veto power on any outfit.

Those are the things so far. I am sure there will be more. Even after 6 months, it is hard to imagine a world without you and hopefully, I never will see one. I love you with all my heart and I am looking forward to the months, years, decades ahead. Happy 1/2 birthday!

Love,

Your Father

P.S. Yes, I know. I am like two weeks late with this.