Thankful for my beautiful, sweet daughter

Everyone has dreams about their future. On December 4, 2006 a nurse said to me, "here you go daddy, meet your daughter." And for the first time I was able to hold this dream come true: 

And now today, six years later, she is still that dream. I am so thankful for my beautiful Baylee, my sweet daughter:

We went to Jewel this morning to buy cookies so she can celebrate with her friends at lunch. As we were walking the sidewalk to the main door I picked her up and prayed...

"God - thank you for this awesome little girl. (She interupted me at this point and whispered, "Big girl") ...for this awesome BIG GIRL! For giving mommy and me such an amazing daughter. I am so thankful that I get to be her daddy and I am so incredibly proud of who she is. Thank you for making her so much fun, for making her so caring, for giving her so much energy and with a sweet spirit, that she is helpful, that she tries so hard, and that she is growing up to be such an amazing BIG girl. Give her a great, fun, amazing birthday"

And now back in my office writing this, with somewhat watery eyes, I pray the other prayer I do every Dec 4th...

"Dear God...please slow down the time"

Praying with Baylee at the flag pole

See You At The Pole is a national day of prayer that started while I was in high school. On the third Wednesday of September the flag pole becomes a rally point for students all over the country to gather together to pray for their families, friends, schools, and country. 

Today Baylee and I gathered at the pole before she went in to class. Trying to explain it to a five year old I said, "We can talk to God any time we want, but today is a special day because while we are praying here there are people all over the city praying by their school flag poles. Remember when we went to New York and San Francisco and Orlando? There are kids praying at their schools there too."

"What are they praying about?" 

"They're asking God to help their schools, and to be with their family and friends. Do you want to pray to?"

"Yes! Dear God - please please help my school! Amen!"

Then she looks up at me, "Like that? Was that a good prayer?"

"That was a spectacular prayer Baylee!" 

I sat her in my lap and thanked God for her and for her mommy and brother. I asked God to protect her at school. To help her to learn well. That she would have a lot of fun. That she would be a great leader and a great helper. And that He would bless Mrs Larose and the rest of the teachers.

After I said Amen she looked at me again and smiling said, "Thanks dad"

Trusting Him to answer. 

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14

My bittersweet birthday present

September 4th is my birthday (mark that on your calendar for next year). 

September 4th this year was also Baylee's first day of Kindergarten. A day I was incredibly excited about and not looking forward to. She's done half day preschool a couple days a week before so school isn't anything new to us. But full day is different. Kindergarten is different.

It's one of those landmark days where you look in two different directions. The look ahead is excitement about the little woman she is growing into but also melancholy because the days of her always being around are gone. Eyes back are joyful because of the special times we've experienced but also slightly saddening in knowing at times as a parent I could have done better.

But between the two looks is September 4th. Today I laugh and I cry while looking back at pictures from the last few years. Today I hug her tight and kiss her cheek repeatedly. Today I tell myself to be constructively critical but not to beat myself up. Today I say to her what I've said at various times before: "Do your best. Be a leader and a helper. Have tons of fun. Daddy loves you so much."

Just can you slow down a little bit on this growing up stuff? A little bit? 

Spider-man and my hilarious daughter

Tonight Baylee and I went to Target so she could pick out a birthday present for Jaxon. Of course we get to the point while walking the toy aisles that I realize she isn't behind me anymore. My assumption is that she got distracted at the Brave endcap. 

"Baylee, come here!" 

The shouted reply, "I can't - I'm stuck in a web!!!" 

"Baylee, please come by me. I don't want to lose you."

Mind you that we're having this conversation from across aisles, she comes back a little louder, "I can't dad! I'm stuck in a web!"

As I'm coming around the corner to see what in the world she's talking about this is what I find:

Love being a dad!

Little else brings me more joy than being called Daddy by these two:

I couldn't have asked for two better kids. Not trying to be a perfect dad, gave up on that. Just trying to do my best and do a good job. 

And a big Father's day to some :

• My Dad
• My Step-Dad Tom
• My Papa
• My father-in-law Jim
• My step-brother Tommy
• My brother-in-law Vince
• My buddies Todd (soon to be dad), Josh, Jason, Luke, Micah 
• And all the "Dad's" at New Life Lincoln Park and on the New Life pastoral team!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY ALL YOU POPS!!! 

One year of school down: Hot! Hot! Hot!

Last weekend was Baylee's last day of preschool, complete with end of the school year music program. Baylee's class did "Hot, Hot, Hot"

 

   

Two really funny parts of the video:

• Around the 00:44 if you listen close you can hear Jaxon yell for Baylee from the audience =)
• Just after 02:02 some serious booty shaking takes place

One year of school done. 

We found out on Tuesday that she is accepted to be a student at the Walt Disney Magnet school. Incredibly grateful. Grateful but now we're just one blink away before she'll be heading to college.  

Ugh.

Passing on the Star Wars legacy & being a good dad

Yesterday was the unofficial Star Wars day: May the 4th be with you. I wasn't going to get home till late from a work trip, but Jeannette and I talked on the phone earlier in the day and decided it was time for the kids to experience the movies. Being my kids they've obviously heard of them and know who some of the characters are, but they hadn't seen them yet. 

Both got incredibly excited when Jeannette explained what the day was and that we were going to watch the movies when I got home. Evidence of their excitement came in this text that I got from Jeannette during the day:

Baylee didn't know she was being filmed

Sharing a laugh here. On our flight back home yesterday Baylee and I were playing with Photobooth on the Mac. Her favorite picture effect is the Mirror. She didn't realize as she was being goofy with it that I'd switched the app from image to video:

Sometimes all you need is an empty box

So apparently a ton of money was spent for Christmas gifts this year (duh). Here's one example:

"According to a news release issued Sunday by comScore, U.S. consumers spent nearly $6 billion during "Cyber Week" which kicked off with "Cyber Monday" on Nov. 28 and ended on Dec. 2."*

6 billion dollars spent...in 1 week! I know there's a bunch of toys in my condo right now that contributed to that amount, plus some clothes and a few gadgets. Many of them haven't even been opened yet. 

Jeannette and I were out of town during the above mentioned huge spending week. My mother-in-law came to our place to watch Baylee and Jaxon. For her time with the kids she didn't contribute anything to the $6 billion.  She just brought a big box. 

Baylee the Ballerina

She comes out in this little blue dress,

carrying the new music box she got for her birthday.

Daddy, will you watch me dance?

Can't tell you how many times I've watched this clip in the last four days.

Next her first dance at school.

Then her prom.

Then her wedding.

As long as she keeps asking,

"Daddy, will you watch me dance?"

Then I guess I'll be OK with it.

Maybe.

First day of 5 years old

Yesterday we partied.

Yesterday we celebrated.

Yesterday was about going from this moment...

To this moment...

 

But today it hit me. Again.

As she woke up, as she got ready for school. 

As she yelled, "Daddy! Daddy!" when I walked in the door.

As we we painted and as I gave her piggy back rides.

Today the reality of days continually being added hit me. Again.

My awe of holding this little one has only grown, even more than she has.

I want her to get bigger as much as I don't want her to.

These are the pains of being a daddy I guess. 

But I wouldn't trade them for all of the world.

No Slutty Halloweens

This is a picture of Baylee's Halloween costume: Hello Kitty. 

My adorable little girl.

My funny, caring, outgoing, social, loving, observant, full of life, beautiful little girl. 

As her daddy I take it as a deep personal responsibility to shower her with love, affirmation, empowerment, wisdom, and build up her self-respect so that when she is older she doesn't feel it necessary to dress up like a slut in order to have fun on Halloween.

Her decisions will be her own.

But it's my role to give her a foundation to make those decisions, and impart to her through our relationship the self-respect, confidence, and know how to be able to make the best ones. 

Dear Lord - please help me! 

 What matters is not your outer appearance—the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes—but your inner disposition. Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in. 1 Peter 3:3-4

The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord. Psalm 45:11

A reminder of - "I want to holded"

Back in January I shared this story of Baylee almost bringing Jeannette and I to tears (happy ones): "I want to be holded" It's actually one of the most read posts ever on my blog.

Well, Saturday night before bedtime Baylee and I had the below conversation. It was another reminder of wanting to be held.

Me: "Baylee, will you promise me that after you turn 5 that you won't get any bigger? Can you just stay like this? I really like you this size."

Baylee: "Sure. Wait just a minute." 

She then turns around in front of me, closes her eyes and clasps her hands, "God, please let me be five for a long long time. Amen."

She then turns back to face me and says, "I hope he answers that dad because I like it when you hold me." 

And again...she near brings me to tears.

Tonight's moment made me think of the one back in January. Very lucky to have this little lady in my life - because she continually points me toward seeing what is most important.

"Lord...teach me to pray like a 4 year old. Amen"

Learning perspective from a 4yr old

Walking the Ocean City NJ boardwalk, Baylee and I were headed toward Wonderland at the north end of the dock. It's a kid's amusement type place. A local I'd met earlier in the day told me about it, but also said they thought it might be closed (does that even count as giving help to someone)?

"The 1st day of school" or "Why blinking sucks"

Yesterday she was...

And then I blinked, and today she is...

Week in Review #8

School has started, summer is ending, life is busy but awesome. Didn't get to do a "week in review" last weekend, so this is a double reflection:

Moments when they made me laugh

My children are as entertaining as they are adorable. From our time in NY, here is proof:

Week in Review #6

I'm sitting in LaGuardia airport, waiting to catch the flight back home with the fam. 10 days in NY was amazing, but we're ready for being back in sweet home Chicago. Just the same, here's the past week:

Week in Review #5

"Live from New York...it's my blog entry!!!" Sorry, that is incredibly cheesy, but I couldn't resist. This week's stuff:

Week in Review

This past week I was at the NACC conference in Cincinnati, and it was a non-stop experience. I started every morning at 8:30am and didn't get back to the hotel room until 10pm. Add to the craziness of the conference itself the fact that the internet signal in the convention hall was horrendous, there was pretty much no chance for blogging this week. So at home now, I blogger...