Ben Sloot

Dear Charlie,

Can’t believe it’s been a year. 365 days ago I was learning how to wrap you like a burrito and sleep on a fold out hospital barcalounger.

I’ll not soon forget, if ever, how difficult the first 6 months of you life were for me and your mother. Today provided an excellent opportunity to look at the pictures of you from last winter. The memories made my heart beat hard.

I can’t detach myself from the anxiety, the worry, and the stress from those first few months. You cried long and loud. Sleep came sparingly. Your mother and I fretted and fought. The stress burdened already long days.

But then… You started to smile. You started to really look at us as a part of your growing world.

You rolled, crawled and even walked in these first 12 months. Just a few randomly chosen moments from these past 6 months would easily eclipse all of the early difficulties.

You’ll never remember, but everyday I tell you “You’re my favorite person,” and it’s not even close.

By the time you read these, I probably won’t get to sing to you any more. So for posterity, I want to end with a lullaby I wrote just for you. Since your mother let’s me put you in your crib most nights, I get to softly sing it to you:

I will love you. Will you love me? No matter how old you are, no matter how far you are, I will always love you.

“I will love you. Will you love me? No matter how old you are, no matter how far you are, I will always love you.

I will love you. Will you love me? No matter how old I am, no matter how far I am, I will always love you.”

Happy first birthday Charlie,

Love,

Dad