To Maddie

You came to us on April 30th of this year, a Tuesday afternoon to be exact. 

7 pounds, 9 ounces. Nice tan. Lots of hair. 

Now, I've always been a crier. Sometimes during sad moments in life, or an emotional moment in a movie, sometimes at sports. I'm a wuss like that.

But when we saw you for the first time, and I felt those familiar tears filling up in my eyes, it was so different and so real that I can't accurately describe it. 

Although you've only been with us a month, little by little we're learning something new about you almost every day.

Among the limited amount of things we've determined you enjoy so far...

A good swaddling. (Your Mom and Dad are working on that one still.)

Riding in your car seat. 

A good bath. 

Well, most of the time. 

But you're usually a pretty big fan of afterwards. 

And like most babies, you also like to cry a lot. 

I mean, a lot.

I mean, A LOT.

ALRIGHT ALREADY, WE GET IT.

OK, that's just not fair.

It's funny the things you make us worry about now that we are parents. Sure there's always going to be bills to pay, jobs to deal with, repairs to make around the house. Those are givens in life.

But instead of sports, it's worrying that you haven't pooped enough today.

Instead of the Rangers, it's your weight and whether you're gaining enough.

Instead of pretty much anything that once was fun to us, it's looking up and researching what your strollers' safety ratings are.

These are the times in which we live.

But aside from all that, we can't be more proud to be your parents. We'll always be there for you, no matter what. We'll always take care of you, no matter what.

And above all else....

We will always love you.