Dear Jackson,

Even though there’s not a chance you’ll be able to read this for a few years, I wanted to make sure that on your first birthday you understand how much the past year has meant to your mom and I.  We met when we were in our early 20s and have been a together for almost 15 years now… (can you believe your poor mom has had to listen to my terrible jokes for that long?!!).  We had some great times and we had some sad times, but the past year has been different.  There is not an actual word in the English language to properly express how perfect the past year has been, but it has been that way because of you.

It isn’t the milestones, or the cute faces you make, or that pterodactyl laugh you have.  It isn’t even watching you try to play peekaboo with a sock that barely covers your nose.  Its just a feeling, you change the climate of the environment you are in and of the people you are around.

Your happy personality is infectious and has helped mom and I through some tough times this past year… if two people can make it through weeks of not sleeping while getting pooped and puked on and not want to run away from each other than there must be something special about the little one doing the pooping.

I wanted to include all the things I am excited to teach you and do with you as you grow, but I think I’ll save that for another time and let those events just happen as they come.  So instead, I want to simply tell you that I am a better person because of you and that I love you very much.

Without you, there would be no us.  Happy first birthday!

Love always,

Dad