Hi little one,

I hope, above all, that since you never got to read these pages by our side, like I know your mom envisioned, that you are able to read them up in heaven. I hope you know how loved you were and will continue to be down here. Not just by us, but by everyone you touched.

We are all sad we never got to see your face and the last couple of days, we’ve been sad that you never got to enjoy it with us down here on earth. Your mom said it best when she said you were too perfect to join us here and that you were called to heaven instead. Her words have given me a lot of peace knowing you’re in such an amazing place.

However, the more I think about it, the more I believe you were here, just as God intended you to be. You were here in both body and spirit, you  just couldn’t see the world around you. You were here when we took our (mostly) annual trip to High Savery reservoir to catch tiger trout. These are your moms favorite fish, as I’m sure you now know. We stayed in a crappy hotel room and the next day you napped with your mom and fluffy sister Tymber, on Seminoe reservoir, as I caught enough walleye for a fish fry. You were with us on our first trip ever to Green River Lakes. A trip where we got to tell your grandpa and grandma that you were a part of our lives. We were surrounded by friends as your uncle Preston, aunt Tessa, and uncle Jared helped us celebrate you.

You were with us on our first trip to Louis Lake as well. This trip wasn’t full of your Dad’s best moments as I took you on a couple side by side rides I really wish I wouldn’t have. Regardless, we laughed, smiled and had a great time together… as a family. Your uncle Mark even stopped by to have a beer with your Dad and share with us some much needed life lessons and simply reminisce about hunts and days gone by.

We experienced a lot together. A lot of firsts. We did this all as a perfect little family. A family you were, and always will be, a part of.

The last few weeks I had been really mentally preparing for your arrival. I had been thinking of how I could help raise a little boy to be a better man than myself, or how I could help raise a daughter to be just like her mother. I would sit and think about the extravagant places we could go on your birthday, as March is a great month to escape Wyoming! Or how maybe you’d rather just go ice fishing instead…

I thought about a lot, but it all boiled down to me thinking of how I could be a great father to you. In your short time with us, you have given me an even stronger love for your Mom than I ever thought possible. You have given me a greater outlook on life. But most of all, you made me a Daddy and although I’d rather have you here with us, I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything.

I love you,

Your Dad