Dear Luke,
6 months ago today, you were born. I can remember it like it was yesterday, but it also seems like it was so long ago. I remember when I first saw you, and how your little body was kind of purple. I remember how you started crying for the first time when they put you on the scale to weigh you. Mommy was getting taken care of, but I stayed with you as the nurses cleaned you off and made sure you were comfortable. You were crying pretty hard, and then I said "It's OK Luke, Daddy's here", and you stopped crying. I guess you recognized my voice. It was a very meaningful moment for me, and I'll never forget it.
Today I was looking through all the pictures and videos I have of you on my iPhone. It brought back so many memories, and showed me how much you have already changed in 1/2 a year. In the early days, you didn't do a whole lot besides eat and sleep. You were small enough that we could hold you under your arms, and our fingertips would touch across your back. You spent a lot of time with your head resting on our shoulders, because you couldn't lift your head up yet.
The one thing that consistently got your attention in the first couple of months was the ceiling fan. You loved to just stare up at the ceiling fan, probably because it was a dark shape against the light background of the ceiling. I could lay you down in the middle of our bedroom floor and you would be content to just stare up at it.
Over the next couple of months, you started to become more active, and more interactive. You started to look around more. You started to make eye contact, and crack smiles. Mommy and I started to get the distinct impression that you knew who we were. You recognized us, and seemed happy to see us. You also started getting better and better at tummy time, and holding your head up. You also started talking to us (in your own language). It started out as just simple tones with a little gurgling sound to go with it. After that, your speech evolved into some other sounds including a dinosaur roar and a high-pitched squealing sound (which you're very fond of at the moment). It has been so fun to hear your language start to develop. I can't wait to have conversations with you as you get older!
You now seem very aware of your surroundings. You're paying such close attention to what Mommy and I are doing, and you're always looking around the room to make sure you don't miss something interesting going on. You reach out and grab anything you can get your hands on. You smile a lot, laugh a lot, and enjoy being around other people. You're such a good boy, and many other people have commented on that. You definitely know who Mommy and I are, and are especially happy when either of us come in the room. You're also jumping like crazy in your Jumperoo, and you roll over very easily. I don't imagine it will be long before you're crawling. It's a far cry from the early days after you were born, when you pretty much just laid there.
Last month, Mommy went on a trip to Fort Worth to meet your cousin Wesley. She was gone for a few days, and you and I got to hang out here at the house - just the two of us. It was such a fun weekend! I would work on my book while you were sleeping, and then take care of you and play with you while you were awake. It was such a great (and memorable) weekend.
Luke, your Mommy and I love you more than I can describe here. You bring a deep joy to our lives, and I look forward to seeing you every day. I have pictures of you in my office at church, and on my phone. I look at them several times each day, and always find opportunities to brag about you to other people. I'm so proud of you! Even at this moment, I am finding joy in looking at you on the baby monitor, sleeping peacefully in your crib. Mommy and I pray for you every day, that God would keep you safe and help you to grow strong. Most importantly, we pray that God would work in your life even at your young age.
I love you, my sweet boy.
Daddy
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