Dear Etrain

Dear Etrain,

Today is the day your dad and I have been married for 4 years. It's also the seven year anniversary of our first date.

On March 7, 2009 your dad showed up at my new home with a power drill, a vase, and a bouquet of flowers. I had just closed on buying my first condo (had even postponed our first date because I was busy moving in), and was assembling new furniture. I had told your dad how my hands hurt from using all the hand tools to build everything. So this guy who I hadn't met before, arrived for our first date, and offered to help me finish building my furniture before taking me out to dinner an a movie. We saw a terrible movie (lookup Watchmen), but had a great dinner and enjoyed each other's company very much - so much that seven years later we're married and have the coolest kid ever.

I love telling our first date story because it's a perfect example of what an amazing man your dad is. Not many men will not only bring flowers to a date, but also have a house warming gift and a power drill to help build their date's furniture. But that's your dad. Always being thoughtful, helpful and going the extra mile.

He's also extremely smart, ambitious, focused, honest, moral, fair, an incredibly hard worker, has a crazy amount of energy, strong, athletic, protective, and beneath his tough exterior, he's very loving. I couldn't be more proud and happy that you have your dad as your role model. Not only will he be there to love you and teach you fun things like how to surf (your dad CANNOT WAIT to take you out in the ocean with him), but you'll have one of the best examples of what a truly wonderful man is and should be.

And on top of all of that, your dad is so fun and super funny. This, by the time you read this, I'm sure you already know. He's always doing something silly or playful with you and it makes me smile every time.

Your dad sure does know how to keep things fun, doesn't he? I couldn't be more happy to have chosen such an amazing man to be my husband and your father. I hope you know how much your dad and I love you, Ethan. By the first picture in this post, you sure do love your dada now. All I hear all day long is "da" and "dada". Oh how your eyes light up when he comes home from work. I have to say I'm a tad jealous, but that's ok, I know you love me too.

Love,
Mama

P.S. Dada if you're reading this. I love you more than words can express and I truly mean every word I've written here. You're the best father and husband I could ask for. Happy Anniversary.