1/18/2011
Ethan,
It's been a while since I wrote you a letter but things have just been going on without many changes, and the time just seems to fly past. In the last two weeks however there have been some major changes. We got a call from Darrel on a Saturday and he told us that Candace would no longer be able to watch you because of health reasons. Your Mom and I were devastated. We had really come to like Candace and Darrel, and we know that they really like you. That was the first big change for 2011, the next came last weekend when we took you for your first haircut. Up until then you had long straggly hair that grew over your ears and into your eyes, it was the same hair you had had since you were born, and you still looked like our little baby. After the barber cut your hair you no longer looked like my little baby but you looked like a little boy. Growing up and changing in the span of 15 minutes, was painful, and as I sit here and write this I want your long straggly hair back. I want it back more than anything in this world. Its odd, I have written about how I can't wait to play catch with you and go camping and fishing, but at the same time I don't want to see you grow up. The next big change for you has been going to a new day care center. Your Mom and I wanted you to have some stability, and an actual center seemed to offer that more than an in home day care. You have been quite unhappy the last few days when I have dropped you off. You have cried and thrown yourself on the floor and been generally unhappy. Mom and I have not been the best at making your transition a smooth one but we are going to work on that. I have always struggled with change. I don't like to get out of my comfort zone so I know how hard this is for you. I have to tell you now that it will never end. Change comes constantly. Sometimes it's good sometimes it's bad, but it's how you handle it that determines how it affects you. Losing my grandfather (who you're named after) was a tough change, and so was losing my step-dad (who helped raise me). The best changes in my life have been marrying your mother, and having you. Changes can be good or bad but with every change comes a new chapter and a new adventure.
Love,
Dad
