Five years ago today, at 1:27 a.m., my wife and I witnessed the birth of our first daughter, Hatlee Elizabeth Robinson.
Today, our little “Hatlee Doodle Bug” turns 5.
Wow! Where has the time gone? Just last week she registered for kindergarten and my wife posted a picture of her on Facebook. A few of the comments said that the next 12 years would fly by even faster. Really? Is that even possible?
While Hatlee turns 5 today, she was not due until May 11. She came as a shock to us as she began entering this world on the afternoon of my wife’s 36-week checkup.
By the time we made it to our Pensacola check-up, my wife had already dilated 3 centimeters, but the doctor sent us home. Later that evening, her water broke, so we headed back down to Pensacola around 6 p.m. Hatlee came early the next morning.
I remember the day we found out we were having a girl. Yes, I admit, I was a little disappointed at first as I was hoping for a boy. But that soon wore off, as I was just happy that we were going to have a healthy baby.
As a father, I have always heard about “daddy’s girl,” and that the first time I laid eyes on her, she would already have me wrapped around her finger. It is true! I would do anything for her, as most dads would for their daughters.
Hatlee is a big fan of the Duggars and Bates on television. As you know, both families are rather large – 19 kids on each side.
Well one night, we were watching the Bates on TV, and the mom and dad on the show took one of their daughters out to dinner for her birthday. At this birthday, I think it was her 13th, the daddy talked to the girl about one day having to give her away to another man. We have also watched the weddings of the two Duggar girls numerous times as well and have seen this in action.
On that the episode of the Bates, there was a song playing that really struck a chord for all of us – Hatlee especially. And although she doesn’t really understand the lyrics of the song as she plays it over-and-over while playing with my phone, it sums up all that I feel about my special girl.
Called “Always Love You” by Tyrone Wells, it talks about how the daughter always being a princess to him and how he will always love his daughter and hopes she will always remember this. Later it says, that the daughter will grow up too fast and leave him wishing for the past, back when the daughter was still a daddy’s girl. He says he will hold on to the memories of a little girl upon his knee that forever changed the world.
Hatlee, although you cannot read this yet, know that your daddy will always love you.