6 months.

dear haley,  

today marks your sixth month with us.  you started the month feeling a little heavy after several months of new adventures and adjusting.  you just really miss your dad, and it's hard for you not seeing him.  here are a few things you miss about your dad:

• seeing or talking to him everyday
• his smile and laugh
• that i-love-you-even-though-you-made-me-angry look
• him telling you how much he loves you
• him bugging you to watch a movie with him
• him asking you to scratch his back
• him telling you you're pretty (it was just so special when he told you)
• his snoring
• how he'd make you mad when he'd fall asleep in the middle of you talking to him
• him giving you hugs and kisses
• how he'd listen intently if he knew it was important
• him joking around with you, even if it made you mad sometimes
• when he'd ask you to cut his hair or trim his beard
• him watching your tv shows with you

right now you want to understand why life isn't fair.  the day your dad left, it happened very quickly.  it was horrible for you to see him like that.  as hard as it was for you to see him like that, we've talked about how glad you and i both are that he didn't have to be alone while he was going through that.  

the rest of the month progressed a little easier and you had a lot of fun experiences. you: 

• met travis's aunt lou from tennessee for the first time.  you also got to meet her grandkids, caitlin and kevin
• spent the fourth of july with us and travis's family during the day:
• swimming at the pool, homemade ice cream, time with amanda
• spent the evening of the fourth with aunt deniese, uncle john, lindsay, justin, parker, and uncle john's best friend john bodean and his wife deb.  
• had fun in the sun with sierra at our neighborhood pool
• got to take riley jo out to uncle john's land and spend time there with aunt deniese; you were so excited to see riley.  you've been missing her a lot these days.
• spent almost a full week babysitting levi and asher - well mainly just asher.  levi hung out with you guys one day but then headed to his grandma's for the rest of the week
• headed to dallas with us for a family vacation. it was your first time to go to an aquarium/zoo, but i think your favorite part was medieval times (we'll have to go another time when we can stay for the whole thing), and south fork ranch. 
• you spent another few days at aunt deniese's the week after vacation and got to see uncle jason and justin. they told you they loved you and you were super excited. 
• will go to bartlesville schools this year {we're 99% sure}, so the three of us and aunt deniese spent a day at the board of education.  we didn't get to enroll you, but hopefully that will happen on the 8th. 
• got to spend part of the day at my office, see where i work, and meet a few of the people on my floor 
• are counting down the days until your birthday {16 more days!} 
• still have a lot of people in your life thinking of you, praying for you, and asking about you

i know august will be a little different for you -- moving to a new school and meeting new people -- but you're excited for a fresh start.  everyone we've met in bartlesville has been really nice so my prayer for you is that you'll meet some really incredible friends, the kinds of friends you deserve to have in your life.  i know this will bring about more change, but change, even when tough, can be really great.  we're here for you, cheering you on. 

we love you, 

travis, rhiannon, conor, & oli