Little girl you have always been...my very greatest friend,

The love I felt twenty-nine years ago will never come to an end,

I thought then that my joy was so complete, how could it anymore grow,

That day I promised I'd love you forever with a love you must now know,

I remember your first tooth, walking the floor when you were sick,

I remember you laughing at ice cream...ice cream on a stick.

I watched you take your first steps, I felt so proud to see,

Like your daughter does now, you held your hands up to me.

The first time you went to daycare, you almost broke my heart,

Cause you cried so very hard, for your Daddy not to part.

You made my own eyes leak with tears and my mind insane too,

I spent all day worrying and sad, what else could I do?

Little House On the Prairie, was your favorite T. V. show,

I’ve never told you before how I hated it you know.

But because you sat on my lap with your arms around my neck,

I pretended to really like it and said oh what the heck.

When you finished your schooling and moved so far away,

I ached from our parting and prayed you wouldn't stay.

And when you asked if I’d walk you down…that long old church aisle,

Though I liked your choice of a husband, it still hurt a long, long while.

Now you're a mom yourself with a daughter cute as can be,

She giggles and wiggles hugging me and she calls me Poppy,

So I guess you're all grown up, almost thirty no less,

But you're still my own sweet baby, my precious little princess.

Happy Birthday Princess,

Love

Your Dad

xxxooo