Daddy's Little Girl

Lane, your dad is something else. You have him wrapped around your finger already. I cannot lie, at first he was a little bummed you were not a boy, but I do not think he would change a thing about you. He has so much love for you. He rushes home from work every day to see you.

 

 

Today your dad was 30 minutes late to work. He had to take a player to Dallas yesterday night and was not home in time to see you before you went to bed. This morning when he was getting ready he could hear you talking from the baby monitor. He went in there, picked you up, changed you, and started to feed you. I came out to the living room to get you from him. I told him he was really late and needed to leave for work; I could take over feeding you. He told me no! He said he had missed you so much and just wanted to spend some time with you before he was gone again. He fed you the whole bottle and left 30 minutes late. He just wants to spend all of his time with you.

 

 

 

You love talking to your dad these days. When he comes home for  lunch every day you are all smiles and just start to talk talk talk. I get so tickled watching you two together. Your relationship with him is so different from our relationship together. I almost get jealous. The Father/Daughter bond you two have is so hard to explain. When we give you a bath you just stare at your dad. You watch his every move. When I give you a bath alone you usually scream bloody murder. I think it is because you want your daddy there.

 

He started watching women's basketball so he can be better prepared to coach you one day. I think it is so cute; he's trying to like it just for you. He claims you are going to be a great basketball player. I cannot wait to watch you two playing one-on-one in the driveway. I want you to love as many things as possible, and your daddy is going to make sure basketball is one of those things.

 

 

 

I could not have picked a better dad for you. I always knew he would make a great dad. He grew up with the best example of how to be a good dad from his parents. But it is one thing to believe it and another to actually see it. Watching the way he talks to you. Watching the way plays with you. He is so involved in everything you are doing. He brags to everyone about you. "Look how beautiful..." "Look how funny..." "Look how sweet..." He just cannot get enough of you.

 

 

I knew your daddy would be so obsessed with you. You should have seen the way he treated me when I was pregnant with you. Keep in mind I was not a very pleasant person when I was pregnant, but your dad was there every step of the way. Held my hair bad as I puked, brought me French fries for breakfast, lunch and dinner, helped tuck me into my Grand Canyon of pillows and never asked for anything in return. He came to all of your doctors appointments, and was the first one to show off all of your sonogram pictures. He would talk to you through my belly almost every night. Sometimes he would even read to you. Things like that just confirmed to me how wonderful he was going to be to not just me but you, too. He treated me like a princess, and now that you are here... well we can both be his princesses. He will not mind. Promise!

 

 

 

Before bed every night the three of us go into your room. Your dad turns on Elliot the Elephant (your humidifier) and then kisses you on the head. This is not just a little peck on the head. He kisses you slowly and softly. Just like a daddy should. The he whispers to you, "Goodnight my sweet baby, Lane!" I could cry it is so sweet. Then I give you my kisses and we lay you down together. Every night. It is my favorite time of the night because we all get to be together for your final moments of the day. Most dads make the mom just put the baby to bed, but not your dad. He always comes with us. I told you I picked you out the best dad. I never had one doubt. Ever. 

 

 

 

I cannot wait to watch the relationship between you two grow. I think you two are going to have such an inseparable bond. I am already coping with the fact that he is going to be your favorite person. It's okay he's one of my favorite people, too!

 

Your First Easter

Your first Easter was fun. Since you are the only grandchild on both sides we invited everyone to our house for hamburgers and hot dogs. It was gammadoe (my mom), grandma and grandpa (your dad's parents), Charlie and Susie (your dad's grandparents, Auntie A and Uncle B. They all just passed you around like a sack of potatoes. You did not have a very good day because I think you are starting to teethe. You always have your whole hand in your mouth chewing on your fingers. You are also drooling constantly! So from what I read I think it's the starting point of teething. All day you were craaaaanky! You screamed and yelled all day! You were not a very happy little lady! But we made it through and everyone loved coming to see you in your Easter dress! 

 

We got so tickled watching you. Your new thing these days is Easton, your puppy brother. We would throw his toy and Easton would run after it. You would start belly laughing at him running around. We would all start laughing at you laughing at him. You were definitely our free entertainment. You become more and more fun every day. You laugh and talk more every morning. We just love to hear you get worked up. We act like it is the first time you have ever made a peep.  

Sleeping Beauty

Oh Lane, when I get home from work I am always elated to walk through the door to see you! It takes everything I have in me to keep from speeding on my way home! When I get home it's usually your nap time. When I pick you up and squeeze on you the smile on your face is enough to knock me to my knees! I put you on my chest and after a few bounces you are out like a light. At that point I fall in love with you more and more!

 

 

I begin to stare at you! I analyze your nose. I intently look at every detail of your lips. I try to count every eyelash. I watch you wince, and change facial expressions ever couple of minutes. I listen to your sweet sounds you make as you breathe in and out. Your tiny little laugh you make as you dream. As a stare, I cannot find one flaw. 

And then I begin to cry. Your beauty overwhelms me and I cannot believe you are mine. You are me. You are your dad. You are your grandparents. And everyone we love the most you are part of! 

I shower your face in kisses! I kiss your forehead, your nose, and your oh so perfect lips! I never feel like I can do it enough! 

I love you Lane,

Everything I have is yours. 

And getting to know you is the biggest blessing of all! 

Happy (My Dad)

 

Lane, I have put off writing about your Happy because I did not know if I was ready to talk about him yet. My heart is in pieces when I think about you never meeting him. He would have loved you so much. He always talked about his future grandbabies and how they would be spoiled rotten. Trust me, he would have bought you all the newest, greatest, and latest toys you could want. I cannot imagine what his giant Christmas tree would look like on Christmas now that you are here. There would be presents EVERYWHERE. He loved Christmas. He would have added all of your homemade ornaments up there each year... right up there next to all of mine. I kept a few of his firefighter ornaments to put on our tree every year just so we can take the time to talk about him as we decorate the tree.

 

Growing up with your Happy was such a whirlwind. There were so many ups and downs. He definitely got better with age. When we were young he was so serious, but as he got older I could see such a big difference. He would hug me longer, pull me closer, and constantly remind me how proud he was of me. And I will never forget how good those words felt coming out of his mouth.

 

 

Your Happy was a firefighter in Wichita Falls, Texas for 30 years. He loved the fire department. We always knew what to buy him for his birthday-- something firefighter. He loved helping people. He always just wanted to do more. He was also an EMT. He rode in the ambulances, too. After some time he started teaching at Vernon College. He taught the fire EMS/EMT classes. When Happy died he was in the middle of making a lab at Vernon College that he was given a grant for. He never got to finish the lab but his friends/co-workers finished the lab and named a dummy after him. Every year Vernon College gives away an "Al Garcia Scholarship." He was a big part of that team and they miss him very much.

 

 

We have so many home videos of your Happy teaching me how to swim from when I was little. At your Happy's house he had a pool with a diving board.  I would have loved to sit there on the patio under his huge umbrella watching him tell you to kick, kick, kick trying to teach you to swim! I could see him treading water in the deep end and telling you to jump off the diving board to him. You would have had so much fun with him. I just know it.  

 

 

Every holiday that passes I have a little moment where I get sad wishing he could be there. He would be throwing you in the air and listen to laugh and giggle. I get a huge frog in my throat thinking about how he will never get to buy you a heart full of reeses peanut butter cups (his favorite) for valentine's, never get to see you in any of your Easter dresses, put sun block on you in the summers, see you in your Halloween costumes, cook you ham on thanksgiving, or even watch you open a Christmas present. I makes me so sad to think about all the stuff that he never will get to be a part of.

 

Even though he is not here I think he is. Right now you do this really weird thing that freaks us all out. You always stare into the corner and smile and laugh. There is NOTHING in this corner. No lights, no movement, NOTHING, but you like to stare over there and smile. Sometimes you can be screaming your head off and you just look over there and start laughing. I think it is your Happy. I think he comes to visit you every day. It is the most peculiar thing. I just smile and say, "Hey Dad!" because it has to be him. I also like to think that when you smile and laugh while you are sleeping, Happy comes down from Heaven to play with you in your dreams. Thinking things like this help me get through him not being here, because he really is not missing out on anything. He is just here in a different way.

 

Alejandro “Al” Garcia, 55, of Wichita Falls went home to his Heavenly Father, Father of All, on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012.
Visitation will be Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012 from 5 to 7 p.m., with a rosary to begin at 7 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 5,2012 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Jack McKone, Celebrant, followed by a funeral procession led by the Wichita Falls Fire Department (WFFD) and Patriot Honor Guard to his final resting place at Crestview Memorial Park.
Mr. Garcia was born Nov. 22, 1956 to Joe A. Garcia and Patsy M. (Mauricio) Garcia in Wichita Falls. He was raised in Fort Worth. He graduated from Trimble Technical High School in 1975, then, enlisted in the Air Force. After an honorable discharge, he joined the WFFD in 1980, and retired from WFFD in 2010 as a Lieutenant/Paramedic, after 30 years of service. He currently was employed at Vernon College as their Fire/EMS Training Program Director, along with having served as the director of the North Texas Regional Advisory Council, EMSAT board member, GETAC committee member, and served on the board of the Children’s Home.
Mr. Garcia was a member of the Mavericks, Knights of Columbus, and Sacred Heart Church.
Mr. Garcia was preceded in death by his Grandmother Caterina Beltran.
Mr. Garcia was survived by his children Alejandro (“Ponch”) Garcia II, and wife Amber; Ali Hopper, and husband Brandon; Lexi Garcia and Alex Garcia; Father Joe A. Garcia; Mother Patsy M. Garcia; Sisters Anna Marie Garcia, Patricia Caro and husband Jorge, and Josephine Wells; Brothers Pedro and Phillip; and Grandmother Petra Meza.

Grandpa Law

I call your grandpa, Scuba Steve. I have called him that for as long I have known him. Finding wonderful things to say about your grandpa is not a hard task to accomplish. I cannot wait to watch and see how y'all's relationship is. I have this gut feeling that he is going to be your favorite grandparent (sorry grandmas). But they cannot blame me. They would probably agree. When you were really little he was so scared to hold you but stepped up to the plate anyway. The love he has for you is crazy love. Watching him talk about you and brag about you, his eyes just light up. He is one super proud grandpa.

 

 

One day I took you over to your grandma and grandpa's house. When I took you out of your car seat you were wet. For you to fully understand this story you need to know that your grandpa has NEVER changed your diaper before. At this time you were about three months old. When I mentioned you were wet your grandpa said, "I think I can do it, I'm going to try to change her." Your grandma and I exchanged looks and said okay go for it! If it was a poopy diaper let us know and we would come bail him out. He took you into the other room and a minutes later we heard grandpa say, "LEEEEEEEXI, SHE POOPED!!!" So Grandma and I came to the rescue. After I wiped off all the poop and took the dirty diaper away, Grandpa was back at it trying to put on a new diaper. After a couple minutes the diaper was on. Then he had to put your pants back on. Bless his heart he tried three different ways to get those pants back on and you kept kicking your feet out of them every time he put them through. Your grandma and I stood there with our hands over our mouths trying not to frustrate him by laughing out loud at him. FINALLY, he got your pants on and when he pulled them up he noticed the tag sticking out over your belly button. "DAMN IT," he said, "They are inside out!" Poor guy had to take them off and start all over again.

 

You are so spoiled by your grandpa. You cannot even tell him what you want yet but you get it anyway! He wants to supply with anything and everything you could want or need. He tells your dad and I, "If she needs something or wants something you just let me know!"

 

Your grandpa and I have a very special relationship. I have always been very close to him. I feel like I could tell your grandpa anything. He may not know it but he is such a great listener. He has listen to me whine, brag, beg, laugh, and cry. He has seen me at my best and at my worst. If I had to be in a car alone for many hours with someone, I would pick him. We have had many deep discussions, had heart-to-heart talks, and couple "what should I do?" lectures. Even during bad times he has stepped up to let me know he cared about me and my feelings as well. That is just the way he is wired. He makes you feel like if you have been a part of his life -- you will be part of his life forever. I could not have found a better grandpa for you even if I searched all of America.

 

He has set the bar so high for your dad. Your dad has such HUGE shoes to fill. I am so blessed at the example your grandpa has set for your dad. If your dad is even half the dad to you that his dad was to him you are the luckiest little girl in the world. I feel so blessed to get to watch the relationships you form with them. One things for sure, you will never have to beg when it comes to grandpa.

Grandma Law

Your grandma loves you. The more and more you hang out with her the more and more you are starting to recognize her. She takes on the care-taker roll. She loves to help out any way she can. In my most trying times of becoming a new mother she helped me when I felt like I needed it most. Anyone who knows me knows I am very stubborn. I would never surrender and admit I needed help with anything. Your grandma has such a special way about her. She has known me so long she can read me like an open book. I do not have to say a word and she knows what I am feeling. She knows just when to step in and say, "Lexi, take a nap. I have this under control."

 

 

If I had to describe your grandma in one word it would be : Helper

She loves to help. She loves to just be involved whether it be time for you to eat or you need a new diaper she is already on top of it. It is a nice breath of fresh air when we visit her because I just hand you off and can just relax. Your grandma never had a little girl so she has so much fun shopping for you. I can see her begging to come with us to buy all your prom dresses and do all of the "girlie" stuff. I can see many trips to Macy's in your future!

Your grandma is the decision maker. Where there are loose ends; she ties them. When there is a problem; she fixes it. Without her, your dad would so be lost. She is his backbone. She holds every answer to all his questions. He is a "Momma's Boy" for sure. He is her EVERYTHING. They talk every single day. Their relationship is so close. Most mothers wish they had a relationship like theirs.


You have already learned how to work your grandma to get what you want. You just stick out that bottom lip and pout and she becomes putty. I can see the days when you have her hand dragging her through the stores saying, "C'mon Grandma, I have to show you something!"

Every time we send your grandma a picture of you she prints it out and has it in a frame that day. Your dad and I get so tickled when we go over to their house and see a picture we sent to her 15 hours before. I can tell your pictures are going to be all over that house. Luckily your a beautiful baby that everyone wants to look at. I cannot wait to watch and see how y'all's relationship grows. I know one thing is for sure; she will spend every minute with you that she can get her hands on.

Gammadoe (My Mom)

Where to begin...

Lane, your Gamma, my mom, has spent the past six years wishing, hoping, thinking, and praying about you. There is nothing in this world she wanted more than for you to be in it. She teased and dropped so many uncountable hints about how much she wanted you here and FAST.

 

 

She has decided to call you "Widdle Punkin." She will be your best friend growing up, I am sure of it. I can just see her pumping you full of ice cream, buying you all the Barbie's you can hold and watching your favorite movie a hundred times in a row just to know it verbatim. She will be there, FRONT ROW, at every dance recital, sport event, or school program standing up clapping and screaming "THAT'S MY GRAND-DAUGHTER!"

 

 

I know she is going to make such an amazing Grandma. Growing up, I have heard countless stories about her and her grandmas. All the fun she had and all the memories she has shared with me, I know are going to become a huge part in the way she is a grandma to you. I can just envision the days when you beg to go to your Gamma's house and cry as we pick you up because you do not want to leave. She always tells me about how she cannot wait to attend all of your Grandma adventures at school. Like Grandparents day, or tea time with Grandma. I know she'll be sitting there with a huge smile on her face, telling everyone to look at her granddaughter. She is already so proud of you and you can barely jibber-jabber! 

 

Growing up we did not have much, but what we did have was lots of love and memories. Your Gamma loved to record your aunt, uncle, and myself all day long with a video camera. She did not want to miss a THING. We have hours and hours of video tapes. Your gamma taught me to be independent, confident, and how to prove people wrong when they doubt my abilities. She and I have a very different relationship. She instilled such a strong sense of independence in me that I learned to make my own paths to follow. I hope you get some of that from me, I would love to raise you to be independent. I want you to be able to solve your own problems and not have to run to me for every little thing. My mom taught me very early how to be self-sufficient. I could do my own laundry, washing my own cereal bowl, and if I wanted something it was NEVER just given to me. I have never heard anyone ever use the word spoiled or the word brat to describe me and I have her to thank for that.

 

 

 

If your gamma could she would retire today just so she could baby sit you. She comes over during her lunchtime to see you. She never returns to work on time because she never wants to leave you. She calls me every weekend DYING to babysit you. She always says, "I know you have errands to run, or that you want to go get something to eat so just bring her over to me." She is so madly in love with you. I am shocked she has not asked to move into our spare bedroom so she can be with you all the time.

 

You should see her office at work. It is like a shrine of Lane! You probably have 15-20 pictures up in her office. She says she walks around the office at Hospice and says, "I got new pictures and videos to show everyone!" She is so proud and loves to show you off. She loves being your grandma. "Loves" is a understatement.

3 Month Check-Up

 

At your three month check-up you had to get all of your immunizations. I knew this was not going to be a fun visit for you so I made a trip to Walgreens before we went to get you some Tylenol just in case you were in a lot of pain after. 

 

When we got there we took all of you measurements. You were 10 lb. 9 oz 22 1/2 inches long. After that the doctor came in and talked about what to expect next. He was so impressed by you because you already can sleep through the night and in your own crib in your room. He could not believe how strong your legs are because you stood on my lap the whole appointment.

 

After our chit-chat the nurses came in got you ready for your four shots. I held your little hands and smiled a big smile at you trying to distract you. It worked for the first shot because you did not even notice it. but then your smile turned into panic the second shot number two went in. The nurse went super fast. She put pink camouflage bandaids that covered your thighs. You were so upset, but still no tears. You sure are one strong little lady.

 

When we got home you were so fussy. You cried all day long. You must have been so sore, and uncomfortable. I gave you a little bit of Tylenol and you took a little nap. Then you woke up with a vengeance. I had to call grandma for back-up because you were wearing me out!

 

You woke up the next day just fine. I am so glad you never ran a fever because I am not prepared yet for your first fever. 

Three Months Old

 

Three months old, holy Toledo. You change daily. You look just like your daddy. Every expression you make I just look at you and think holy moly that has Trey written all over it. Even your attitude at times reminds me of him. No wonder I love you so much; you are so much of everything I love about your dad.

 

 

 

At this point you do not just talk a little bit here and there. Now you tell FULL ON stories. You talk for 10 minutes straight sometimes. We get so tickled listening to you. Hearing your little voice is such a sweet blessing. We sit there and watch you talk and think -- what could she possibly be talking about. You are mainly just doing it to hear yourself, but all of your facial expression you make are just so adorable. I also tell you to quit telling everyone all my secrets. You love talking. I have a feeling that this will never change. When you can actually form sentences I think you are going to be the one I have to tell over and over that it is time to be quiet. But I think it will be nice to have a fellow talker in the house. We all know I could talk to wallpaper so maybe you get that from me.

 

 

This past month you have started to laugh out loud. It is music to my ears. The first time you laughed out loud I had you sitting in your bumbo on the bathroom counter looking at yourself while I was getting ready. You were looking at your own reflection and let out a giggle. I could not believe it so I screamed at your dad to come watch. I said, "She is laughing out loud, right?" He said, "Oh she sure is." Then the next day your dad was feeding you and kept taking the bottle out of your mouth and you thought it was the funniest thing EVER. You laughed your first deep belly laugh that day. We loved every second of that moment. And I for one, will never forget it.

 

You are starting to LOVE your feet pajamas... finally. Before you hated feet pajamas because you were too small. You would pull your feet up your legs would come out of the leg part. Then you were not able to get your feet back in the legs part and you would get stuck. You would get so panicked so I quit putting you in them. But now you fit in the feet jammies and you love them. You have so many feet pajamas. Your dad thinks it is okay to take you out in public in your feet pajamas. Luckily you have me to teach him that is unacceptable. Your dad does not know much about girls but he is getting so much better and learning a lot of "do's and don't's." The other day you pooped so much it was everywhere. Your dad screamed at me from the other room, "Lexi, you need to come here NOW. The poop is all up in her girl parts and I don't know what to do." Do not worry. I told him he could handle it and to clean it correctly. Like I said, he is learning and is getting better every day.

 

You love to suck your thumb all of a sudden. You are HORRIBLE at it but you understand the concept but you are all over the place. You smack yourself in the face and keep all of your fingers straight. You rub your hand all over your face until eventually your thumb is in your mouth. It is so fun to watch you try. You poke yourself in the eye a hundred times but you are so adamant about getting that thumb! You are one determined little girl. If at first you don't succeed...

 

 

You still hate it when I put your bows on. When I put on your head band you ALWAYS throw a fit. I figured by now you would have figured out that it is not so bad but you still continue to yell at me about it. Right now you have 51 bows. There is a bow shop around the corner of our house and let's just say they know me by name by now. You have a bow to match EVERY one of your outfits. You may hate it but everyone else loves it. I think you look very put together with a bow. You better just suck it up because I am not losing this battle!!