dear pratt.

dear pratt,

i used to love hearing my parents tell stories about each other when i was a kid. i had my own ideas about my mom and dad...but to hear them tell about each other...it was different. fresh. new. and i loved it.

so i'm going to tell you a little about your dad.

first, and most importantly. he loves you like you wouldn't believe. it's this genuine, real, honest love. sometimes he will call me and ask what we're doing for lunch. and if we don't go meet him, when he gets home, he'll comment that he missed you all day long. and then he'll say, "i missed you too, han...but i just thought about pratt all day long."

he is rarely critical of anyone else. in fact, it's hard to remember anything negative he has said lately. he's like that. it's not a sickening, oh-i'm-better-than-you attitude. it's just this quiet sense of self worth. almost like he doesn't need to do that to better himself. he is ALWAYS able to find the good in someone...or in some situation.

when dad and i dated. when he was in dental school, i'd go up and visit him. he always studied at his desk. never made notecards. never wrote anything down. he just read. and absorbed so much of it. if he has read it, he probably hasn't forgotten it. he knows a whole lot about...well, a whole lot.

he is incredibly smart. and good with his hands. he has great handwriting. great cursive handwriting. it's nearly perfect. cursive! of all things. you'll learn that boys aren't often complimented on their handwriting.

he has never refused any meal i have ever made him. and let me tell you...i've made some pretty bad meals.

when we dated, one of my favorite things about him was how he would answer the phone when i called. it was never a simple "hello". it was always something clever. something kind. he still does this often. i'm sure he will do the same thing to you when you start using a phone.

he is rarely in bad moods. i think it's because he knows that i have the worst mood swings...and so he can't really fit his mood swings in. i dunno. he's just naturally pretty happy. or content.

i hope that you grow up to be just like him. well, maybe not just like him...but close. or just like him. whatever you choose.

we love you.