Carter Michael..."My boy",

Perhaps the very first question you learned how to answer (and the question I still ask you at least a dozen times each day) is “Are you my boy?” My heart still melts when you quickly and emphatically answer “yea.” You should know that there is so much behind that question. If you truly are my boy (which you are and you always will be), then I want you to understand what that label fully entails.

First and foremost, I love my boy. I’m not referring to the kind of love that is thrown around in our culture and has lost its power, nor am referring even to the sincerest love that we share with our best friends – the friends that I trust with every detail of my life. No, the love I have for you is different. This is a love that can only be experienced between a father and his son. No matter what happens in your life (or mine) we are deeply connected. When you were born, this love began in my heart for the very first time. You are a part of me that can never be ripped away by anything you do. I suppose this love is the closest I can possibly come to the unconditional love that God has for His children.

Secondly, I have so much fun with my boy. You are learning and growing every day. I treasure how rough you like to play already. When I swing you around by your arms and throw you on the couch, you say “more” before you even land. You are fascinated by everything that uses electricity and makes a noise – from the vacuum cleaner to power tools. I love how you dance and stomp and cuddle (even if it’s only momentary). It’s exciting and amusing to watch you learn new words everyday – like when you started asking for “gas” in your little car but forgot to pronounce the “g”, or when the “s” in “please” comes almost 2 seconds after the “plea”. I enjoy how much you love being outside – dreaming about future backpacking trips and outdoor adventures together. It’s fun to push you on the swing at the park while you demand that I use the other swing so you can watch me jump off when I get high enough. I truly look forward to our Tuesday and Friday mornings alone together.

Lastly, I am also deeply proud of my boy. At 2 years old you make many good decisions already. I see glimpses of the young man you will become. You are incredibly smart, and I love to watch you figure out new situations and challenges in the complexity of a 2 year old mind. Perhaps most of all, I am proud of the way you’ve dealt with immense adversity in such a short amount of time on earth. When you were suddenly diagnosed with two major autoimmune conditions your mother and I were knocked off of our feet, yet you remained yourself – not allowing the symptoms of the disease or the constant poking and prodding of strange medical staff to kill your spirit.  In fact, I remember you even comforting your mom and me, in your own way, as you saw us crying on the hospital bed. I am proud of the way you’ve allowed the daily “nuisances” of your medical condition to become normal. You willingly take up to 8 medicines daily; you sit patiently while nurses change the dressing on your arm every week in a sterile environment – sometimes taking up to 30 minutes of holding completely still as new nurses learned the procedure; you “re-acclimated” to being around people after we were forced to practically isolate you for a year; and you endure (with expected tears) the bi-weekly needles that test your blood to make sure you are ok. You are a brave little boy, and you’ve responded much better to these adversities at 2 than I have at 32.

Happy 2nd birthday, Carter Michael Slack. Each day of your life is truly a gift from God to your mom and me and to all those who come in contact with you. I am so glad that you are my boy and I cherish every day that we spend together.

Love,
Daddy