Dear Mark,

Every day I tell Anthony what a good son he is, and how much I love him. I don't feel that I tell you that enough. Well, not that you're a good son (which you are), but that you're a good dad. I always knew that you would be, but thinking it and watching it are two totally different things. And I like the watching it better.

You're so patient with Anthony. When he won't finish his dinner, but we know he's still hungry, you'll just wait him out. I've gotten up from the table and started washing dishes and you're just sitting there talking to him and waiting. And before I know it, you've brought his (mostly) cleaned plate.

You'll let Anthony splash and play in the bathtub for hours. He's having fun? That's all you care about. He loves bathtime with you (except for last night and that was just a fluke). Again, the patience comes into play.

I love watching him run to the back door when you get home from work. It's so cute that he tells me in the morning, "Daddy go work. Make money." You said that to him once, and now he's on it. Whatever you say or do, Anthony's right there copying you. He sits like you, walks like you, talks like you...it's so cute to see you both sitting in your chair, and before he gets comfortable Anthony has to check to see how you're sitting. Then he sits. Have you noticed him doing that? I have.

Your face, the first time you saw Anthony, is something I will never forget. You try to be all "macho" and not cry or express too much emotion on the surface. That was all off the day Anthony was born. When you held him the first time, your eyes said to me, "How is it possible that he's MINE?" It was one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen.

Of course, singing your praises wouldn't be complete without mentioning Anthony's transplant. And I know how embarrassed you get when I talk about it...but here goes. What you did for Anthony goes above what any parent should have to do for their child, but would do no matter what. You being nervous about the surgery doesn't change the fact that you did it, and it doesn't diminish the act, either. The first question out of your mouth after you woke up, in pain and doped on meds was, "How did Anthony do?" That was your only concern at that point.

Mark, there are so many more things I love about you as a father. It would take years to list them all. But those are some of my top favorites and I wanted to let you know that I think you are the best father that Anthony could have ever asked for.

Love, Laurie