Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. Right now, you only know me through the sound of my voice, which you hear from the muffled insulation of the womb. You’re still inside your Mom right now! I realized it’s never too early for me to start writing to you, to let you…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. Today is a really big day for your Mom and me. It’s the day when we get to see you. Yes, you! Your Mom scheduled a 4D ultrasound (cover your ears, kiddo!) so we can see you one last time before we hold you in…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. Yesterday was an incredible day for your Mom and me. We got to see your face! Well, part of it. Your hands seem to have gotten in the way . . . Your Mom and I went for a 4D ultrasound, where we were able to see…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. Time seems to be moving at a million miles an hour, while standing still at the same time. It feels this way because you are coming. Soon. Usually, moments of finality are accompanied by unpleasant things. However, that’s not the case with you. I feel…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. You’ve been popping up in my dreams a lot. For the past few nights, I’ve had dreams where I’m conscious you are coming, and had many conversations with the people I encounter in the dreams about how I feel as I prepare to be a…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. Time feels like it’s flying by and standing still at the same time. I can’t say you’ll understand this feeling when you get older, because you might not. I certainly didn’t expect to feel this way. I’m eager to hold you in my arms and…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. Ahead of your birth, I’ve started to see things differently; it feels like my perspective is widening and I’m understanding things with a new depth, a new dimension. One of those things is how I communicate with you, and with your Mom. I think a…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. I often wonder what sights, sounds, and experiences you will encounter during your life. Knowing your Mom and me, I imagine you’ll have a pretty vibrant life experience. I’m still getting used to the idea of you being here soon. The part of me that…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. There’s something special about your letter this morning. I’m writing it while listening to some music my Dad loved (Steve Taylor, Liver, track 7 . . . if you’re ever curious), and it feels like time has stopped as our generations are connecting to each other. My…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. It’s another beautiful morning: writing to you, listening to Steve Taylor (Squint, track 3), and thinking of your arrival. Your Mom and I keep having dreams about you. I dreamed about you last night. You’re a beautiful baby, and it was amazing to see both…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. When you get older, you’ll recognize an hourglass on my right arm. Someday you’ll be old enough to understand the story, and the legacy, behind it. As you get older, you’ll realize you are a part of that legacy. It’s a legacy that includes the…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. Every time I look at the date stamp on these entries, I do a quick countdown of the days we have before you arrive. You’re coming quickly, Atlas. We’re both ready for you and excited for you to finally arrive. For most of my life,…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. Your Mom and I are having one of those days, the kind I hope you get to experience in your life: priceless moments, laughter, connection, and true intimacy. We both want a lot of wonderful things for you, Atlas. We’re going to do our very…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. I wanted to let you know that I didn’t forget about writing to you yesterday. Your Mom and I gave each other our one-hundred-percent attention yesterday, and that meant “us” time. You’ll understand when you get older. It’s becoming very real to me (and to…

Dear Atlas,It’s me; your Dad.The clock continues to count down until you arrive in our lives. Your Mom and I are both ready for you to be here; with us, in our family. I’ve been thinking a lot about what my life will be like when you arrive. I wish that…

Dear Atlas, It’s me; your Dad. Ahead of your arrival, your Mom and I made an announcement on social media. In true “us” fashion - we had a few alternatives...Announcement@Name and I are very excited to bring y’all some very exciting news... We have a baby on the way! He’s going…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. While you didn’t get a note from me yesterday, I think you got something better: a day together with me and your Mom, shopping for you! Part of getting ready for you is buying you things. A lot of things. It seems like there are…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. Time feels like it’s racing by as your Mom and I prepare for your arrival. We both have a long list of things we need to accomplish before you arrive. We’re excited for you, Atlas. I’m excited for you. I feel a lot of things…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. The clock continues to tick until your arrival. Every day seems to bring something new with it as I think about what it means to have a family. Family comes in many shapes and sizes, Atlas. In some cases, people find it with people other…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. Time seems like it’s flying by, and I can’t help but get more excited about all the moments we will share as a family. For many years, I fought the idea of having a family. Coming from a large one, I sometimes questioned whether a…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. I think a lot about the type of person you’re going to be. Your Mom and I are really curious to see what your personality is like, what foods you’ll like, and what you’ll look like. All of these questions will be answered in time,…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. Lately, life feels like it’s going in fast-forward and rewind at the same time. By the time you read this, you won’t understand where the term “rewind” came from. However, you’ll know things then that I don’t know now. We’ll have shared many memories as…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. By the time you read this, I don’t know what it will be like in the world, either mine or yours. I know our future together will be filled with memories, laughter, and love as a family. Family is the greatest treasure you can have,…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. Your arrival is so close, it nearly feels like you’re here already. But the time with your Mom has been dear and sweet as we prepare for you. I’ve started to see your Mom differently since you were conceived. As you’ve grown inside of her,…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. We’re in the final countdown until your birth, and each day that passes feels special as your Mom and I take the final steps toward meeting you. You, Atlas. I’ve been thinking about you a lot. No matter where I find myself in the day,…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. I missed writing to you this weekend because I was spending the days with your Mom and your uncle. You were quite the star! A lot of people stopped to congratulate your Mom, and we spent a lot of time talking about you. In less…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. Your Mom and I have reached a point when you could easily arrive in days—or weeks. That uncertainty has been somewhere in the back of my mind at all times. It seems like no matter where I am or what I’m doing, I find you…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. The moments are ticking away until you arrive, and I’m doing a lot of processing. There’s a part of me that feels like I somehow missed the bus for “Dad school” and other people know more than I do about what it means to be…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. Sometimes I don’t know where to start when I write to you. Today is one of those mornings. I’m torn between telling you how I feel, talking about the significance of the day (Good Friday), and remarking on how the universe seems to provide for…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. Today’s Countdown Day for your arrival. Four . . . three . . . two . . . one . . . you’ll be here soon. Yesterday, your Mom and I met with two of the women who will help bring you into this world: her midwife and her doula. Giving birth with…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. I have a lot of hopes for you: hopes for lessons you’ll learn, things you’ll experience, opportunities you’ll have. I hope someday you’ll understand what it means to be kind, have the courage to set a boundary, gather the bravery to stick to it, and…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. The older I get, the more experiences I’ve added to my collection of memories. You, Atlas, are a chapter that I am still experiencing. My life hasn’t been the same since I found out you were coming. There have been a lot of ups and…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. At this point, you’ll be here anytime now. One app says you’ll be here in a week. Another doctor says you’ll be here in two or three. This is one of those scenarios when only time will tell. The year leading up to your birth…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. It’s a strange thing to wake up and worry that your best days are behind you. I wish somebody had told me about that chapter of the pre-Dad countdown. In many ways, I think this is a reflection on myself more than on the things…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. For most of my life, I wanted to be really wealthy before I had a family. I grew up in a modest household, and we didn’t always have extra money to do the things I wanted to do: play football, buy DJ equipment, or play…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. Lately, these mornings have felt like a final countdown, even more than usual. I want to feel ready for you, but I admit that I struggle to. I’ve wanted more than anything to set a solid example for you to follow. However, I’ve forged a…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. When I look at the dates on these notes, I realize that the time really is ticking down until you arrive. We’ve had you predicted to come as early as April 26 and as late as May 2. Your Mom seems to think you’ll be…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. Yesterday with your Mom was one of the best days of my life. From the moment we woke up until when we fell asleep, we were in harmony. Harmony comes in a lot of shapes and sizes, Atlas. Your Mom and I have had a…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. Most mornings when I wake up, I step outside to prepare an “offering” for the birds that gather nearby. They’re beautiful birds, Atlas—black and blue feathers, the most striking beaks. Whenever I see these birds, I think of you. I often think about all the…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. I have a feeling you’ll be here this week! Your Mom is ready to hold you in her arms after such a long time carrying you. And I am ready to greet you as your Dad. A lot of things are changing here, Atlas. I…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. You’re the first thought to cross my mind when I wake up. There is a new consciousness emerging in you, and I’m aware of your entrance in our lives even when I’m still waking up myself. Every day is a miracle, Atlas. Or, as Sister…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. This morning, your Mom woke up with sharp pains in her body. “I think I’m having contractions,” she said. Immediately, it sunk in that you could be arriving—today. It seems like the days winding down to your birth have been full of reflection. I have…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. Only yesterday, I realized I’ve been writing these letters to you from the perspective of being your Dad, without thinking about them from the perspective of you reading them from your Dad. My Dad wrote me a lot of notes, Atlas. He had his own…

Dear Atlas,It’s me; your Dad.I wonder a lot how life will be when you someday read these notes. I wonder if you’ll read all of them, or find any joy in knowing your Dad was thinking about you - long before you were here.Sometimes it’s hard to write these letters to…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. I wonder a lot how life will be when you someday read these notes. I wonder if you’ll read all of them or find any joy in knowing your Dad was thinking about you long before you were here. Sometimes it’s hard to write these…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. This afternoon, I had an interesting thought about you. I was just finishing some work when I glanced at a painting leaning against the wall. It’s one of my recent pieces. I digress. I thought, I wonder if Atlas will know me. Not me as…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. I thought you’d be here by now! The anticipation is growing even more now that you’re “late” in my mind; I somehow thought you’d be here on the 26th. The world looks like it’s going crazy right now, Son. Conflict and fear seem to be…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. As I write to you, I’m looking out of my bedroom window at the beautiful Tulum jungle. Every morning, the trees here fill with an array of birds. Woodpeckers, toucans, parrots, vultures, and exotic birds I haven’t yet identified fill the sky. Nature is one…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. You’ve kept me and your Mom on our toes this week; we’ve been expecting your arrival any day now and are excited for you to finally get here. I was thinking yesterday about how it will feel to hold you in my arms. Normally, I…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. These past few days have felt like weeks. Your Mom and I both thought you’d be here by now, but it looks like there are still several days (or even weeks) left. Looking back at the entire journey of your gestation, I feel at peace…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. It’s hard for me to believe that you still haven’t arrived, and that you’re coming at the same time. Every morning, I wake up and step away from our bed to sit by the window and write you these notes while I stare at the…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. I’m living an experience now that I wish more people took the time to capture and reflect on: the moments before becoming a Father. Fatherhood is a very special gift, Atlas. It’s a responsibility that I wish a lot more men took upon themselves to…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. The weekend has come and gone without your arrival. I thought for sure you’d be here by now, and it has been a bit straining (emotionally) to stretch out the wait, especially for your Mom. We’ve been talking a lot lately about our own upbringings…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. The time leading up to your arrival has continued to dwindle as the days go by. Your Mom and I both thought you would be here a long time ago, and the wear and tear has begun to accumulate. I don’t know how other people…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. Many years ago, I remember waking up and deciding I wouldn’t have “bad days” anymore. They seemed like an unnecessary waste of energy. So, I opted to make every day a great one and find the positive in it. I’ve done my best to carry…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. I sometimes wonder if every child is born with pure ideals and hopes. As children, we are born innocent into this plane[t] and crafted by the experiences we encounter as we grow older. When I was younger, I felt heavy disappointment when I was wronged.…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. I recently paused to wonder if you’ll know me for who I am. Then, it struck me that you won’t know me for who I have been unless I share those things with you. My Dad told me a lot of stories about his life.…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. One of my favorite things in life is waking up early on a Saturday morning. Saturday feels like a day of rest, and the early morning hours feel especially free when nobody else is awake. I’m looking outside now at the beautiful jungle surrounding our…

Dear Atlas, It’s me, your Dad. Throughout your pregnancy, I’ve gone on my own inner journey of reflection, growth, and processing. In nine months, you can process a lot. Before I was old enough to buy a beer, I lost my Dad (your Opa) to Cancer. He was fifty-one years old,…

Dear Atlas, I don’t need to tell you who I am anymore because you can see me now with those big, beautiful eyes of yours. You were born yesterday, after only four hours of labor, in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. After all these months, seeing you with my own eyes was…

For most of my life, I’ve wondered what it would feel like to be a Dad. Growing up in a house with six children, I often wondered if I was cut out for family life or if I would be one of those people who never quite make it to the…