As I look at my baby girl, Claudia Blake Baker I can't help but reflect on the years that
I was lucky enough to watch her grow and become the beautiful young lady she is today.
Claudia Blake and her namesake Claude Keith, for poppa Keith.
One minute, they're four and then all of a sudden they're twenty-four.
I remember like yesterday we drove from Tahlequah to Tulsa for the birth of Blake and I was
so proud.
I remember that she curled her little hand around my index finger and squeezed.
Obviously she's had my heart from that time.
I really, I appointed myself at that point, to be her guardian giant, the person that
was going to protect her, and support her and encourage her, and most importantly love
her.
Dear Miss Claudia Blake Toelner, this is not enough ink in this pen.
Gosh, I'm getting so emotional.
Or enough pages in this book to inform you how much I love and care for you.
Okay.
I'm too emotional.
The second I laid my eyes on you, I felt so drawn to you.
That feeling has grown to you being my number one companion, best friend, and the place
that feels like home.
I mean, he wrote some stuff in here.
I'm like...
I know after today, we will look back and remember the wonderful people, the beautiful
flowers but my absolute favorite memory of this day will always be that you choose me.
As a father, it's hard to turn over the reins to someone else, and you know, you hope and
you pray that your little girl finds a special guy.
The guy that loves her more than he loves himself, and I can tell you on this third
day of June, 2017, I think she found that guy.
Like, ever since our first library date freshman year, I know we were going to be best friends.
Little did we know that the man you dragged me to go meet at Cat Fry sophomore year would
one day by your husband.
We actually met at Gulf Shores, but she doesn't remember meeting me.
We walked into Boomerang Diner, and I said, "Hi.
I'm Blake.", and hee looked up at me and said, "Sweetheart, we've already met.", and I was
like, oh my gosh, I'm so embarrassed.
I immediately felt like so drawn to him and I say that all the time.
She called me and said, "So I met this Bailor Toelner guy.
I think I really like him.
I think this is like the real deal."
Truly two weeks in I got this feeling and I was like, I'm going to marry him.
A lot of us really do strive to have what you have one day.
Their love is contagious and whenever you're around them, you become happy too.
Okay, Bailor.
Although I was two years older than her, as her big sister, I've always felt like her
protector.
Blake is my baby.
Some may say we are day and night, however we do have some key similarities.
We both want what's best for the other and we best know that we are sisters, and that
is a bond that can never be broken.
And today especially, we both know that we're so excited to have Bailor join our family.
I offer this ring to you as a symbol of my love.
So, that my love will always be with you.
So that my love will always be with you, close to your heart.
I have been a pretty ordinary father that was made special by Blake.
Now that's she's grown up and found her partner, it's time for me to give that same precious
thing that she gave to me to you.
When I look at the way you look at my daughter, I know you love her.
God grant you all safety and love for the rest of your lives.