OK, we set up some hidden cameras backstage.
Right now, we are looking at Ellie and her mother, Vanessa.
They have no idea that they're going to be our next guests.
So I'm going to say hi to them right now.
Hey, Ellie, Vanessa, hi, it's Ellen, hi.
Oh my god.
Hi.
Hi Ellen.
Hello, you two.
How are you?
Hi.
I-- so I saw your video, and I wanted to meet both of you.
Let's take a look at the video.
I want to show everybody the video that you sent.
[SURPRISED GASP]
What does it look like?
Ellen sent Daddy.
Yeah?
Can I show you something cool?
Yeah.
Okay, hold on.
Can you press right here?
(pre recorded message on teddy bear) Hey baby, it's Daddy,
I love you guys so much.
I can't wait for you to be in my arms again.
I love you.
[KISSING NOISE]
Oh my god, that's Daddy!
[APPLAUSE]
All right, Andy, bring them on out.
[ACOUSTIC ROCK PLAYING]
[CHEERING]
Hi.
Oh my god.
Come sit down.
You wanna hold that?
And you wanna hold this?
Hi.
I'm shaking.
I know, it's a surprise.
You didn't know you were going to be here.
I had no idea.
You thought you were going to do something else entirely.
Oh my gosh.
OK, so hi.
Hi.
That was a really cute little video,
so that was your daddy's voice.
Yeah.
And why did you give her that little bear?
Well, he joined the-- he joined the military.
And they're best friends.
He's never spent a day away from her.
So, he knew he wasn't going to--
he knew he wasn't going to be here for her birthday,
so I went--
we planned it so that way she can feel like he's really here.
How long has it been since you've seen him?
September 17th.
September.
So you how do you keep in touch?
We write letters every single day.
That's great.
Every single day.
Because he's not able to tell you where he is
or get in touch, yeah, OK.
And your relationship, you're really close with your dad,
right?
Yeah.
Really, really close.
It's a very special relationship.
Mmm hmm.
So you get to hear his voice all the time?
Yeah.
All right.
So you send letters, and he can't be here,
obviously as we know, but we thought
that we would maybe be able to talk to him right now.
So David, are you there?
[APPLAUSE]
How are you guys?
How are you doing, babe?
Baby, I love you.
I love you so much.
I miss-- I miss you so much.
I miss you so much.
I miss you, too, baby.
I miss you too.
I miss you.
I want to thank you Ellen, so much for having us
on this show, Ellen.
Thank you very much.
We love you so much.
Well, I love you, too, and thank you
for everything you're doing for our country.
Thank you for being there.
[APPLAUSE]
Yes, ma'am, yes, ma'am.
I love you so much.
We're so--
I love you so much, Daddy.
That's Daddy.
Hi, Daddy.
Oh my god, our baby looks so beautiful, look at her.
You look so beautiful.
Thank you.
Hi baby, how are you doing?
Baby, look at that's daddy, that's him right now.
Daddy says, how are you doing, how are you doing?
I'm doing good.
Oh, that's my good girl.
Look at her, you know I love you to the moon and back, baby.
I know.
She knows.
All right, and Vanessa, anything you want to say to him
right now besides you love him and miss him?
Yeah.
Kind of said it.
I love you so much babe, I can't.
[LAUGHTER]
I can't wait to see you.
I talk about it all the time.
I write you every single day, and I
hope you're getting my letters.
I can't wait to see you.
Every day, baby.
I love you--
Can you believe this?
I'll see you soon.
Oh my god.
This is crazy.
It's crazy.
We just surprised Vanessa and Ellie
with David who is it basic training.
And, so what do you want to do when you grow up?
I want to do something that is like so cool,
and that is so fun.
You want to do--
that is a great goal, to do something--
good luck.
[LAUGHTER]
What we all want to do, something so cool and so fun.
Do you have any idea what kind of job that would be?
Yeah.
Oh, what is it?
Um, the job is um, that I love to play on my playground
and I love to do stuff like that.
[LAUGHTER]
Again, good luck.
[LAUGHTER]
I don't know what that pays, but anyway, that
will be a good goal for you.
Maybe that will be a job some day.
OK, so we want to do something for you
because I know one of the reasons David
went to basic training is because there's a lot of debt.
And so he went into the Army so you
don't have to struggle anymore.
Shutterfly, Vanessa, Shutterfly wants
to help you celebrate this moment
and give you a check for $25,000.
[APPLAUSE]
All right.
That's that.
Thank you so much, Ellen.
Thank you very much.
David, it's our pleasure.
It is our pleasure, David, thank you so much.
And, because your birthday-- we missed your birthday,
and I know you wanted an American Girl doll, right,
is that right Ellie?
Yeah.
All right, so look what we got for you.
Let's walk over here.
[GASPS]
Oh my god!
Look at that!
Oh my god.
Oh my gosh, babe, this is all for you.
Look at that, Happy Birthday to you.