This Dad and Stepdaughter's Incredible Bond Proves That Blood Doesn't Define a Family

When Karisa Smith first met her husband, he didn't just fall in love with her, but he also formed an instant connection with her baby girl.

Since that moment, Karisa has seen how this man has taken care of her daughter as his own, and now at almost 3 years old, this child has become the ultimate "daddy's girl." "They aren't related by blood, but they are daddy and daughter," Karisa explained on Love What Matters' Facebook page. "When she cries, he's there. When she needs him, he's there. We don't use the term 'stepfather.' He is her father."

Karisa shared a candid snapshot that was taken at 2 a.m. and captures this incredible relationship. After her husband had been gone for 14 days, he snuck home from work to calm the toddler down because she missed him so much. "They are two peas in a pod and the love of a father runs deep. So deep, he has decided to adopt her and the adoption is in process," Karisa wrote. "They will soon be 'officially' daddy and daughter."