Dear K.,
I just want to say how awesome it is that you have chosen to have and take care of this precious little girl. She is so blessed to have someone who loved her even before she was here! And what a hard (but rewarding!!) job you have taken on yourself!
That being said, when you are a mom.. the 2 main jobs we have is to 1. PROTECT and 2. PREPARE our children for life. To PROTECT our children, they need a stable environment where they have consistancy, love and safety. When unmarried parents live together, each person has one foot out the door and there is not the commitment to stick together when things get tough (and they WILL get tough.) Also when you live together in the eyes of the law you are "playing house", but if it doesn't work out.. you have none of the rights that a legal wife has... because you're not a legal wife.
Bottom line, if he loves you and "baby girl" (which means he puts your needs ahead of his own) maybe you should seek pre-marriage couseling with a pastor or other couselor. Then you can use the objective perspective of a 3rd person to help you and he see if a legal marriage is possible. Otherwise, DO NOT let him in and protect your daughter. Having a person float in and out of her life when he (or possibly you?) feel like it without a solid long term commitment is confusing to children. And when she gets older she will find a way to blame herself.
If he is a man of integrety he will step up and make this family he has help to create a real and healthy family (legally). If he just wants to play house, that's not good enough for you or your daughter. You (and she) deserves his whole heart.. emotionally, physically, spiritually, financially and legally! Nothing less...
As the wise jedi Yoda once said "Do or Do not... there is no try!"
Just my opinion! I see to many couples living together with children and when it doesn't work out it gets ugly.. and quite honestly I can't think of one situation that I am aware of that has worked out :-( And the children end up suffering the most, and they don't have a voice or any power to stop it. Please focus on PROTECTING and PROPARING your daughter.
Best wishes.. I'll be praying for you and your daughter.
Peace,
B.