Where has the time gone??

Human life is miraculous and inexplicably ordinary at the same time. Our lives have been a whirlwind over the past 3-4 months with work, all the while marveling everyday at our good fortune of having this tiny human who keeps changing with each passing day. Anzel reminds of the joy and curiosity that we all wish to have in our lives. The adventure of life is held within each moment, and watching this kid capture that feeling over and over again is enough to make my heart explode with joy within my chest at least 20 times each day. 

With his first birthday less than one month away, I am reflecting on this past year and feeling so much gratitude for my family. Liz is the most amazing partner, parent, and friend I could imagine. Anzel is happy, social, and healthy (with the exception of constant runny noses, a little pink eye here and there, and the inevitable yuckiness that comes from going to day care with 11 other little humans each day). 

We've watched as he got his first teeth around 5 months, started eating every type of food in sight including jumbalaya and cornbread with jalapeños in New Orleans, started standing up on his own and pulling all books off the shelves, climbed the full flight of stairs at our upstate house...and soon we will see him walking and hear him speaking actual words. 

On March 24th, Liz officially adopted Anzel.  It was such a great day and we were able to celebrate with family and friends that evening. It just solidified what we have already known and felt from the time he was born. We are both equally his parents, and it feels really good to finally know that this is fully recognized in the eyes of the law. We celebrated with margaritas, guacamole, delicious Mexican food, and balloons (Anzel's new favorite thing... Thanks, Aunt Mary). 

We also visited Catherine, Brent, Mason, and Elliott (Liz's sister and family) in Minneapolis last weekend, and it was such a trip to see all the boys together. They had so much fun, and 6 year-old Mason is completely in love with Anzel, and I think his Aunt Catherine is too!

It has been far too long since I've last posted, but I want to keep this record for us and for Anzel to read in the future. So, I'm committed to posting as much as I can. Tonight we came back to Brooklyn from a beautiful Spring weekend upstate, and as he sucked down his bottle before bed I read him some of my favorite pages from the Tao te Ching.  He already feels to me like he holds so much wisdom, is centered and grounded, and seems to hold so much joy in just BEING. I look forward to learning from him along the way.