Maisie’s Cup Cake, originally uploaded by justinpowell.

I can’t believe that it’s already been a year! A year ago Amy and I were visiting Jen in the hospital in Paris. A year ago I was holding my little baby girl in my arms for the first time. A year ago I couldn’t wait to get over to the hospital to be with my family. A year ago I proudly walked around the hospital saying to all the midwives ‘Regard! Ma petite fille!’ and they would all look as though it was the first baby they had seen…until like the third day of this. I feel like it was just yesterday that I was learning how to change a diaper and give Maisie all of her vitamins.

This year has taught me a lot…revealed parts of me that I didn’t know existed. I’ve seen both extraordinary tenderness (well, for me) and also extraordinary impatience! The thing that I have (internally) loved the most about my year with Maisie is the many ways that I have learned about God by being a dad. I’ve experienced unconditional love and being proud of someone just for being. I know what it’s like to want life’s best for another person and being committed to seeing that happen. I’ve felt the tension between trying to be protective and also giving Maisie a bit of room to learn on her own…i.e. learning how to crawl and sit up on a wooden floor!

The list could go on and on about the ‘outside’ things that I have loved…Seeing Maisie crawl, sleep, laugh, cry, eat vegetables, take her first steps, get teeth, try to make sentences, figure out a sippy cup, make calls on our cells phones, etc…I loved walking through Paris with Maisie in the poussette. I loved seeing her try to figure people out. I loved going down into the metro and trying to figure out how to wade through all the people with a stroller…’trying’ being the operative word.

Looking back, it seems like she’s been in the family a short while and forever at the same time.

This year has also taught me a lot about my wife. After Jen gave birth to Maisie I realized something that I never thought I would say: Jen is much tougher than me and could easily kick my butt if she had to. Seriously though…I’ve seen in her and Maisie’s relationship why I would love to relate to God as a mother as well as a father. Jen’s commitment and care of Maisie is unbelievable. I am so proud of how Jen ‘mothers’ Maisie and I love to see the bond that they have. Their unique love is cool to witness and I am so thankful for Jen.

So the first year is in the books and I can’t even begin to describe what it’s been like. I don’t feel like this post does that a good a job! How do you describe a little life that is indescribable? I think that a year with Maisie is the one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received…thanks God.