It’s been far too long since I’ve posted.

In the interim, Irita and I have had a beautiful daughter, Isabela Patrice Valdez-Smith (we’re calling her Isa—pronounced like Lisa without the L), I did a great sailing trip to a chain of islands in the Bahamas, the Exumas, and I’ve continued to work away at Market Hardware

Ironically, I haven’t posted because I have too much to say. And probably too much to process.

I’m blown away by the depth of feeling, the life learning and overall overwhelmingness of what it’s been to have a child.

Caring for Isa was, as expected, difficult at first; the first 6 to 8 weeks especially—we’re guessing, she’s upset and it’s the middle of the night. Nights in a row. But we eventually found our balance, she found hers, and we’ve settled into a great routine.

And having a child has magnified whatever small frictional points Irita and I have. Prior to this, we’ve made a point to establish great communication and work through issues as they arise. And I’m glad we did that—we’re putting the practice to good use.

Overall, though, the whole experience, from her birth (beautiful, violent, courageous), to her holding my finger as she was being weighed, to the sweetness of her breath on my neck last night, has been amazing. Seeing Irita give birth and now be a fantastic caregiver makes me feel grateful, amazed, blessed.

And Isa really couldn’t be better—she’s rarely upset, sleeps well, and does a great “brown bear” imitation when she’s falling asleep.