The way I see it, her imagination is like the wind. But her identity is the sails on the ship that will get her to where she wants to be. To take this example further, essentially I'm the lead engineer in making sure those sails stay upright and strong.

So to my Audrey, If ever you read this, know that no matter where the wind takes you on this journey, know that I'll always be your first mate. Always.

If I could describe my life at this moment, I would use this picture.

Thanks to Benjie for capturing it.

Our 1st Year Anniversary was really low-key simply because our Audrey was only about 3 months old and very dependent on us. Now that she's roughly 15 months, she's big enough to be handle herself brilliantly especially with the assistance of her grandma and grandpa.

So the agenda for this Saturday is as follows...

• We're going to SCHOOL for Brunch
• Getting cultured by the "Jersey Boys"
• Settling down with some Soul Food at "N'awlins" (like New Orleans)

All this set to the background of the Downtown Toronto Urban backdrop.

Now if only the sun could just emit a little more heat...

One of the greatest things about being dad is... I'm learning to be a more well-rounded man.

Thank You Audrey Stella.

I mean get to know them know them. You'd be surprised about the things that have shaped them to be the persons they are today. And the more you learn about them, the more you yourself figure out who you are.

I forget sometimes that my parents were my age. I forget they faced the same challenges, dilemmas and questions as I did (and probably a lot more). I forget sometimes that they're human, just like me. The times are different, culture is different but human experiences have never really changed for the most part.

The life journey of your parents, is really your journey as well. They cleared a path for you to follow, and in time you'll do the same for your kids (and/or people you serve).

Discovering the experiences of your parents is like finding hidden treasure maps. Riches are abound, we just need a little bit of direction.

And for the record... my dad was/is a badass. Let me tell you about it sometime.

Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

2 Corinthians 9:6

I heard this reading at mass the other day, and it got me thinking about the immediate future. I've been more than seriously considering pushing through with a vision that has been in my mind for the past 2 years. A lot of circumstances have changed since then (as in... I'm now a husband and a father), but still this vision has been even clearer and even more specific since it was conceived.

The vision is bascially a small business. I don't want to give away too many details, but let me tell you... it has the potential to be more than a business, but a community that empowers, connects and engages people. Because in the end, a true vision completely involves people as opposed to a business which is really just concerned about the bottom line.

Now that I'm a family man, and a hopeful entrepeneur, it makes a lot of things uncertain. As a true man who wants to provide for a family, a new business venture can be unstable financially. But if I don't follow this vision, I might be living the in-between job longer than intended...and never showing my kids that dad had enough gumption to believe and achieve.

Basically, if I never take the chance, I'll never reap the blessings. If I never take the risk, I could never fully tell my children "To follow their passion, and their hearts" simply because I never lived those words.

So please say a quick prayer for me, that in the end, I'll make the right decision at the right time. In fact say a prayer for anyone seriously and sincerely on the quest for living an abundant and passionate life.

Life isn't always cut and dry, but our actions should be.

• I no longer sleep, I take power naps
• I'd be crying all the time too If I pissed myself 8-12 times a day
• pack it, just in case
• laundry, laundry, laundry every other day day day
• boobs are now... fountains of life
• eat whenever you have a chance
• every moment matters. enjoy.

That's it for now... Nap Time for daddy.

My Baby Girl

I just had to put an entry to bookmark the biggest moment of my life right now. As you can tell from the picture to your right... I'm a father! I'm overwhelmed, tired, but also crazy excited that I had to blog about it at 1am in the morning.

That's it for now. I'm sure this will be the first of many blogs about this new chapter of life.

And before I forget, thanks to all those who left any type of facebook lovin'. it really means so much, and they really are so very encouraging. it's almost like fuel that helps us to keep going despite how drained and tired we are (and it's only been 2 days!) so keep the love comin'!

p.s. I'M A DAD!