A letter to Finn

Dear Finn,

Today is a special day. Today is a day that I have awaited seemingly forever and now has come practically overnight. Today is your first birthday! 

You are such a big boy all of a sudden. Still small, still a baby really....but a completely different being than you were one year ago today. One year ago when we woke up early and headed to the hospital, knowing our lives would be changing drastically, but never imagining how blessed and awesome this ride would be. You are the definition of pure joy. 

Thinking about you now, sleeping in your crib in the sweet little way you sleep....on your back with your arms and legs sprawled out to the side....totally trusting and open...my heart actually hurts with love for you. Now I understand how the heart of God must feel. When He looks at all of us, into our lives. His children, all of us. And He loves us so much more than we are even capable of loving our own children. Imagine that!

I want so many things for your future Finn. I want you to know God, know yourself, know how to live with kindness towards others. But we have lots of time for those dreams. I just pray that we are capable of being the teachers you deserve. 

I want you to grow and stay little all at the same time. I want time to pass but hold still too. I want to give you the very best of everything always and never let your heart get broken. But I know I can't promise you any of this.  

I can promise you that life is tough. There will be joys, pains, and lots of in-betweens. Finn, my heart will always hurt loving you. You were worth the wait kiddo. And like it or not, I’m always gonna be right here.

Love, Mom 

11 Months Old!

How is it possible? Finn is walking (even if he does look a little drunk) and saying uh-oh, hello (while holding his "cell phone" to his ear. It's a flip phone, not a smart phone.....we don't want him getting too spoiled just yet.), and beep beep when he sits on his little car. What a hoot! Still strong-willed, he will let you know immediately if he's upset with you for trying to protect his safety by removing him from an activity he was enjoying.  Some of these activities include: climbing stairs, eating dog food, scaling the shelves of the pantry, trying to get into the dishwasher, gouging Myrtle's eyes out/biting her foot while she sleeps, etc.

Here he is! The pictures are a little blurry, not sure why? Hopefully the cuteness will still show.  :)

 A perfect smile straight out of the gate! 

Aaaaaaaand he's done. 

 See ya!

 Getting held upside down by daddy!

I hope he stays this happy, for now and for always! 

1st Haircut

I have known for a while that I was probably going to have to get Finn's hair cut before he was a year old. He has VERY straight hair and it was starting to hang stringily (not a real word) down into his eyes. The part growing over his ears was bothering Matt but I thought that part was cute. My only hesitation was that he would look too old. Like a "big boy". Or that he would look "simple" as my mom put it, with it too short and straight across the front.  :)

I wanted to get a few before pictures, so I propped him in front of the mirror. He really gets a kick out of himself, and therefore thoroughly enjoys looking at himself in any sort of reflective surface. This one doesn't have any self esteem issues, that's for sure!

So I called up Rick, the guy who cuts my hair, and he said to bring him on in. I told him when we got there that I only wanted the front cut, but he agreed with Matt and said we should cut it all the way around. I said Ooooookey dokey, I trust ya! Finn was actually pretty cooperative (for a 10 month old) and Rick was done in about 3 minutes. Rick's roommate who works at his salon was sweet enough to take some pictures and to grab a few spare strands to keep.

Not the happiest face.....I think he was kinda over it by this time! 

Thanks Rick, it looks awesome! And yes, he looks like a big boy, but it also shows off that cute little face and those blue eyes. Just another milestone.