As cliche as it sounds, another year has flown by. But this year was special because it was Finn's first year of life. I am blown away by the amount of love I have in my heart for this boy. I didn't think it was possible to love so much--and let alone to love three people so much. Colby, River, Finn, and I have had such a beautiful year bonding, creating small moments and big ones, and learning how to adjust to a family of four. Bedtimes are different, road trips are different, and our hearts are fuller because of it.
Last weekend we celebrated Finny by having some friends and family over for cake and drinks. (Thank you to our friend Kaleb for taking a few pictures for us!) It was a beautiful, sunny day and I loved imagining what I was doing exactly a year earlier while we waited for Finny to enter the world.
I made our usual carrot birthday cake and Finny was ambivalent. Despite not sleeping the night before because of a virus he was coming down with, Finn still managed to keep a smile on his face for most of the day. He is such a trooper and so joyful. I have learned a lot about Finn this last year...
When he wants something he makes it known.
He loves singing with me.
He like to make me laugh.
He loves cuddling.
Crawling around is more fun than sitting still while reading a book.
Drinking water upside down is way better,
He loves mirrors.
He has a contagious sense of humor.
Right now we're getting used to the fact that he's not our teeny, little baby anymore. Looking through the photos of his first few months brings back all of those early, newborn feelings. The newness of this little human, sleepless nights, and that smell (oh that sweet new born smell) are just a few of the magical parts of that time. And it's crazy that it actually seems like it was just last week that we were in the thick of it all. I, personally, had a hard time adjusting to everything after Finn was born. Finding time for both Finn and River was more complicated than I thought it would be. And I was far more exhausted than I was with River. I know that I let the stress of it all get in the way of really being present with my family at times over the last year and I want to make it a priority to make sure that doesn't happen over the next year.
And more than anything, I just can't wait to watch this beautiful, sweet soul grow another year older. As hard as it is to let time go by....
"...Another year gone, leaving everywhere its rich spiced residues..." - Mary Oliver
