Dear Finn,
Good gracious, how did another year already pass us by? I was thinking all day today about the day you were born. Seeing your sweet round cheeks. Your smooth, tiny baby head. The way you smelled, the sound of your cry (it was much softer those first few days). Snuggling you and looking at you in the hospital bed even though I knew I should probably put you down and get some sleep. It feels impossible that two years have passed since that day. They were absolutely two of the fastest years I've experienced and I'm afraid that will be the trend from here on out. The years we have with your and your brother are going to speed by and all your Daddy and I can do is try to enjoy and soak up every minute we have with you as they go speeding by.
Finny you are a darling little boy. You look just like your dad. Everyone says so. Just like your handsome Daddy but with very light blond hair. It's surprisingly blond in the summertime when your little body and face get tan and your hair stays blond as can be. I love that I can see your Daddy when I look in your eyes. And I love that your eyes light up when you smile, just like his do. You have a very handsome little face with round cheeks and a thick little body. You're not chubby, just solid and strong. You love to wrestle with Tate and I don't think it will be long before you'll pin him down and he won't be able to push you off. You are a tough, strong, athletic little boy.
You love all things sports. Tate played a couple of little soccer seasons this year and it was torture for you to go to his games and not be able to play with him. We would get you up on Saturday mornings, tell you we were going to Tate's soccer game and all morning and all the way to the game you would say, "I ready a kick a goal, Mom! I ready!" Your turn will come little kiddo. You love playing with a lacrosse stick and it doesn't seem to frustrate you at all that it's so hard for you to maneuver. You put the stick on the ground, walk over to the net, put the ball in, then walk back to the stick end and pick it up and swing it around until the ball comes out. Then you get the ball and do it again. Your patience has no end where sports are concerned. You'll even sit and watch games on TV with Daddy and get frustrated when the commercials come on and interrupt the game.
You do seem to have a favorite sport. Basketball. It was one of your first words and definitely one of your favorite things to do. We finally brought the little tike's basketball hoop down to the family room so you could play with it more often. You have the most darling little jump shot. It's more of a hop than a jump. But you hop up in the air (sometimes with a grunt) and throw the ball at the hoop. Most of the time you make it in too. You practice a lot. More than once we've seen you shoot the ball for 20 minutes at a time with a focus and patience way beyond your years. You notice basketball hoops everywhere we go. If we pass one as we're driving you shout, "A Badiball Hoop!" from the back seat, just to let us know that you saw one! In Sacrament meeting at church you are hard to contain as you spend most of the meeting pointing out the basketball hoops in the cultural hall and asking to go see them.
It's funny how different you and Tate are. A confirmation to me that you little guys were your own spirit people before you came to us and you have your own interests and needs. And yet, it's amazing and wonderful how much you and Tate adore each other. Tate is so proud of you Finn. He tells everyone wherever we go, the park, the zoo, the museum, preschool, the grocery store, that YOU are his baby brother named Finn. He loves you so much. One of the most wonderful things I have seen thus far as a mother, is the tender way that you two play together. You love to wrestle and play pillow fights. Right now Tate wallops you pretty good and you take the hits and laugh until you can hardly breathe. You can be a tease sometimes and push your brother's buttons too. But most of the time you two are best buddies. You are into whatever Tate is into. Right now that means Star Wars. Your favorite character by far is Darth Vader who you call, "Dun Dah Dun", and you sing his theme song and ask to listen to Star Wars music while we're driving in the car. You also love Wild Kratts, Word World, and Lightning McQueen. I'm aching for you not to grow up too fast, but I guess that's just what little brothers do. They're dying to keep up with their big brothers so they seem to grow up much faster than I approve of.
I love the way you love your big brother. The way you look at him and admire him so much. He's a great big brother to you and you are lucky to have each other. You guys adore your Daddy and rightly so, he's a magnificent Daddy. He plays with you and plans fun outings with you. He can't wait to get home from work every day so he can play with you guys and you two give him a hero's welcome. Usually you and Tate hide when you hear the garage door and Dad has to find you. I hope you always admire your Daddy the way you do now. I couldn't ask for a better Daddy for you two crazy boys.
You are a pretty good eater. You love fruit. Grapes, bananas, apples, any kind of berry and sometimes oranges. You've just started to get picky about some foods and I wonder if that's coming from watching your brother too. You can pack it away when you're hungry, in a way that is absolutely mystifying. But if you're not interested in the food we're having, there is no talking you into it.
You had tough phases this year but the last few months have been wonderful. I think you just needed to figure out how to get around by yourself and express yourself better and once you had that new independence you suddenly became a much warmer, sweeter boy. You still don't give snuggles or hugs away too freely. Most of the time I end up just having to grab you and squeeze you when I need it, but you do give hugs and kisses sometimes and you like our songs and snuggles at the end of the day which is a HUGE change. You are a great balance of toughness and sweetness. You are strong, independent, and don't get hurt emotionally or physically very easily. But you have a tender conscience and don't often knowingly disobey. Your Dad and I were discussing today how you don't get into the Christmas presents, play with the Christmas train, or even get into the movie cupboards. We told you not to, and so you don't.
Your speech came a little later than Tate's and we wondered when you would feel the need to chat with us. All of a sudden about 4 months ago your vocabulary exploded. You started using words and phrases that we hadn't "taught" you, you were just listening all along, storing it away until you decided to form the words yourself. Now you quote movies with Tate, sing songs in your bed, and help your toys talk to each other. Your little voice is so stinkin' cute. You have a lisp like Tate and you say several other letters funny too. Your "ch" and "j" sounds are pretty darling. You have great manners and say "please" and "thank you" without being prompted. It's so sweet to hear you and Tate in the back seat as we drive around. "Please I have a cracker Tate?" "Sure, Finny, here you go." "Oh Thank you Tate!" "You're welcome, Finny." So darling.
Finn, honey, I love you. I love your tough, independent side and I love your sweet, polite, tender side that needs short hugs and kisses from me to make it all better before you head right back out to play. Being your momma is the very best job in the world. I wouldn't trade my time with you two for anything. It's incredible and it's heartbreaking watching you grow bigger, older, and more independent every day. I'm immensely proud of you every time you learn something new, and at the same time I want to keep you just like you are just a little bit longer because I LOVE two year old you. I want to scoop you up from your crib and hold you all night just so I don't miss a second of your cute little two year old bear cub body. Your Dad and I will be your biggest fans all your life. We are in awe of you and so grateful to be your parents.
Happy Birthday my sweet little boy.
The world is yours.
Love,
Mom
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