Finn's Birthday & the Uninvited Guest

Finn is one today! (Well, he was one on Tuesday. It's just taken me a while to finally finish this)

What an awesome year it has been. There were so much joy and sentiment when I reflected on it.

The Lord is so good and has done such a work in my heart through His gift of Finn.
  There is a softness and tenderness that wasn't as prevalent. 
  There is an overflowing joy in the simple things.
  There is a heavy responsibility for a life we've been given.
Mostly though, there is a deeper understanding and thankfulness that I have a Parent in heaven who loves me as His child. Even though this is a love of such great proportions that I cannot completely fathom, there is a better relation now that I have my own child too.

I've prayed that God would direct my prayers towards Finn. I've asked Him to give me specific words. For a long time, set apart was what I was to pray over him. More recently it has been pure, as in Matthew 5:8, "blessed are the pure in heart, for they (he) shall see God." Oh, how I pray he is set apart and sees God at an early age.

We love our boy and can't wait to see who he grows to become.

On a lighter note, we had an awesome time celebrating Finn's birthday on Sunday with our friends and family. However, there was a very rude, uninvited guest who came. Who, you may ask?

The dirty, nasty, no-good stomach bug. 

I mean, did he not know this was a big weekend for us and we did not want him there???

The party was originally to be Saturday evening, but Finn began running a fever Thursday night. By Friday, he threw up and was down-for-the-count. I also felt queasy all day. We assumed it was a 24-hour bug like it was that for all those around us who previously had it. He and I were feeling much better on Saturday, but we didn't want to risk it lingering for the guests. So we changed it to Sunday lunch after church.

Well, Saturday night that darn bug showed back up to visit Jeremy. He threw up all night and felt really badly on Sunday. We warned everyone and several understandably decided to pass on the party. But we still had a blast and loved sharing a great celebration of life with many of our friends and family.

Here are a few pictures of the occasion. I have to say that the face-plant in the cake was my favorite part.

*After the bug visited us all, he has been kicked out and asked never to return. Especially to a party. I suggest you ask him to do the same.

Finn + Lulu

A New Step

Literally.

Finn has begun taking steps. This wasn't his first ones, but it definitely has been the farthest he's gone so far.

Once he's full-fledged walking, I know I'll miss hearing the sweet sound of him crawling. But, I'm not going to lie, my arms will be extremely relieved to not have to carry him everywhere.

That boy is heavy!!!

Hanging With the Big Kids

Yesterday I went with several friends to an indoor playground at the mall. I admitedly was a little nervous with Finn in the beginning. He was the only one who couldn't walk, so I was scared he was going to get trampled. But that boy hung in there with the best of them. He had so much fun and it was such a blast to watch him get so excited while he was playing with his friends.

Getting started. He wasn't too sure where to begin.

He's off!

Ok, so I totally did not mean to take a picture of this girl picking her wedgie, but I thought it was hilarious when I saw that I captured Finn witnessing his first wedgie. 

Finn playing with Loriana.

He loved climbing the ramp!

This is my favorite picture - Mrs. Nilsa and all the children who call her "Ita".

*You better believe I scrubbed him down when we got home.