Finn is my third child and I feel like I'm just now coming to a full depth of appreciation for what it is to have a baby. All I can say is I love, love, love this little bundle of joy. I remember being excited to see Asher and Silas grow through all of the baby stages, enjoying each one that came more than the one that had passed. But not this time...I want Finn to stay tiny forever! Does that mean he's truly the baby of the family? Maybe.
Speaking of "tiny", he's sort of already left that stage and is weighing in at about 17 and a half pounds. He's a happy, mellow little guy who loves staring at himself in the mirror, grabbing onto things {like my hair}, and hearing music. His face lights up any time I turn it on! He just started eating baby oatmeal, he's already managed to roll off the couch {whoops, guess I'm out of the running for the mother-of-the-year award}, and he's becoming increasingly aware of when he's not being held. He loves to stand up on his feet a little, be lifted up and down into the air, and get bounced around. He pretty much hated tummy time until I tried again today to find out that he can hold his head up a lot higher and longer than he could even just a few weeks ago. I think both of us were surprised to see how strong he's getting!
He's loved his pacifier since day one, and he drinks out of a bottle fantastically! And if those things aren't enough to call him a great baby, here's the cherry on top- for the very first time in the history of nursing my boys, I didn't have to give up dairy for six months! Hallelujah for babies without sensitive tummies.
So far, Finn's spent over half of his life in transition between New York and Germany, officially calling three different places home. I'm relieved to know that this huge transition is almost over and I can't wait to get back to what we might be able to call "normal". But normal or not, I really just hope this time of our lives doesn't fly by. I think it's taken me about four and half years of motherhood to even begin to appreciate the absolute gift that these boys are, and I'm still not all the way there. Yes, there are times when they bring me to the brink of my sanity and I wonder what in the world I was thinking when I first thought motherhood sounded like a good idea. But I'm learning the best things in life are often the hardest things, and for that reason I want to be careful not to wish away their childhood.
I'll admit that- sometimes- I get tired of hearing older people tell me how these are the best years of my life and that my kids will be grown and off on their own before I know it, as if they've totally forgotten how utterly hard it is some days. But all in all, I don't think I've ever heard a parent say that their kids grew up too slow. So I want to be wise and heed the truth, that children truly are a blessing and a heritage from our good and gracious Father. That if we'll rely on the strength and the grace of God to love our children to the fullest, our days will be filled to the brim with joy.
Happy four months, Finn! Now be a good little boy and stay little forever, please.
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. Psalm 127:3-5
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