Five Things I Love About Finn, Who Turned 1 Yesterday

1. His favourite game is walking. In our house you can walk in a circuit through the living and dining rooms, around a hallway, and back again. Ever since Finn started hoofing it on his own, at around 10.5 months, he’s spent probably an hour every day doing this loop over and over again. Pure joy.
2. He’ll try eating anything. As a baby, Bridget was the pickiest of picky eaters. Not Finn. He’ll make short work of beans, cheese, hummus, spicy veggie burger patties, and all manner of fruits and vegetables (though he has gotten more discerning in recent weeks). He eats with his hands, and after every meal you can find a ring of crumbs and stains on his shirt at the exact point where tray meets stomach.
3. How much he loves the outdoors. A big selling point of our house was the backyard, which is big and ringed with trees. Whenever the snow has melted (Edmonton springs are a tease), we let Finn run wild back there, and wild he does run. This is going to be a kid who grows up with dirt under his fingernails. Already, when he sees an open door but can’t go through it, he screams.
4. He smushes his face into a stuffed animal to show he likes it. Adorable.
5. The way he looks up to Bridget. This is the easiest one of all to spot—he obviously thinks the world of his big sister, and will dutifully absorb whatever nonsensical song she’s singing or Harry Potter spell she’s casting. Watching your children feed off of one another may be the single most fulfilling part of being a parent.

So happy birthday, Finn. You are exactly as old as The Pale King, and I love you even more.