To My Nephew on His 5th Birthday

July 30, 2011 at 8:37 am | Posted in birthday, family, joy, letters | 13 Comments

I’m sitting here typing this in the building you were born in five years ago today. It was hot that day like it will be here later. The sun is bright and the fans are whirling in anticipation. In a few minutes I will wrap your presents and later your uncle and I will drive over to your Grandma’s house for the birthday party in your honor. You’ll probably already be in your swim trunks, ankle-deep in the little pool, laughing with your friends. We will have cupcakes and sing and you will open gifts and it will be a lot of fun. It’s always fun with you.

You are a great kid. You make friends easily – you have a sweet openness, a friendly smile and adventurous spirit. You’re happy and loving and funny. You’re incredibly smart and insightful and inquisitive. You make us all better people just by being you.

There is no such thing as a bad day when you are around.

You will start kindergarten this Fall. How is it possible? It was just the other day I could pick you up and carry you around easily. Now you’re tall and lean and when you run to me for a hug I have to brace my muscles for the effort it is to lift you. You love superheroes and ponies and sometimes you quote Scooby Doo. Animals are drawn to you- you even learned how to take Tweety out of the cage and hold her. She likes you. But then, who doesn’t?

1st birthday, AKA The Year of Balloon Fascination

2nd Birthday and your first bike

3rd birthday, already upgraded from a tricycle

Now you can ride a bike all by yourself, no training wheels, no one holding on. Sigh. You are growing up so fast.

Finn's 4th birthday, AKA The Year of Superheroes

Mr. Darcy and I gave you that costume on the morning we left for New Jersey to visit his family and attend Dumpling & Jersey Girl’s wedding. You apparently wore it all day, up until you and Grandma were at a store and some bigger kids were making fun of it. You took it off and handed it to Grandma saying, “Here Grandma, hold this.” When she told me that story my heart broke. I wanted to protect you from the jabs and jeers of other kids who might squash your joy, your imagination and your free spirit. Don’t let anyone take away your uniqueness, kiddo. I will always remind you to hold steadfast to your joy.

You are fearless and love the water.

I bought you that robot t-shirt years ago but they sent the wrong size. Now you actually fit in it. Time flies.

You love to do anything athletic or adventurous. (Though your Pops is holding onto your legs out of sight of this photo, shh!)

You have awesome parents who love you with everything they have and who always put you first and a Grandma who moved her whole life to make you her life. And you have an Aunt, your Tee Tee, who loves you more than she ever thought it was possible to love another person and who would get you the moon if that’s what you wanted.

Happiest of birthdays, little blue-eyed wonder!

I love you,

Your Tee Tee

Like this:

One blogger likes this post.

13 Comments »

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI

What a beautiful post!
<3

Comment by Noe— July 30, 2011 #
Awww. This is one of those times I can say I know just how you feel. It’s so special.
Happy birthday to Finn!

Comment by justrunjustlivejustbe— July 30, 2011 #
Happy Birthday to Finn! This made me tear up (what doesn’t?). I love LOVE being an aunt.

Comment by Melissa— July 30, 2011 #
Happy Birthday to FInn! Love this post :)

Comment by Sarah— July 30, 2011 #
Happy 5th Birthday Finn!

Comment by kim— July 30, 2011 #
He’s so adorable! I remember you blogging about him when he was a baby… my, how time flies.

Comment by Michi— July 31, 2011 #
He is so, so blessed to have you as an auntie.

Comment by Angella— August 1, 2011 #
He is such a cutie and I bet you are the best auntie ever!

Comment by 180|360— August 1, 2011 #
It’s so special to be an auntie. :) Also, that part about the costumes? Made me cry. I wish kids could just be kids and wear costumes and be cute and quirky, like they’re supposed to be, without all that teasing.

Comment by willikat— August 1, 2011 #
And by that, I didn’t mean he was quirky. Or at least, any quirkier than any other kid. And that’s not bad. Well, hopefully you know what I meant.

Comment by willikat— August 1, 2011 #
I love creative kids. He’s downright adorable.

Comment by renn— August 2, 2011 #
Going through my recent separation and my daughter turning four over the weekend, this brought many tears to my eyes. What a proud aunt you are!! I love it Sizzle. There’s something to be said for a child’s mushrooming imagination. It is one of my true joys as a parent to overhear my daughter’s pretend stories with her dolls. Thanks for this fun reflective post.

Comment by lessinges— August 9, 2011 #
This is incredibly sweet, Sizz, and makes my heart melt. He’s such a beautiful little boy, and being an Auntie is a special gift, isn’t it? I love seeing these through-the-years pictures of him.

Comment by LongStoryLonger— August 10, 2011 #

Sizzle Says