Dear Aiden,

Today is your third birthday! We can hardly believe where time has gone. It feels like just yesterday when you were still our baby we were rocking to sleep. Those first few months may have consisted of brain fog and lots of sleepless nights, but boy, has it been worth it. It’s been a privilege to be your parents and to watch you grow. And as you’ve grown older, we’ve delighted in being able to see more of your personality!

You are, as your name implies, “Little Fire”… our wild child. You march to the beat of your own drum. Fierce, spunky, rebellious, and stubborn as heck, but we wouldn’t trade any of those qualities! It’s what makes you YOU and we think you’re wonderfully made.

This last year has been such a thrilling adventure! You’ve learned to talk in big sentences, count numbers, and even ride a tricycle. You love the camera and thank goodness for that because we love taking LOTS of photos of you! And more recently, you’ve even traveled to Iceland where we saw glaciers, volcanos, and the Northern Lights!

You also think the world of your big brother, Caleb. You insist on doing everything right along with him, which includes reading, “helping” with homework, and learning about all of the fantastically nerdy subjects that boys enjoy- police cars, dinosaurs, and robots. We love that you and Caleb are so close, and some days it feels as though you two share your own language. This makes our hearts smile!

We can see the baby slipping away by the day, being replaced by a boy with a heart and mind of his own. We are raising you for these moments, but we confess to knowing that we will miss the ‘little’ you.

As you enter this third year in life, these are our hopes for you:

Stay wild. Be fiercely and unapologetically yourself. And as you grow older, we hope with all of our hearts that you remain fearless in who you are. You’ll pursue and accomplish amazing things, and we hope you’ll do it all while being confidently and unapologetically yourself. Your spirit is what makes you so unique and it’s what we love most about you!

We are in awe of this life we are living together and are humbled by what you bring to it. We love you so much, Bubs. Happy Birthday!

Love,
Mom and Dad