730 Days

Actually, 730 fabulous, outstanding, wonderful days!  Charlie is officially two years old and we are so much more in love (and in like) with him today than we were even 7 days ago, much less 730 days ago!

Being something of a Birthday junkie (to put it mildly), I have been looking forward to Charlie's special day for weeks -- not so much the fact that he is growing up at the speed of light, but that we get to dedicate an entire day to adoring and spoiling our little man.  Charlie and I both took the day off from school and work, respectively, so we could focus on being a Birthday Boy!

As all proper Birthdays should, the day started with Mommy and Daddy serenading Charlie with "Happy Birthday" while we opened his blinds and got him out of his crib -- The first in a long line of serenades including a duet by Grandma and Grandpa, family harmonies by Chris, Chrissy, Carter, Cole, Cade and Camden and by Willi, Rebecka, Brynn and Halley, a choir performance by the entire staff and patronage of Cracker Barrel, another duet by Bob & Donna and countless on-demand solos by Mommy -- after all, who can resist "Sing Happy Birthday to me, Mama!"

Next up? Presents of course!  Charlie walked into the living room to see his brand new Monkee puppet show and  his first lawn mower and weed eater surrounding his very own roll-top desk -- made even more cool by the fact that it was Grandpa's when he was a kid!  After doing a bit of work and mowing and trimming the carpet, Charlie dug into his other presents and found a new Big Bird, some awesome clothes (including his official Birthday shirt with Snoopy on it!), and his very own medical kit -- we might have a part-time doctor when the seas are too rough for fishing! To cap it all off, Charlie received a super-special video message from Great Uncle Jim in Kansas City.

Knowing our son as we (and Uncle Jim) do, Jason and I scheduled his Birthday "dinner" for 8 AM at Cracker Barrel -- pancakes and sausage and orange juice and biscuits, plus dozens of adoring older women, and a tootsie roll on the way out -- what more can a 2 year old ask for? 

Sadly, reality set in after breakfast and Daddy had to go to work.  Determined to have fun anyway, Mommy and Charlie went to Target in a futile attempt to replace our recently injured, beloved "Bumbee" Pillow Pet -- despite what the commercial claims, the washer may not be such a good idea.  Mommy was excited about the prospect of replacing our big Bumbee with a little Bumbee, but while Charlie enjoyed cuddling two litte Bumbees, when I asked which one he wanted he looked at me like I was crazy and said "I need big Bumbee, Mama!"  And, of course, Target didn't have any, but a late night run to CVS would fix that problem.

After Target, we got our first  2 year old haircut (a little shorter than planned since someone was still feeling the effects of the whip cream on his pancakes) then went to the Balloon Store to order the balloons for Friday and pick out a Big Bird driving a School Bus balloon (and yes, I am quite certain that this balloon was designed specifically for Charlie).

On to a fabulous playdate with our buddy Philip, then home for Macaroni & Cheese and a late nap.  After nap Charlie put Mommy through a litany of medical tests and procedures, performed his first puppet show, did a bit of bookwork at his desk, mowed the yard and "trimmed" the rose bushes -- quite the productive day.  And if we weren't having enough fun, throughout the afternoon he received a balloon delivery from BaBa and PaPa, his first Laptop "Puter" from Uncle Travis and Aunt Natalie, and some new books and Sesame Street dishes from Nanie & Grampie -- like Mommy, Charlie loves packages and is already developing a healthy appreciation for the Brown Truck!

Yes, it was an absolutely perfect day.  Yes, I spent much of it reminiscing about March 9, 2009 when we waited and waited and waited for Charlie, who finally made his "sunny-side-up," umbilical cord in a fireman's carry, "linebacker shoulders" entrance at 10 PM.  Yes, I am fostering in Charlie my same absolute adoration for Birthdays!

The icing (and sprinkles) on the cupcake was a fun-filled evening with Bob & Donna while Mommy and Daddy attended a memorial services for our dear friend from church, Barnie Reeves.  If Jason and I can grow up to be half the parents Barnie and Faye are, I know we will have "fought the good fight...finished the course...[and] kept the faith," just as Mr. Barnie did.

Soupy!

"It Unc' Jim.  Hap' Birthday, Unc' Jim!!!"

I did it!

Whoa...

My 'Puter!

Conference Call with BaBa and Nanie