Special Visitors! And Someone Turned TWO!

First and foremost, at 11:57 a.m. today, June 26th, 2009 ~ Cory turned two! Here is a picture of him waking up a two year old (well...almost, it wasn't 11:57 a.m. yet):




It has been a wonderful, perfect, very special two years! I can honestly say that since becoming a parent I cannot believe how fast time has flown. It's like we had Cory and then the clocks started moving at warp speed! Well, after we were able to bring him home from the NICU anyway. :)

A little bit about Cory at two years old:

Favorite Food: Pizza! He yells, "Pisssssssssah!" :)

Favorite Book: Pilot Pups by and I Love You, Goodnight by. Also, any of his books about diggers, dozers, trucks, or airplanes!

Favorite Snack: Grapes - only red ones.

Favorite Toy: This is hard. It's between his little construction vehicle trucks (diggers, dozers, etc.), his bubble mower, or his sandbox.

Favorite Sayings: "OoooooooooK!" (really long and drawn out when he's excited about something), "No", "Help please!!!!" (usually said very dramatically, lol), "More, more!"

Also, he still takes one nap per day...usually for 2 - 2 1/2 hours. He goes to bed between 8-8:30 p.m. and sleeps through the night without any trouble, usually waking between 7:30-8 a.m. He also loves to watch Mighty Machines, the movie Cars, the Airshow DVD his Pace bought for him, and any youtube video we can find of airplanes, diggers, loaders, dozers and.....blimps! LOL! Yes, he loves blimps.

OK, on to the special visitor part! Months ago I talked to my brother Jeff about possible making a trip to Ohio from Texas (where he is a new Border Patrol Agent) for Cory's birthday as a surprise visit for my Mom and Grammie who were coming out from Maine. Jeff thought it was a great idea, but due to circumstances beyond our control (silly feds and their rules) we were unable to get confirmation that he could actually get the day off that he would need to make a trip here. By the time we found out that he could indeed have the time that he needed, the price of airline tickets were sky high (lol) and it wasn't feasible. I was bummed, but I understood...

Rewind to the evening of June 25th. Sean and I went to bed around 11:45 p.m. We had had a busy day, getting ready for my Mom and Grandmother's visit and for Cory's birthday party. I was exhausted, but unable to sleep due to back to back thunderstorms with very loud thunder and TONS of lightening.

At 2 a.m. Sean and I were still wide awake, talking. Then, Sean got a text message - at 2 a.m.! I asked him who it was and he told me to get dressed, that my birthday present was almost here! (My birthday is June 30th). Excited, I dressed quickly and ran outside just as my brother pulled into the driveway in a rental car!! YAY! I was soooooo excited!

I found out later that Sean called Jeff and offered to pay for half of his plane ticket as my birthday gift so that he could still come. Jeff knew the whole time he'd be able to come, but told me he wasn't as a way to surprise me! Boy, was I surprised. :) It was great! I was so happy that Jeff was going to get a chance to see Cory. It would have been a whole year in August since they had seen each other, and who knows how long until they would have had the opportunity.

It only took a very few minutes for Cory to warm up to Uncle Jeff. As soon as Jeff let him play with his iPhone, any trace of shyness was gone! :) They had a lot of fun for the 24 hours that Jeff was here...unfortunately that was all the time he could stay, but we certainly made the most of it!

Uncle Jeff and Cory watching a Mighty Machines video:

This morning after everyone got up and around, Jeff, Cory, and I headed to the Dayton Airport to pick up Mom and Grammie! Remember...Mom and Gram had NO idea that Jeff was here! LOL! As mom was walking through security she spotted us and immediately her mouth dropped open and she was.....speechless! (Crazy, I know!) It was great! I wish I had remembered to take a picture of the moment. Lots of hugs and kisses later, we were on our way back to our house. I still had lots to do to get ready for Cory's party!

Cory and Grammie (my Mom) playing in the backyard:

Cory's big party is tomorrow afternoon, but tonight we had Rose and Steve over for pizza to celebrate Cory's special day. After pizza we let Cory open some of his gifts. Shanti and Pace (Rose and Steve) gave him a play kitchen. Grammie and Great Gram got him a playhouse for the backyard and Sean and I let him open his bubble mower and new books. Uncle Jeff also gave him a really cool bulldozer for his sandbox!

Playing with the new bubble mower:

Giant Uncle Jeff and the Mini Bubble Mower (LOL!):

Reading the new "digger" books with Uncle Jeff:

Opening more digger books from Grammie:

We didn't do any candles today, but I did let him eat a special treat. He had a chocolate graham cracker that I wrote a number two on with the leftover frosting from his birthday cake. :) He loved it!


It was certainly a busy, albeit FUN day! Happy Birthday, Cory! :) You're so special to us!