Look Who's 2..

Happy Birthday Charles! We can hardly believe our baby boy is not a baby anymore. These 2 years have gone by so fast. What we wouldn't do to slow things down. Yet watching you each and everyday brings such amazement to our eyes. You are as rough and tumble as a little boy could be yet sensitive at the same time. And that smile of yours could make the worst of days seem forgotten. We love you with all our hearts and wish for you all the wonderful thing life has to offer.

This past weekend we had a birthday celebration for Charles. It was the first time we have been back in Peoria for a birthday and it was so nice to be around family to celebrate. The theme was "Thomas the Train" because Charles is obsessed with trains, or as he calls them, choo choo's. To prepare our little guy, the last few days leading up to the party we had practiced singing happy birthday. He also loved blowing out candles that I lit around the house...insisting to do it over and over again, so on his birthday we thought he would have the birthday cake thing down. To our surprise instead of a smile we got a shy little boy with tears in his eyes. It was so endearing to see. Maybe it was the large crowd and attention that confused him but my heart just melted.

Once Daddy took him in his arms though and showed him the Thomas train on the cake and the train rings that you could wear our smiley little boy was back, and he even blew out the candles. After lots of playing with the cousins Charles opened his gifts. His eyes lit up when he lifted the big sheet, that was teasing him all morning, to reveal a train table and lots of choo choo's. I decided that everyone chipping in for one big item that I had a feeling would be a hit was better than a whole bunch of little things...especially with Christmas just around the corner. Charles loves his train table and every morning can't wait to go downstairs to play with it. Thanks to everyone near and far who sent Birthday wishes, gifts and helped us celebrate!

Charles reaction when the singing began and all eyes were on him

Once Charlie had him and he realized there were candles everything was all right

The cousins...minus Rebecca and Patrick who couldn't make it because of illness...

you were missed!

Charles loves his train table!

My little man