My Charlie Bear is Two Today! *Updated with Party Pics!

Where has the time gone?

It seems like yesterday we were in the hospital room and I patted your bum and said "there is the bum I have been rubbing through my tummy all these months."  It seems like yesterday that your daddy and I would watch you sleep, or that I would carry you in the sling.  I loved our special time nursing.  I loved smelling you and kissing you all the time.  It never got old.  You were a good baby.  A joy.  You cried when you needed something.  You didn't when you didn't. 

And now look at you!  Such a big boy! 

I love how you greet daddy at the door and say "tackle. football. touchdown."  I love how you told me you were tired of me taking pictures by saying "no more cheese, mom."  I love how you surprised me last month when I sneezed and you said "bless you."  And how any time I make a grunt like I am hurting, you say "sorry, mom."  I secretly love how you say "I want mom come" when dad tries to put you to bed alone, though those moments are already fading fast!  I love how you are so curious about things and ask "what's that?" a thousand times a day.  It is the main reason you know every letter and sound (that and Leap Fro.g Letter Factory-but that doesn't mean he isn't brilliant!)  I love how I can get you to eat almost anything by saying you are a "(insert food) monster".  I love how you delight in new ouchies-or pointing to old scars because you "want ban-baid" and how you can't isolate your two fingers so you say "two" and hold up one finger on each hand instead.  I even love your fears "monster. loud. button. scared" so I can comfort you.  I love how you are so gentle around babies and worry when they cry.  You have done so well learning the phrase "that's okay, baby; don't cry".  I know you will be an excellent big brother!   I especially love how you open your eyes in the morning and say "mom?" and I come in your room, crawl into your big boy bed (which is a twin, and low, and definitely not big enough for this big body) and we talk and snuggle.  You tell me such interesting things about how you want to play with the neighbor because he has cool trucks, or how the monster scared you, or how you want to watch sesam.e street on tv.  That is our special time!  Thank you for being the sweet kind gentle soul that you are!

And from the party...

 He doesn't like cake :) so we had pumpkin muffins and a variety of cookies...

 My dad restores cars and brought his Model T to the party since he came straight from a car show.  Charlie loves cars, esp when he gets to play in real ones!   He even got to wear his hat to match his "papa".