My Sweetie!

Okay so I just have to gush about my boy and since John is out of town in Washington DC in training I decided to hop on here to my little piece in blog land. :)  My night has just been made!  Since Cory was born I have always told him I love him and goodnight when putting him to bed and tonight something extra special to a Momma happened.  After I told him I loved him and was about to lay him in his crib he gave me an extra tight hug and said "Love you"!   It was the sweetest thing I have ever heard with his little voice saying it.  I just wanted to hold him and rock him to sleep but I put him snug in his crib and he fell asleep but that was so sweet to hear!  He also calls me Momma or Mommy now....which he has been saying that word for a while now but I love how much he says it now like when he is looking for me (if I am in another room) he will holler out "Mommy"! 

He is just doing so great these days and such a joy to be around.  He is always laughing and smiling and plays so well with his other little friends and he has been sleeping so great too.  I am on cloud 9 with his sleep routine now days.  Last night after I put him down at 8:30pm...he didn't wake up until 9:40 am!  I actually started making noise in the kitchen to try to wake him because we had to be at Lisa's house at 10am!  He has been sleeping later and later every week!  A couple months ago he went from sleeping in until 7 or 7:30 tops to 8am to 8:30 and now 9 to 9:30 or later some mornings.  I think he may start to be like his daddy who can sleep in until 11 or so on the weekends (if I let him that is;)  I am an early bird and can't sleep in past 8am even if I try to.  Some mornings I wish I could sleep in but I am such a morning person that once I wake I think about all the things I could be doing and just end up getting up or I will be laying there wide awake.  Now I am always up before Cory so that is funny to me when about 4 months ago I would have thought that was crazy talk with my not-so-good sleeper.  It has been like night and day and boy I am so happy to be on this end now! 

He is my little sunshine! 

Dolly Wood!

We had a great 4th of July weekend!  Spent a few days in the Nashville area getting to see John's family and glad Cory got to spend time with his Grandparents and after that we went and stayed one night in Pidgeon Forge TN and we went to Dolly Wood twice there.  We went after 3pm the first day and got in the next day free.  :)  It was so much fun seeing the amusement park through Cory's eyes (for his first time) and seeing him light up and that he was having so much fun made it a great time for us as well.  Here's a re-cap in pictures:

CORY AND GRANDMA

 CORY AND DADDY 

 PLAYING BASKETBALL

AT DOLLYWOOD!  CORY LOVED THE CARS.........

.........AND DIDN'T WANT TO GET OFF!

He was so cute riding the ducks and had his serious concentrating look :)

One of his favorites was the carousel ride

Okay that was fun....what's next?

eeewww a snake

Hey guys there are ducks over there!

He is getting so big and can't believe my baby will be 2yrs old in less than 2 months.  Crazy how times flies when you have a little one and i am trying to soak up this time and really enjoy it because it is becoming more and more apparent to me each day that he won't be little for long....2 years has come and gone in a blink of an eye and I don't want to be handing him the car keys anytime soon so I am learning to never long for the next phase and really try to enjoy each day here and now....even the tantrums and all the things that comes with toddlerhood...okay so maybe I won't enjoy every second but I do want to make the best out of every situation that comes along, live and learn and have lots of fun along the way because life is really short when you think about it!  I don't want to wish away time, but rather cherish the memories in the making. When Cory wants me to hold him, I want to always make that time for him to smother him in kisses and hugs and "I love you's", when he wants me to play with him...I don't want to ever catch myself saying "I will later after I do laundry and dishes"....etc, but rather play with him right then and not worry about the chores being done or the piles of toys around the house...I just want to focus on the important things in life, cherish my relationships in my life with friends and loved ones, make time for those phone calls to people I care about, let them know they are important to me and to seize every minute.  I want to look at my life and really see it; live it and never look back at the "what if's" or "I should have's", and to STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF :)