Happy Birthday, Cannon.

Dear Cannon,

Today you are TWO! It is so hard to believe that two years ago I was holding you for the very first time. By the time, you are able to read this I am sure that someone we know will have told you that Mommy once said, "she was not sure if she ever wanted to have kids!" Yes, I did say that and at the time I meant it! But since you came into my life I cannot imagine it any other way.

It is through loving you my precious boy that I truly began to understand the love that God has for us. It is an unconditional, consuming love that can not be described with words. It is completely unimaginable how God could love us so much that we would give His ONLY son to die so that we could have eternal life. Such an amazing sacrifice, as I have always known, but not until now can I even begin to grasp it.

You are such a joy to your Daddy and I. We often lay in bed at night and talk about the things you did or said during the day. We find ourselves laughing out loud at the simplest things like the fact that you ask for an "ife" (knife) everytime you see a box because you want to open it, when you say "soggies" instead of froggies, or when you say "Cannon does it" even when it is something only grownups can do...seeing the world through your two year old eyes is so refreshing. You are full of faith and trust, so innocent and so open.

We also find ourselves beaming with pride at each accomplishment. You are such a smart little boy and learning everyday. You are constantly amazing us with new words (Friday it was "tortillini" and you said it 100 times!) and new physical feats like scaling the back of the couch.

You are truly the most loving child I have ever met. You ask to be kissed and hugged all the time. Those kisses and hugs are some of the most precious moments and we treasure them. For we know that all to soon, you will be to cool to kiss your Mommy and Daddy. So for now, we will travel up and down the stairs several times until you feel like you have all "Mommy Kiss, Mommy Hug" to get you through the night, we will lay in bed with you and "cuddle you" for way longer than all the books say we should, we will cover you with blankets to make you "cozy", we will enjoy the smell of your little toddler hair and bathe in that infectious smile and those contagious giggles, we will search through the house for Mickey, Target, Buddy Dog, Verdi and Elmo until your bed in full and you are at peace with all "the guys", and we will relish in those sometimes sloppy, snotty kisses for you are our baby and we know that we are going to miss these moments.

Today I am so happy to celebrate that you are two ("three or five" as you sometimes say) but it is a bittersweet day. While I find my self full of pride at the little boy you are becoming it makes me sad to know that I am loosing my baby. I know that before long you will be a man and no longer need us like you do now. There is no doubt that we will be as proud then as we are now.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". We know that God has a wonderful plan for your life and we are so exciting to be on the journey!

We pray that God will seek your heart and you will seek His. That you will find Him early in your life and stay on His path. We pray that you will grow to be a strong, Godly man that will lead a Christ-centered life. That you will seek a relationship with God and lead a life of wisdom, love, compassion and prosperity and that you will have an unwavering faith. It is our prayer that God be not only with you but "in" you for as long as you live.

We love you our precious, precious boy! We cannot wait to spend many years watching you grow and nurturing you along the way. We are so blessed to call you our son. We love you more than words can say. Happy Birthday, Cannon Thomas Corder!

-Mommy