Almost immediately upon our arrival at Mema and Pepa T.’s house, it was time for us to celebrate Sawyer’s belated birthday. Sawyer got so many amazing new toys, and he definitely gets “Presents”!
Opening gifts is really hard work which takes a lot of determination.
Uncle Kevin gets this one started.
Aunt Sarah helps.
After this box, Sawyer wondered why every other present didn’t have cars inside.
Birthday hat!
The new line-up with some of Scott and Kevin’s old favorites, and Sawyer’s new cars.
Playing cars with Pepa T.
Sit ‘n Spin is slightly difficult to turn when he won’t put down the car.
Thank you to Mema, Pepa, Sarah, and Kevin for the amazing gifts. Your thank you cards, personally “stamped” by Sawyer, are in the mail.
Get ready for cute overload.
He woke up to find three birthday balloons:
His favorite was the one with Dora, Boots, and Diego playing soccer:
Stamps!
A choo-choo train and bing-bing-bing crossing:
Patiently waiting for his next present:
And moving way too slow at the unwrapping:
Fire cuck!
Back to the stamps:
Here you go, Momma:
Very happy:
Wee-ohh, wee-ohh, wee-ohh:
Studying everything new:
Making his move:
Gotcha:
You stand here:
Wee-ohh again:
Talking to Uncle Kevin while he plays:
Oh, I see how this works:
Anything else in here?
Nope:
No, really. There’s nothing in there, Sawyer:
I’m gonna make this next (really, he’s going to convince me to do it for him):
Abby put his garage together while he napped:
Later in the day, we skyped with our parents to sing happy birthday to him:
Wearing his #2 shirt from Mema and Pepa T and playing with his new cars from Mema and Pepa D:
Note sure about the candle:
More interested in the cars:
So serious, Sawyer:
Candle, again:
Looking to Momma for guidance:
So sweet:
It took him a couple of minutes to fully comprehend the awesomeness of his new garage (it really is amazing, Abby did a phenomenal job of discovering it and then finding one to buy):
But he took to the cars right away:
Skyping:
Here’s one very happy two year old:
He played with his new garage for a solid hour while we skyped with my brother and sister. He was so focused on his new cars and garage that he barely paid any attention to the rest of us. It was nearly impossible to get him away from it and into the shower. He finally fell asleep at 10pm. I’d say he had a very good day.
Thanks again to each of our families for helping us celebrate his second birthday, I can’t wait to see you again this weekend!
Guess who’s two years old today?
It’s Sawyer!!!
He doesn’t care. Just as long as he’s watching “Cars” he’s happy! Thanks to MeMa and PePa T. for the jersey.
My Grandma Addie, Sawyer’s Great Grandma Doernberg, turns 90 today! My aunt and uncle visited her yesterday, and I was able to wish her a “Happy Birthday”! Sally took some really great pictures of her. Here is my favorite.
Here is Grandma when she was about five years old. Thankfully she labeled some of the pictures in an old album.
Here she is a few years later.
Nurse Addie.
I seem to resemble her a bit in this picture.
My very stylish Grandparents.
Grandma and I on July 4th, 1977/8?.
Here is when Sawyer met Grandma for the first time. Remember Sawyer’s mohawk?
As many of you know, my birthday was just a few days ago. My mom and dad were discussing the fact that it didn’t seem that 35 years had passed since I was born. To them, I should be about 20 — sounds good to me. I’m sure Penny and Steve feel the same way…plus one year.
Before Scott was a Daddy, he was a baby, …
…and a little boy on a slide, …
…Aquaboy, …
…a crossing guard with a huge walkman, …
…a freshman in high school, …
…the “frat boy” I fell in love with, …
…and the man I married.
Now he’s a proud papa,…
…who loves to swing, …
…and read lots and lots of books
…and rest when he can.
Thanks to my friend Katherine, who shared a book that she created for her husband and daughter to enjoy. It is titled, “Before Daddy was Daddy”! Such a creative idea!
[I originally composed this on the night of Abby’s birthday, but evidently forgot to publish it. That’s why it’s coming to you a day late.]
Well, he didn’t do anything special, except maybe he was a little calmer than usual. That is until he saw the cake that Abby bought, he then lit up and said “cake” without prompting. He’s definitely her son!
It’s had to believe that just six years ago we were celebrating her birthday with lunch at Nepenthe in Big Sur:
And were engaged to be married just the day before. Here’s Abby calling her parents to tell them the news:
I had hoped to go back to Baker Beach to take some birthday photographs of Abby and Sawyer, but the weather didn’t cooperate. Instead I’ll share with you some of my favorite pictures of the two of them.
But first one of us:
Abby and Sawyer:
I love the way she looks at him, with such love and care for his well-being. She’s a wonderful mother and wife, and I am forever grateful to share these moments with her.
Happy birthday, Abby. I love you.
I tried for a couple days to get Sawyer to “read” the book that his Grandma D. gave him a few months ago. It wasn’t easy, but I was able to get him to do it this morning. The video is a bit wobbly in areas due to the fact that I am holding the camera while trying to get us in the shot.
Happy Birthday to my mom, and Sawyer’s grandma!
Sarah, Michael, and Matthew were all born on February 24th. Michael and Matthew turn 21 today!!! Here is a little trip down memory lane for all.
After an outside tubby on a very hot day last June.
Michael and Sawyer.
Matthew and Sawyer. So glad no one would let us cut the rooster-doo.
Green grasshopper from Sarah and Uncle Kevin.
I wonder what they are wondering about.
The birthday boy with today’s birthday boy.
Sawyer’s Grandma and Grandpa Doernberg threw Sawyer the best birthday party Sawyer has ever had! Growing up, I always had great birthdays, and so the tradition continues for Sawyer. Grandma did the planning, and Grandpa did the pick-up and delivery. It was perfect.
Is that Elmo?
No, it’s Sawyer! Grandpa did a great job selecting balloons.
Balloons on parade!
Welcoming Grandma and Grandpa Truitt.
Grandma Penny and the Birthday Boy.
If you are wondering why Sawyer looks like a boxer, it is because he had a mishap a few days before his birthday. He is so quick! He walked up to the gas fireplace and touched the glass. I had checked the glass a few minutes prior, and it did not feel that hot. I was wrong. Crying, wailing, and blisters resulted in the hours and days following. Luckily, he was feeling slightly better by his birthday.
Waiting for cake.
Diggers and scrapers are his favorite. Actually, anything with wheels will do!
Getting tired.
I had an amazing time too.
What you’ve all been waiting for.
Relaxing after the party with Grandpa Doernberg — getting a shoulder rub.
The Birthday Boy!
Exactly one year ago, on December 14, 2007 at 1:42 am, Sawyer Mathis Truitt entered the world without a whimper, looked around, then let out a full-throated scream. It’s difficult to remember what life was like before him, and in many ways it feels like he’s always been here with us, although I do remember getting much more sleep.
It’s amazing how much he’s grown, and how little his appearance has changed. Here’s a few pictures taken on the morning of his birth.
First picture of Sawyer:
Cleaned up right after birth:
Weighing in at a whopping 9 pounds!
Abby and Sawyer:
Scott and Sawyer:
His first bath:
After his first bath. As far as I know, no one posed him that way:
He still has some of this hair:
Feet!
Just a few hours after birth, and ready for his first nap:
Happy first birthday, Sawyer!