The Kumamoto Family: Happy Birthday Cori!!!

10 Years ago today, my life changed.....not because we had another baby....well, that did have an impact.....but it was because we had a baby GIRL! When Renee got prego again, we decided not to find out the gender of the baby. I figured I had my boy (Scottie) so whatever should happen to pop out would be fine....as long as he/she was healthy, I would be happy. So when that fateful day arrived, things could not have been more normal. I got up, got ready for work and before I left the house, I asked Renee how she felt, she said..."I feel good, nothing is going to happen today, go ahead and go to work.....". So I left the house comfortable in the fact that there should be no surprises today. I began my 30 to 45 minute commute to Fremont and had just arrived into my companies parking lot when I got a call from Renee on my cell phone telling me I better rush back home because she's starting to go into labor....."WHAT?! I just left you and you said everything was okay!!"......so I did a U-turn in the parking lot and started my journey back home....all the while worrying about getting home, getting Renee packed up, get Scottie taken care of and drive Renee to the hospital which was about 30 minutes away....without traffic! Long story short....we get Renee to the hospital on time, no baby being delivered on the side of Highway 101.....

We get Renee checked in and hooked up to all those machines that make strange noises...the nurse comes in and determines that things are moving along very well. By this time, I take a minute to relax.....my Sister In-Law Joanne comes to the hospital and brings me a cheeseburger from Burger King.....I'm starving so I'm really looking forward to taking a bite from my burger. Joanne and I are sitting back getting ready to chow and our Doctor walks in and examines Renee. I'm licking my lips bringing up that juicy cheeseburger to devour it and the Doctor says to me...."I think we're ready to have a baby.....", I pause and ask her...."you mean we're going to have a baby now or after I eat my cheeseburger??" She says, "now, like right now!". I look lovingly at my un-eaten cheeseburger and for a brief instant, contemplate what the ramifications would be if I chose to sit there for an additional 5 minutes while I chowed my cheeseburger.....I decided that my fate would forever be sealed if I chose my cheeseburger before my wife. So I put it down....but not before taking one huge bite and a handful of crispy, hot fries. I placed my greasy hands on Renee's head and reassured her that all would be fine, the gentle aroma of purple onions and a sesame seed bun teased at my senses. Within 30 minutes and some pushing from Renee, a little princess was born. The Doctor told us those magical words...."it's a girl!" and from there, the house has never been the same. Cori had arrived in only a way that Cori could.....as I gently held her for the first time, I looked at her and thought.....wow, I have a baby girl. We all know that girls are different than boys.....girls are special, especially to fathers. I think it's our natural instinct to want to protect them and take care of them forever. I used to hold Cori when she was a baby and dance with her to gentle music....when she got older, we would snuggle in bed and I would tell her she's my little princess. Well, my little princess has turned 10 and I sit back and wonder where did the time go? She is still as beautiful as the day she was born, I still tell her she is my princess and she still likes to dance....but for some strange reason......Cori doesn't like cheeseburgers......what's up with that?!