oliver the map

oliver-isms

momma — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 14:05:41 +0000

2.1.11: One of your notes from school mentioned that you’d been hanging out with Lily. Since we weren’t sure which little girl was Lily, we asked you what she looks like. You didn’t know. In an effort to narrow it down to one physical feature you might have noticed, we asked what Lily’s hair looks like, and you said “She has sparkly hair, sparkly brown hair.”

2.5: Lying in our bed this morning, staving off the day like we sometimes do, out of the clear blue, you say, “5-oh-9-4-5-1-3. That’s momma’s number.”

Daddy asks me if I had taught you that, thinking how useful knowing Momma’s cell phone number would be. Daddy asks, “How do you know that, buddy?”

Your matter-of-fact reply: “Momma just says it on the phone.”

Really?! You have memorized my phone number by hearing me leave it on voice mail messages?! Wow.

I mean… wow.

2.16: Your frustration with a person often manifests itself with statements like: “Ugh. I’m gonna throw you in the trash!” or with gritted teeth, “I’m gonna make you disappear!”

If we tell you something you don’t like, you say, “Stop tricking me!”

If Daddy and I are having a heated discussion, you demand, “Stop tricking Daddy, Momma.” or “Daddy, stop tricking Momma.”

2.26: While building the train track at Mammy’s house, out of the blue you said, “My heart. my precious heart.”

I asked: “Whaddya mean ‘your precious heart?’”

“I mean, I just really love all you guys.”

Charmed… I’m sure.

school report–02.24.11

momma — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 02:30:09 +0000

Oliver told us he flew on a plane to Greece with Daddy’s mom and dad. Played with Witt–built with Legos and “made dog food.” Put a ball under his shirt again today. Played with balls in big room. No outside play, but more storytime.

behavior: wow!– clever
oh-oh: had to be removed from lunch due to naughty behavior. Ate rest of his lunch by himself. He didn’t like it.*

*momma’s note: When Daddy and I asked you why you were acting out at lunch time, you said, “I was just trying to make the kids laugh.”

Your daddy then whispered memories of the hours he spent as a young child trying to make kids laugh. And so it begins…

school report–02.08.11

momma — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 04:46:06 +0000

Oliver enjoyed going to the kitchen to check the progress of the focaccia, but didn’t want to touch the dough. All the kids loved smelling it and the rosemary. (Dried rosemary from our garden was a belated holiday gift for Ms. Boo and Ms. Jill, Oliver’s beloved and lovable teachers.)

Distressed about not having his blanket at rest time. And how much he loved his mom!!

In the Big Room he was pregnant right along with Amelia (a classmate who also has a new baby at home. )

nap: restless, full of questions
behavior: wow! articulate

babies in your belly

momma — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 06:35:49 +0000

When Momma was around 5-6 months pregnant with your sister—after we’d spent weeks since I’d started showing of you kissing my belly and thus, kissing “sissy” goodnight—you started to have “babies in your belly.” You’d stuff your little fleece “friends” in your pajamas at some point in the night between when we put you to bed and when Daddy and I would come check on you. In the morning, you’d crawl into bed with us and gently remind me to say good-morning to your babies. You’d spend varying amounts of time each morning or post-nap with your babies in your belly, then at some point, you’d simply declare that it was time for your babies to come out. You’d unzip your pj’s and pull Gigi and Hippo out very gently.

You napped for most of our prenatal visit with our doula but woke up as we were finishing. Our doula, Lauren, wrote: “Although I’m glad Oliver napped for most of the time so we could focus, I am really glad I got to see a sleepy Oliver waking up in his pajamas with babies in his belly. I told Lottie all about it when we got home, and she–having recently given birth herself to her imaginary friend “Jake” whom I find myself babysitting tonight–was quite thrilled that Oliver had twins.” Hilarious.

Since your sister has been here, we wondered if the babies would be born one day and then come no more. They make fewer appearances now, but when they do come out, you want to place them in your sister’s things: the boppy, her bed, the Moses basket. I think the babies in your belly routine has been a great way for you to prepare for a new baby in the house and to empathize or connect with me during pregnancy. It’s sweetness.

dirty alien diaper

momma — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 11:55:57 +0000

Since your sis has arrived, you have had a bit of an obsession with babies and diapers. It’s only logical, I suppose, that if you followed me when I had a baby in my belly that you’d follow me (and sis) now that she’s here.

MOMS Club mommas have been very helpful with our new baby care calendar—making meals for us every other day and taking you on play dates with kiddos your age. Ms. Kristina took you to her house to play with Simeon, and that was the first report I got that you were playing babies. Kristina sent me this photo and message:

“In case it’s not inherently obvious, they are changing the alien’s diaper. “

Oh, it hurt so much to belly-laugh that hard after a c-section, but I couldn’t help it. You. Are. Hilarious!

Next up, Ms. Jessi took you to play with Elliott. The report from chez Goodwin? You guys were getting along great and playing babies. Cookie Monster was in a pull-up and Curious George was in diapers.

Then… you went to play with your buddy Witt from school. Ms. Lauren commented that at some point, you’d wandered off exploring and came back with one of Witt’s 5-year-old sister’s dolls.

Recent reports from school reveal that you and another little girl (whose mom recently had a new baby as well) like to sit and talk about babies in your belly, baby names and dirty diapers. You often name your baby Darwin Elizabeth.

I think all of this purposeful play has been practice for your new baby sister. If so, it’s worked beautifully: you are a great big brother, buggaboo!

F-O-O-D

momma — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 22:15:19 +0000

You are much more aware in the car now, looking out the window and chattering nonstop. Recently, Daddy and I were discussing something in the front seat as we stopped on Interstate Drive by Shoney’s, waiting for our turn to merge onto I-65. Out of nowhere you spell out, “F-O-O-D.”

Surprised, your dad asks, “What does that spell, buddy?”

Your prompt response: “Restaurant.”

98…99…

momma — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 14:45:18 +0000

100! You counted to 100—nearly flawlessly and with very little prompting. Another milestone, little man.

’tis the season

momma — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 23:50:56 +0000

As a family, we’ve tried to establish a series of traditions that mark the passing of the seasons, hopefully reminding us to be thoughtful and reflective as days and weeks and months go by. At Christmastime we choose a local tree from Arthouse Gardens. We walk as a family in the East Nashville children’s parade. We do most of our shopping in the neighborhood and at the last-minute. (This year not a single gift was purchased until Christmas Eve day. I’m not proud of this fact, but I am coming to terms with it being Daddy’s way and beginning to appreciate a wee bit of its slacker charm.) We decorate the tree together, and this year, because you’re older and taller and because you have a distinct and certain opinion about nearly everything,
your input was significant.

This ornament here.

These bells there.

“I wanna do it!”

“I can reach it.”

Nightly, we read Christmas stories, light lanterns, talk of baby Jesus’s birthday and do the advent calendar.

We get out your wooden nativity set and place the Bethlehem manger scene on the hearth below our mantle hung with a red-ribboned wreath Papa taught me how to make and stockings–this year one for you and an anticipatory one for sis. True to your new abilities and expectations, you set up the nativity your way–all animals huddled together. Mary and Joseph further away from baby Jesus than the camels. Bethlehem-y trees all in one topsy stand.

One day I noticed baby Jesus (affixed permanently to the manger in this set) was missing and asked you where it was. Your reply:

“I took baby Jesus to timeout in my room, because he did something wrong.”

Hmmm… what did he do—denounce the Pharisees and challenge the status quo?

Sweet boy. Funny boy.

olive fingers

momma — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:51:47 +0000

I have such fond memories of eating olives this way as a child…

leaves and laughter

momma — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:44:42 +0000

I raked the leaves out front yesterday into a pile just off the front porch. I’m going to chop them up and add them as compost to my winter garden beds. I strategically located the pile close to the porch so you could jump from the porch into the crunchy softness of the bed of leaves. You could hardly wait for the leaves to make their way into a pile. Once it came time to jump though, it took you a little while to work up the nerve. After the initial jump, you were flying off the porch with abandon and giggles—perfect fall fun!