Letter from Grampa

Hi Oliver

It's Gram Pa Updyke, writing to let you know what a great time Grandma and I had when you came to visit with us. We already miss you, and you've only been gone for a little over a day now. Wish we got to see you more often, but really enjoy the time we do get to spend with you. We hope that it will always be if not fun, at least interesting to come to visit at the Grandparents' house.

Heber Creeper

From what I can tell, your parents must have read my last letter to you, and you must have taken my advice to try and engage them in the up and coming arcade ride that your life is headed for. When I told you to stimulate them, to see how far you could get them to ride with you, I'm not sure that I realized that I was talking to the next possible replacement for the Energizer Bunny!!! Round and round, over and down, in and out, there and back again, you seem to know no boundaries. I'm glad that you've got such great parents to watch over you at all the sharp turns, and places you could fall and scrape yourself up. Life should be a great adventure for both you and your Mom and Dad if for no other reason than you've all got each other.

Zoo

Hike in Immigration Canyon

Horned Lizard


Watching you, and spending time with you during your visit here, not only let me see the great little guy you are becoming, but also the great Dad your father is, and the great Mom your mother is. What a lucky little boy you are to have them. Almost as lucky as we are to have you in our lives.

A really wonderful side affect of getting to see you is that because of seeing you I'm able once again to clearly see the little boy that Chad used to be, and still is inside that older wiser version that you live with. I also get to see the young beautiful and vibrant mom that your Grandma Updyke still is inside the older, loving, and caring lady you get to spend time visiting. Having two of your Uncles visit at the same time, makes me one of the luckiest Gram Pas around.




Keep your head of steam up, and your eyes on the track ahead. Hopefully it won't be long, and we'll be spending time together again. Keep your parents busy; it wouldn't do for them to get complacent. (Not much chance of that with you in their lives, but it doesn't hurt to keep it in mind.)

We love and miss you,
Gram Pa & Grandma Updyke

18 Months

Olie turned 18 months old last week. Our tyke weighed in at 27.5 lbs and nearly 34 inches tall!

He continues to develop more signed and spoken words. Last weekend alone he added (signed): bus, water (finally!), thirsty, hear, hurt, and again. (Oh, why did I teach a toddler "again"?!) He was actually communicating in sentences to a slightly confused Gramma Bird - one hand cupped to the ear and then fingers opening and closing at the month. "Hear, bird?"

New spoken words include: again (yeh that gets a double treatment - as does "hot" btw), car, and some form of window. Olie also started saying "bye, bye" last week. Coupled with a little wave, it's pretty cute. He loves to practive both, and will often wave and say bye when simply leaving the room. What Olie does NOT say is "Mama." I'm still "Da."

Olie's favorite activities now include: climbing up Mom's legs while I hold his hands; climbing on Dad and then jumping off; off roading, aka. walking or pushing his stroller on ANY uneven surface, but it has to be uneven; sitting on or otherwise torturing Bella; reviewing the many snapshots taken of him by adoring Mom; reading - especially Richard Scarry... again and again... (why did I introduce him to Richard Scarry?)

Here are some cute Mom's Day shots.