Imagine having a life that was so rich, so full of growth and change, that your biographer felt remiss at have not covered a mere two months! Such is Olie's life. Over the summer, Oliver has advanced in leaps and bounds. (And since leaping and bounding, and running, is how O spends most of his time… well that explains the reason for this chronicle's lapse.) Fortunately Olie's summer progress out west and those of other relatives have brought him into contact with many loved ones, who’ve been able to witness the transformation in person. But for those of you who haven't, let me fill you in.
Oh and here are some of my favorite summer photos, as well...
Yankee Doodle has his first Coke.
4th parade
Physically, Olie continues to grow, and grow, and grow. Definitely got Grandma Bird's figure: straight, long and thin. He's also a really tough little kid, taking whatever bigger kids (read Dashiell and Finn, his big-brothers-in-crime who taught Olie the necessary arts of tummy raspberries and dipping fries in Ketchup) throw at him. When Olie should cry, he often laughs, thinking the tackling and tug-of-war is just one big game.
Olie also cut all of his canine teeth in July, so he has a full smile. That, coupled with his champion hugs and generous kisses, make him pretty irresistible. I believe that more than a few days of several grammas and aunties have been made with these last two.
Family at Beach Bon Fire
Oliver can also count to three now and has just realized the beauty of the word “one.” As in, “No more books, Oliver.” “One?” he’ll plead with index finger raised. Cute and manipulative is what this phase is all about.
Olie is also talking up a storm. We went from a few, monosyllabic words in the beginning of the summer, to complex expressions, like, “Oh no. Po[lar] Bea[r] fa[ll] down.” Oliver is also not shy with the commands: "Sit Dowwwn." "Go Caaaa[r]." "Mo[re] Book." "Audrey come." O is quite good with names, including the very complicated Uncle Cory or "Unc Co-weee." In fact, one of Olie's first two-syllable words was "Audrey," Al's daughter and the love of O's life. It was also the first word he said really clearly: "AUUUUdrey." My Mom called it his "best word." Tilly, Audrey's sis, is "Tee-ee." There are days when all O says is, “Mama, Mama, Auuudrey. Mama. Tee-ee." "They're home, Olie." Without skipping a beat, he replies. "Go Caaa." "Dick" is another word Oliver has mastered. At the beginning of summer O would say, "truck" and then "red." He now says "red truck." Or "fire truck." Or "big truck." Basically if you say it, Oliver can at least approximate it back to you now. Hands down the favorite expression amongst everyone is "our car." Which, true to his Bostonian roots, Oliver says as "Aaaaa Caaaa."
In Pasadena for Sara Campbell's wedding
Which brings us to Oliver’s summer obsession: trucks, trains and cars. He's amassing quite the collection of all from adoring parents and grands alike. Each night as I make dinner he spends hours lining them up on the picnic table that Chad and Jack built. Sometimes he even sleeps with them lined up in his crib.
Santa Barbara Hills
On the forklift at Telegraph Brewery (Our friend, Brian's co.)
Ultimate Surfer Hair in SB
O also makes aesthetic judgments now. While I was reading to him one morning earlier this month, (Olie demands to be read to before AND after each period of sleep.), I noticed Olie regarding my pants which were shot with silver thread. "Pee-ee" he said while signing "pretty." "What's pretty Olie"? I inquired. "Paaan[ts]."
New Delta Ad
In Aunt Debbie's yard in Utah
Olie is also very particular about his songs choices. All interactive songs are favored now, such as Patty Cake, The Wheels on the Bus, and Row, Row, Row Your Boat (it's interactive because I sign it.) Olie does the hand gestures right along with us. The other night he and I also delighted Gramma Syl and Bird with a rousing rendition of Ring Around the Rosie. Olie's other fav is I've Been Workin’ on the Railroad, which he requested one evening by blowing. "What, Olie"? "Bo," he said. "Row, row your boat?" "No." and he blows again. I thought for a minute. "Oh Dinah wont you blow?" "YEH!" It’s now “The Blow Song.”
Bath
One charming anecdote before I wrap up. One day I came across Olie sitting at the picnic table under the apple tree looking up at a chickadee. No kidding, they were talking, Olie imitating the call almost perfectly. Encouraging mother that I am, I ran out and got him a bird feeder and hung it right next to his table. Now, whenever Olie sees a little, yellow bird, he correctly identifies it as a "go[ld] fin[ch]."
With Cars
With Stick
