It is wild to look back and see how much Oliver has grown in this past year. Not just in stature (although our itty-bitty-couldn't gain weight baby is gone and has been replaced by a very healthy/sturdy toddler) but in development as well. The poor guy didn't have much of a choice but to grow up since his baby sister was born when he was just 14 months old, but he adores big brother Carter and seems very happy to follow him around doing anything and everything he does.
Oliver started out his second year with the zika virus. The poor guy was sick for a month trying to fight it off. Then, he began walking the very day we brought Leine Mae home from the hospital :) Soon after, he began sleeping through the night - hallelujah! As he became more mobile and could play more with brother, he became a little less of a mama's boy (although he is still pretty attached most days). He really seemed to love his time in the states and was able to experience a lot of fun things, travel to a lot of neat places, and visit a lot of family and friends. He still doesn't talk very much - he only has a handful of words - but is becoming more expressive and vocal. And it is amazing all the he can understand!
He is definitely 100% boy! He loves trucks and trains, super heroes and dinosaurs, balls and bubbles. He is go, go, go all of the time (except when he is eating, haha). He's not one to sit and cuddle or watch TV. He is adventurous and courageous - two qualities I love and also two qualities that make me nervous as a mom!
He's a goofball and keeps us laughing. We sure do love him and are so proud to be his parents :)
Now for his 2-year-old survey:
How old are you?
2
What makes you happy?
eating, brushing your teeth, copying big brother
eating, brushing your teeth, copying big brother
When do you laugh?
when we tickle you, when you jump off the bathroom counter, when Carter laughs
when we tickle you, when you jump off the bathroom counter, when Carter laughs
What is something Mommy always says to you?
"Hey my little chunk-a-lunk."
What is something Daddy always says to you?
"Pound it!" and "Hey big boy."
What is your favorite thing to eat?
rolls, cereal, yogurt, grapes, bananas, cookies, casseroles, watermelon, cantaloupe, cake, french fries
What is your favorite thing to do?
eat
What are you really good at?
dancing, helping throw away trash and put away dirty clothes
What is your favorite song?
Work, by Rihanna (oh my goodness....he can hardly speak but he'll sing along to 'work, work, work, work work!')
Work, by Rihanna (oh my goodness....he can hardly speak but he'll sing along to 'work, work, work, work work!')
Who is your best friend?
Carter
Carter
What do you and Mommy do together?
play with toys, read, dance
What do you and Daddy do together?
play outside, go to sleep, take baths and brush teeth
Where is your favorite place to go?
the playground, your grandparents' houses, the Mason's house
What is your favorite book?
Veggie Tales (you like to carry it with you and even sleep with it!)
Now, here are some pictures from this past year and from your celebration at the park:
Happy Birthday sweet Oliver! It was sure fun to have you "home" in Tallahassee and get to be with you and watch you grow during your 2nd year of life :). Some special times Emmie and Pappy remember with you include; just holding you on my lap and quietly watching you take in all that's going on around us, chocolate cheerios and learning to say PLEASE, Wild Adventures at Christmas time compliments of Faith Radio, Thursday nights at FBC's activity center while Mommy & Daddy played volleyball, getting McDonald's and bringing it home for family mealtime, playing at the big park, playing at Ms. Tina and Mr. Clay's "park", hiding and hunting Easter eggs, throwing acorns or rocks into water both on Laguna at our house and at your green house, what a good helper you are, playing in the back of Pappy's big white truck, meeting your family at church before Sunday School and spending Sunday's after church at Granny and Poppa Holt's - having lunch together, playing with the puppies "B" & "J", loving Granny and Poppa Holt, and playing with toys that your mommy played with when she was a little girl... the same toys Emmie played with as a child! More fun times remembered with you Oliver are; bath time, watching the tadpoles grow in the little pond in your front yard, throwing tiny little berries in that water, playing t-ball at your house and bouncing around on Pappy's BIG pink ball, walking through the woods and "discovering". Learning to throw a ball with Poppa Holt and replicating that with Emmie and the soft green ball :) Blowing bubbles, and blowing bubbles. High stepping - making noises with our feet and shoes as we walked on different surfaces. Dipping - be it catsup or whatever. You love to eat dip able food. I loved it when you gave up your pacifier so I could see more of your beautiful face and enjoy your crazy happy infectious smile. Watching you move from a stumbler that often face planted when you got going too fast to the little man whose arms and legs are now stretching out a bit. Spending time together in Emmie & Pappy's play room with books, the huge alphabet letters, toys, games and trucks is always fun and I'm so impressed when you put things back where they belong and clean up as Mommy & Daddy have taught you. You are a good boy Oliver. You are kind, you are smart. You are kind. You are handsome. JESUS loves 2 year old little boys. He LOVES Oliver and so do we. oxoxoxo, Emmie and Pappy
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