Episode five

Last week, Oliver turned five.  It was an exciting birthday for a lot of reasons.  He's now old enough to know when his birthday is and get excited about it.  There's the anticipation of the day, the birthday shirt, the cake, the presents, and just the narcissistic nature of the day.  And this year, Oliver got his first real birthday party.  I did a party for Oliver's second birthday, but it was more like "hey friends and neighbors, come over and have a cupcake and ohbytheway, it's Oliver's birthday."  (In fact, that might be what the invitation said.)  This year was about him -- he picked the theme, and we invited his friends from daycare.  It's the last year he'll be with them, so it seemed like a good point to let him do a real birthday party.  They know each other well, and the parents usually know who at least some of the other kids in the class are.

We had planned well in advance for this birthday, and so my parents and my sister and nephew were able to come for the event. I had made the invitation to my sister somewhat jokingly -- to see if her husband would come and help with Jedi Training Camp for Oliver's birthday -- and she happily surprised me by saying they'd love to come if possible.  This is the first time any of my family has been in town for one of the kid's birthdays.  We usually don't make a big thing out birthdays, so it's not something worth traveling for.  And none of their birthdays happen over a break of any kind.  But this was fun.  And exciting.  And extremely well planned (I mean, my sister and I were doing, so of course).  And so we were all able to come together on what turned out to be an absolutely beautiful fall day.

Oliver's actual birthday was on a Thursday.  The night before he and Emmeline helped me make sugar cookies shaped like the ships in Star Wars (thank you, Williams Sonoma for the cookie cutters) for him to take for snack the next day.  He also got to wear his Little Mermaid Ariel birthday shirt.  On Thursday morning, Wes and I let him open one gift since Wes was not going to be home that evening.  He opened his Yoda watch, which he also proudly wore to school.  We measured him on the stick that shows his height at each birthday, and his growth from last year was pretty clear.  (He'd been to the pediatrician the day before for his well-child checkup, and I learned there he'd grown almost 3 inches in the last year).

That afternoon, after a huge thunderstorm that wracked the city during go-home traffic, Oliver got the Skype with aunt and uncle and cousins in Florida while he opened up their gift, a Lego Star Wars book that he now looks at every evening before bedtime.  Grandma Kay came over to have dinner with us, as well as a small ice cream cake I got from Ben and Jerry's.  We wore party hats, sang happy birthday, and Oliver opened his gifts from her -- two Star Wars action figures.  And at the end of the night, after all the excitement was over, he went to sleep on his new Star Wars sheets.  (Are you seeing the theme here?)

Friday saw the beginning of several days of beautiful weather.  My parents arrived in town in the early afternoon, and Laura and Maddox arrived by plane a few hours later.  A few of us took Oliver to baseball practice, followed by dinner.  Laura and I sat up late into the evening making light sabers out of pool noodles and duct tape, naming our light saber moves for training camp, and coming up with ideas for the few activities and making a schedule to get ready the next day. My mom made the chocolate cupcakes and icing.  And fortunately everyone fell asleep easily.

Saturday was a busy day.  Wes and my dad took Oliver to his baseball game while my mom baked the birthday cake and iced it, and Laura and I got the backyard ready for about a dozen of Oliver's friends and their parents.  The kids had a brief rest after naptime, and we got the balloons up on the mailbox just in time for the first birthday guests to arrive.  My mom made Oliver a real Jedi robe for this birthday, and he wore it during his party.  (Actually, Oliver wore Emme's, which she was afraid of.  The length was better for him running around.  And I wore Oliver's.)  When the kids arrived, they colored Star Wars pictures at the picnic table and played on the new swing set.  Then Laura and I ran Jedi training camp.  We taught the kids three moves -- the swing and slash, the step and stab, and the no-look toss and turn.  (I included the last one because I thought it would be hilarious to see the kids trying to master it!)  All of them were really into it.  Some had donned their training tunics that Laura cut out of brown fabric earlier in the day, and they all looked adorable with their green light sabers.

Once camp was done, we went on our first mission around the front of the house to find Stormtroopers.  Laura and I had hung black and white balloons on our trees with Stormtrooper faces on them, and the kids used their new skills to beat them into submission.  When we were making the turn around the front of the house towards the back, where the balloons were hung, my dad growled at the kids from back by the trees, and two of the little guys were ready to turn back and find their moms!  The second mission was an obstacle course, and at the end of the course was a basket with lots of items, including pictures of Princess Leia.  So the kids had to complete the course and "save the princess."  The third mission was to shoot water with a water pump through either a hula hoop or, for those skilled enough, one of our baby floats, both hanging from a tree limb.  We told the kids they were practicing their X-Wing shooting skills so they could blow up the Death Star like Luke did.

The finale of the planned activities was the kids using the Jedi force to get the garage door to open.  Behind it was one of our friends, dressed as a Darth Vader with his red light saber.  He came out, and the kids who weren't ready to run in fear pummeled him with blows!  We had to finally stop them, lest Sean suffer actual damage.  They thought it was great.

Afterwards, we did cake and ice cream.  The kids could choose between the dark side (chocolate cupcakes) or the light side (vanilla cake).  I'd asked people not to bring presents, which meant the kids could just enjoy themselves (and he got plenty of gift anyway, including two Lego Star Wars sets from Aunt Laura).  The kids all played for another 20 minutes or more before their parents hauled them off, probably good because the level of light saber play was getting a bit violent for me.  Clean up was quick and easy, and everyone was excited to put their feet up and watch college football until bedtime.

It was thrilling to watch Oliver at his very first party.  He was gracious, though he did start to melt down by the end, likely very tired after the baseball game, no nap, and then anticipation of the party.  He can be a little socially awkward in new settings, but he does great with those he already knows.  I cannot say that I'm in disbelief at having a five year old.  I've seen him grow from a tiny baby to a happy toddler to a thoughtful preschooler, and I know just where the time has gone.  And I cannot say I'd wish him back to babyhood.  He was my easiest, for sure, but it's just too much fun getting to talk to him, see him learn, and enjoy his fresh perspective on the world.  Happy birthday, Buddy Jeeps.  I can't wait to see what the next year bring us!

This Christmas

Grandma and Grandpa visited.  Grandma wore her 12 Day of Christmas sweatshirt
 and helped the kids make cookies.

We watched the Grinch...for the 20somethingt time.

The big gift for the kids was lots of (used from eBay) Duplo Legos -- Bob the Builder for Oliver,
trains for Emmeline, and more than 400 bricks for them to share.  

Aunt Laura sent some Play-Doh toys for the kids.
Oliver liked his truck -- with or without the Play-Doh.

Oliver loved his Lofty -- and the plastic fireman's helmet
that came with his kids' meal at Firehouse Subs.

Emme sat with her Play-Doh for nearly two hours -- though it did require
a new outfit when she was done.

"Book"

Treehouses at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens: Highlight reel

Love this dress on her!

With daddy and Grammy Kay

Atop the waterfall

In the pagoda

Howdy, dudey

I failed, in the midst of the Christmas posts, to make mention of the gifts from Grandma Kay.  I was reminded when I downloaded pictures from our camera tonight and found the pictures below.  She brought us an array of fun things, but the best gift for the kids was undoubtedly these cowboy hats.  Oliver was clearly a fan; Emme's still thinking about it.

Dirt and dirtier

Oliver got a belated birthday present yesterday.  (Actually, he got it today, when we went to Target to get the Leapfrog Tag system and a few books for it, but I think yesterday was probably more exciting in the short run.)  We had a walkway put in our backyard from the patio to the steps that lead into the garage.  The yard is wonderful, and I would have preferred on an aesthetic level to not do anything at all, but the ice, snow, and rain in the past two years have been hard on the grass, our shoes, and the kitchen floors.  So Wes and I plunked down the money to put in the walkway and have the patio extended over a garden area that, well, had never been well tended.  The walkway starts level with the back patio but raises slightly so it's above the grass line.  Wes thought it would be better if the grass sloped up to meet the top of the walkway, and so yesterday was dedicated to adding dirt, seed, and straw to the sides in the hopes of getting said grass to grow.

So in the morning, after a hearty breakfast at Dunkin Donuts (umm, yeah), we headed out to a nursery about 20 minutes away where they have, yup, a bunch of piles of dirt.  They have regular dirt, mulch, bark, and something called "Holy Cow Garden Mix."  I think Oliver thought it was his wildest dream come true.  Not only did we pass probably 50 tractors getting there, but he was permitted to touch and help shovel the dirt.  The guy at the register, who Wes described using a rather pejorative southern slang term, thought we were nuts to have showed up at this place without a pickup truck.  They actually sell the dirt by the pickup truck.  Wes paid for a half load (as low as the register would go, according to said guy, and off we went.  Wes commented later, probably accurately, that my paternal grandfather, a lifetime farmer, would probably lose his mind if he heard that we not only paid for dirt but also shoveled it ourselves.  We got the dirt home, and after forcing Ollie to come inside and eat lunch, he and Wes spent the afternoon moving the dirt from the back of the car into the yard.  They eventually went back for a second half load, which Wes said was so heavy it actually made it difficult for the car to steer correctly (something about the front half of the car not quite sitting on the road...).

After more shoveling, and some seeding, and the arrival of Grandma Kay, Wes, Ollie, and Grandma went to Home Depot for straw.  The thing is, they were out of straw.  But the guy in charge of straw (who I can only assume bore some striking similarity to the guy at the dirt place) said they could have whatever they could sweep out of the semi that brought the straw in.  So the three of them spent at least 20 minutes, to Oliver's great delight, sweeping out the inside of a huge truck.  They brought it home in four huge paper bags, and Oliver literally climbed inside to get the last of it out.

Suffice it to say that my guys finished the day dirty, sweaty, and completely worn out.  But at least for Ollie, it was a great, great day.  And me -- I got my car cleaned out!

Me and Grammy Kay

We have been fortunate to see a little more of Wes's mom in the past few months, and we'll get to see a lot more of her soon as she's about to move up to Nashville.  She'll be close enough to easily come over for dinner or to help us in our garden (love having two moms who know way more about the yard and flowers than we do) or to just visit.  Plus she has a pool at her new apartment complex, and well, if that doesn't get visits from the grandkids, I don't know what does :)  The pictures are from several weeks ago when I went to New Orleans for a conference.  Kay helped out Wes, who had the kids for almost five full days.  They even ventured out for a visit to Radnor Lake, where they saw lots of very friendly deer.

It's been especially nice to have Kay here more because it's given Oliver a chance to really get to know some of Wes's family.  My siblings are closer geographically and are all on Skype, so Ollie knows almost everyone's names and has some idea of who goes with whom (like Aunt Laura and Uncle (G)Reid).  Kay, Wes's mom, is Grandma Kay (with the red car), and my parents and Grandma and Grandpa.  Consequently, my mom has become "the other" Grandma (with the yarn).  Both often come bearing gifts (despite any minimal protestations on our part), so when he once said (with an indescribably knowing look on his face), "She brings presents," it wasn't clear who he was talking about.

We are now looking forward to a visit from the kids' Uncle Bruce and Aunt Meredith, who live in Philadelphia.  The beauty of having Kay here, other than just having her here, will I suppose be to use her as bait! -- where she goes, there come the other children.  Looking forward to having all of you here.

The grandmas came to visit

I'm happy to say that visits from grandmas are now becoming regular enough that I don't feel the need to blog about every one.  But I would be remiss to mention the wave of grandmas we've had here in the last few weeks.  Wes's mom, Kay, came a few weeks ago and was followed only a few days later by my mother.  I got to see a bit of the city with Kay and shared ice cream from the Pied Piper Creamery with both.  Mom and I went to the Pfunky Griddle, a breakfast place where you cook your own there at the table, with a friend from childhood who is now also living in Nashville (a very happy coincidence, indeed).  With both, we had lots of playtime and books, and mom and I monitored a nasty cold that Oliver fought for several days.  We even managed an early-morning trip to the zoo, goat petting and all though the big playground was closed.  Oliver also cemented his name for my mother, Paw-Paw (which, ironically, is also what my aunt's grandkids call her).

It's sometimes hard not being closer to family, but we are much closer now than we were in Chicago, where all visits were preceded by months of planning around the cheapest plane tickets.

Grandma Kay comes to visit

Oliver's Grandma Kay came to visit last week.  She was here for a few days and was able to spend some time with us.  She was kind enough to transplant some bushes around the house, keep Lucy company, and played with Oliver in the afternoons while I worked on schoolwork.  She even brought me a chocolate cake for my birthday earlier this month.

Ollie's big day

With dad, decked out in his suit. Playing with Uncle Bruce. Dancing with Grandma Kay and mom. Worn out after a long day traveling home.

Ollie's Journal, Weeks 4-6

Things I did:

1. Settled into something like a schedule.
2. Visited with Grandma Kay, who brought me presents and carried me around whenever I fussed. Yay for grandmas!
3. Grew and grew -- my 0-3 onesies don't fit anymore, although the pants are still long. Evidently I got mom's body proportions but dad's long arms (per the sales lady at Macy's, who sold Wes his sport coat, "monkey arms").
4. Started blowing spit and milk bubbles. Gross, yet surprisingly cute.
5. Showed some interest in toys that make noise. Fun!

Right now:
Thinking about dinner.

Can you bear it?

Wes's mom brought Oliver two very special gifts: a silver spoon and fork set that belonged to Wes's grandfather and an enormous stuffed polar bear that is currently draped over the back of our couch. The thing is enormous. I wanted to get a picture of Ollie's head up over the bear's, but his head control, while improving, isn't quite that predictable yet. He did seem to enjoy riding on the polar bear's back -- until he started to roll off. Kay told us we could just throw the bear on the floor wherever as a kind of amorphous rug. Clearly she doesn't know our dog very well, who would, in a minute, make herself at home next to if not on it.

A visit with Grandma N.

We are currently in the throes of visits from the grandmothers, jetted in to 1) gaze adoringly at their now infant grandson, 2) visit with their daughter/in-law, son/in-law, and 3) provide some help to me while Wes travels out of town for interviews. My mom came in two weeks ago while Wes went to Boston and provided me with several hours of much-appreciated nap time. She also walked the dog when Lucy needed it, changed diapers when Oliver needed it, and most importantly, helped us make the final transition to all-out nursing. Ollie, Lucy, and I all very much appreciated her presence during Wes's stint in Boston. Since she left I have at mom's suggestion initiated a once-daily midday nap on the belly, which Ollie seems to enjoy. We're also bundling him up more at night (now in his adorable "baby in a bag" outfits, which will be featured in a future post), which helps him sleep longer and more soundly at night.

Grandma Kay is here now while Wes travels to Nashville. Thank goodness for grandmas!