We've been through the flu. I haven't been sick since May of 2005, and all that time was made up for. I got it, then Ethan and Shaun got it, and two weeks later, all we have left is the sniffles. It was rough. Shaun and Ethan went to the LSU basketball game last week. I made the mistake of telling him he was going the morning of, so it was a REAL disappointment when I dropped him off at school instead. Mama lesson learned. Shaun and Ethan built a box in the garage today with REAL TOOLS. It was a pretty big deal. Ethan painted it, and now we have to decide what it will hold. Napkins? Books? Keys? Only time will tell.
Enjoy the pics. E

See ya later pacifier! Free at last, free at last. We've finally kicked the pacifier habit, we have also kicked about three hours of sleep per day. My mantra is that he will get used to it and get back in his old 730 to 730 habit. Right? Please? I know its all complicated by the freedom of big boy bed... and maybe he wasn't sleeping as much as I thought before?! Now we get woken up with a creepy "hello mama, hello daddy" at 645... and did I mention that he's naked with a football helmet on at the foot of the bed? Ah... independence. This morning he decided it would be nice to put lotion on my arms to wake me up. Ahhhhhh! He came in there, he told me, to give me a "sloshun sussage." I suppose that is lotion massage... but I'm still confused.
We've reverted on everything possible in order to win with the pacifier... he hates the potty, hates to sleep, hates yogurt, only wants a juice, with a lid.. with 1 piece of ice. Whatever the male version of diva is, is what he is becoming. We're trying to stay ahead of his game. I told him that if he couldn't stay in his big bed, we were going to have to put his crib back together so he could sleep in there. I probobly went to far... telling him he was a baby, etc... there might have been a little piece of shame involved... all he said was "where's my screwdriver?" I lose again.
Ta ta.... E

SNOW DAY! He donned his boots at 830 this morning, and I had to talk him down until 3 when there was finally enough snow. The only good thing about our steep back yard is the totally rad sledding trails that it makes. Boy Wonder took a couple of trips by himself and had to be bribed inside with hot chocolate. I'll try to post a video. Who knows if it will work.

That Nana has an insatiable hunger for the blog. More more! It's never enough. So here I go. I suppose you don't pull up this page if you aren't interested. We are in full swing of year TWO! He vacillates between sweet and considerate; he gives Zoe a blanket when she goes to bed, he says thank you, and you're welcome, he offers us bites of applesauce without fail. But for ever moment of sweet comes the moment of opposition; "I don't have bubbles! I don't have milk! I don't go bed!" and my newest moment of awe: " Don't touch it mama." WHAT? You're tellin' ME not to touch something? Whatever, just don't scream.
His little brain is coming up with all new concepts. His commentary is never ending. The cows eat salad for supper, he likes boys and girls, he says "how yoooou mama?" when I come to pick him up at school. I asked him today if he was happy, and he said "Noooo, I'm not happy, I'm a big boy!" He asks us "what doin' mama? what doin' daddy?" then tells us what he doin. What a trip.
Latest cognitive skill is the beginnings of temporal concepts. He now knows that what is happening NOW as you take a picture can be reviewed LATER for enjoyment. He used to want pictures of things to just appear on the screen. So, we now take pictures and pictures and pictures of Bob the Builder ( "he so silly, bob bob aran") in different places (bobobaran on couch! bobobaran in bed! bobobaran on bike!)
So Nana, these moments are immortalized in print. If you get itchy, you can read it again. I'll try to find literary prose in tomorrow.

Here are sundry pics. Nothing much is new. Ethan and Sarah Max went to Pump it Up in Little Rock, and they, um, pumped it up. Every Oliver that lives here spent all day yesterday in his or her pajamas. It was lovely. Shaun is teaching Ethan how to highlight financial documents appropriately in case of an audit. Help me!
All is well... I'll try to take more interesting pictures next week. :)E

Are your taxes done?

Happy new year! We went to First Night Fayetteville, where Ethan had some hot chocolate, and witnessed a puppet parade in the bitter cold. It was fun and all, but we finished off the year with some PIE! A good finale, I think.





I've been saying for about a year now (squeaky mom voice) " I don't know about this whole toddler bed thing... I don't understand it, seems silly, why would anyone do it, waa waa waa." And now I'm there. Seems the toddler bed is reserved for when your kid turns himself into a ninja, and he is no longer physically or psychologically contrained by a crib. I'm so disappointed- I was going to keep him in that crib until he started kindergarten.

Not much to say... we're generally overwhelmed with all the new toys. He likes to play all by himself in his room (with Zoe to boss around), thinks he can play Jingle Bells, and since I know you all missed out on the Christmas Card Moon this year, I included the longer leaner version of the cutest buns on the planet! He does still like to ponder things in the nude. Happy new year! E

Mama got a new camera!! It was about time. Luckily, my elf gave it to me early enough to get all our holiday pics. This must be what Hanukkah is like. We've been amongst shiny paper and bows since the 19th. Shalom! We've seen cousin after cousin, gotten in touch with ALL our roots, and we're back home to welcome Santa's gifts. You should hear Ethan's version of Frosty the Reindeer. It's a mix of the obvious two with some happy birthday and Jesus thrown in there. Is this our third Christmas with child? I guess so. He lost his steam halfway through, had a cookie and cocoa break, then managed to get everything unwrapped. I have no idea what order these pics will post in, I'll do my best to keep them chronological.
















The turning point of his morning was when he discovered the football helmet. He's proclaimed himself "football helmet player" and when Rachel touched his jersey, he very calmly (perfect Mama mirror), with his pointer finger extended, said "put it down, Rachel." I apparently need to curb my pointing, as it is not becoming. Rachel and I always take an annual I can't believe we look this bad EVERY CHRISTMAS MORNING picture, so here's the 25th annual for prosperity's sake.

Ethan is out cold after his morning. Perhaps he'll sleep long enough to get the paper cleaned up. Merry Christmas Hannakuh Kwanza Ede. :) EO

Quote of the week. Everyone says I should write this stuff down so i can remember it. He opened ANOTHER christmas present, and discovered some new slippers... then he says, straight to my face, "oh (sigh), cozy toesies, I don't like them" and put them back in the bag. Nice.
This boy loves to help in the kitchen. We had a snow day on Saturday, so we baked and baked and baked and made Christmas treats. Ethan Wonka takes his ritz dipping very seriously, and says "don't touch it mama, MINE!"
I think we missed out opportunity on Christmas cards. Maybe I'll get some out by St. Patrick's.
:) E

"Look mama, a present!" he said as he brought me a newly unwrapped present from under the tree. Luckily, it wasn't anything I wasn't supposed to see. He's figured out that taped up shiny things yeild cool new toys.
We are definately seeing the Christmas season through new eyes. "I see christmas lights!" is screamed with joyous fervor, "I see a snowman frosty!" can make us turn the car around. We wave, we scream, we have become those people.
He thinks he's too big to sit in his chair at the table now, and prefers his meals "on da tool" at the counter.
Even if you tell grandparents not to buy things for birthdays, the show up with entire cooking sets and send tricycles. For real? They apparently have done this before, as he's either cooking or trying to ride "E-tan's mo-cycle Momo." Please note my ingenious pedal extenders... i ziptied his old crocs to some styrofoam... now he's got closer pedals with bike shoes attached. Now he can take four pushes forward, and four pushes back. I should market that and become rich.






I hear the Frosty song on XM radio.. a party I don't want to miss. See everyone soon! E