~Oliver Joseph~

Born 9.02.10. “O” is for original!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Oliver Joseph!!!

I love how the kids call you Oliver Joseph because they hear me calling you that just like a mama calls her kid’s full name when he’s in trouble. I love how you laugh when I’m mad even though I want to throw my hands up and scream. I love how you always say, “thank you.” I love how you follow me around all the time like you just need to be near me.

I love you!!!

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. ~Psalm 139: 14

Oh Oliver!

For the majority of your two years of life I have been your Nanny. It has been a wonderfully fascinating experience. My words fail to adequately express the joy of being a Nanny that is in part owed to you.

I’m amazed at how quickly the past year has gone by and even more amazed at how much you’ve grown. You went from walking to the cutest run ever. I’ve tried to catch your little bounce on tip-toes on video but have yet to succeed.

You may be wondering why I chose the picture of you crying in the booth at Chuck E. Cheese for your birthday post. And you may even ask me, “why?” Because you started asking why at around 20 months old and I am still scratching my head. I’ve never heard a child so young ask why. I’ve tried to tell you that most kids start the endless questioning of why at the age of four but you just asked, “why”. To answer your assumed question, I chose this picture because no matter what emotion you are feeling, you express it with intensity.

You no longer fight me at naptime like an animal being caged against his will. I’m not sure where the transition to surrender took place but I am forever grateful for it. You parted ways with your beloved nu-nu. And you’ve recently graduated from the pack-n-play to a mat at naptime. There’s been some resistance but it’s nothing like the battles of yesteryear. You talk incessantly when you wake up way too early because you’re not used to sleeping on a couple inches of cushion. Your talking threatens to wake Gavin and Ronnie and I have to move you. But at least it ends without an exhaustive fight.

Did I mention that you talk incessantly? Every single week you say something that astounds me. You listen carefully to what you hear and chime in with your input. I told Mommy that I thought you didn’t like my juice because you leaned over the wagon at the bus stop one afternoon and spit it out. Mommy told me that you’ve been spitting a lot lately and she didn’t know who you got that from. You answered right away, “Daddy!” This is why it’s so important for us to be careful what we say. Little ears are listening.

You’ve also started protesting in the form of, “I HATE . . . {fill in the blank}!” Of course you probably picked that up somewhere but the thing is that you know just how to express the things you hear. You don’t just repeat words—you know how to use them. If you don’t want what’s being offered like the water that you’ve drank for nearly two years, you respond, “I HATE water!” I have a why question for you. Why does Nanny have to work with teenagers in children’s bodies like yours and Sophie’s?

At two years old you are fully potty trained. You initiated this process when you were only  17 months old. You don’t even sleep in Pull-Ups! This is such a huge accomplishment for a little boy at such an early age. I remember the first time that Gavin yelled, “NANNY! Oliver pee-peed!” I went to my bathroom expecting to find a puddle on the floor. But instead I found you half naked, with your underwear on the floor and the potty lid half cocked. Somehow you had climbed on that potty and peed all by yourself. Even when you have an accident you can generally be found in the bathroom by the potty. {We’ll just forget about the incident you had the Thursday before last when I was just hours from leaving for the beach. At least you tried to get the toy mop and broom to clean up the mess afterwards.} We will plan to celebrate your success soon like we did for Little Ronnie. And who knows! Maybe Nanny’s grandson, Gavin, will decide to follow suit soon.

Speaking of celebrating—Nanny, Sophie, Gavin and Ronnie are so very sad for having missed your birthday party last weekend. Even though it was due to circumstances beyond our control, our hearts were very saddened and Sophie expressed this through tears most of our way home from Alabama. Maybe we’ll do some celebrating at Pretend and Play soon.

Oliver, you have grown into such a smart little boy and I am reminded that Nanny is not the only teacher. You are still teaching me. When it appears you will never run out of energy and you are following me around my house asking ninety kinds of why, I will sometimes sigh heavily and try to get you to go play with the other boys. And it’s like you can read me. You run to me just like you do when I’m fussing at you sternly and you throw your arms around my legs and squeeze the love right out of me. How could I resist?

You are not only repeating what you say, but also what you see. You are eager to learn as is evident by your potty training. You want to help with everything I do. This is a constant reminder to me of the importance of patience. You are always challenging my orderly Nanny ways and making me think outside the box.

You may fight for what you want with the boys and with Nanny. Sometimes there’s tears and even the boys get upset with you. {*wink*} But you always, always, apologize in the end and you express your great love for others. As I’ve said, you feel everything with intensity. But you know what? I have a best friend like that. And there is a lot to be said for this kind of personality. There is never a dull moment. And no matter what, you have a heart that feels deeply for others. It shows already.

I’m so proud to be your Nanny! I take no credit at all for the amazing little boy that you are. I know our Lord deserves all of the praise and glory! He has shown me how to be your Nanny. And I know that in all of the asking why, He will reveal Himself to you.

. . . Hopefully, in part, through Nanny.

I love you more than clean bathrooms and peaceful naptimes!

{Super}~Nanny