Ollie was having trouble with his "j" sound this summer...which ended up sounding more like a "d." My brothers taught Ollie that basketball was called "jammit." So, whenever he said it, well...you can figure it out. hilarious. Here's Ollie playing "jammit."
Ollie playing with his birthday kitchen. He loves the little hot pad Mimi made him. You might also notice the desk bell on his kitchen counter. It was one of the many thoughtful gifts he received from friends and family on his special day. Thank you! Ollie loves to ring the desk bell in the school bookstore...so one of his friends (who happens to be the bookstore manager) got him one of his own.
What?! I'm supposed to open the present? I thought it was a new chair!
Playing the fishing game at Ollie's party. Ollie was much more interested in helping Mama behind the couch instead of taking a turn fishing...which just meant more fishing time for his friends!
The night before Ollie’s birthday, Christopher and I decorated the living room with streamers, a ton of balloons, and Christmas lights. Christopher put together Ollie’s new little kitchen, and we covered it with a blanket. In the morning, we announced to Ollie that today was, in fact, his birthday. He replied, “Today is NOT my birthday!” We tried to sing, “Happy Birthday” to him, but he stopped us with, “I no like that song!” hmmm… After we got him up, he proceeded to the kitchen, just like most other mornings…to find something to eat and drink. He’s quite independent these days. On his way, he noticed one of the balloons taped to the entranceway to the living room. He started jumping up and down, giggling and saying, “I like this balloon! My birthday is ready!” The rest of the day was SOOOO much fun for all of us. Ollie loved his new kitchen and made us many wonderful dishes throughout the day, referring to himself as, “Chef Ollie…just like Daddy!”
In the afternoon, we had a little party for him with one of his little friends and two of his grown-up friends from my school. Ollie was in heaven. Each time the doorbell rang, he clapped and squealed and ushered each new guest inside. Ollie is so lucky to have such wonderful friends who care about him so much. 
This morning, he had his two-year doctor visit. He did wonderfully. He brought his toy stethoscope with him and proudly informed his doctor what it was called. He had a cute little conversation with his doctor who is so good with Ollie. The funniest thing about Ollie’s stethoscope is that whenever he uses it (on people or stuffed animals) he makes his own heartbeat (“heartbeep” as he says) sound…”ba-bum…ba-bum…ba-bum,” as he listens intently. So funny. Ollie...first thing birthday morning, playing with his new kitchen.
Ladle.
Birthday somersaults.
Transcript:
Daddy: Do a somersault for the camera. Wooo. Nice.
Ollie: That was a good somersault!
Daddy: That was a good one.
Ollie: That was a good one, Clifford! (yes...Ollie was Clifford the big red dog on his birthday. and, yes...he refers to himself in the third person.) Oh, Clifford. Making some music, Clifford! Do this balloon, Daddy!
This is Ollie opening a present from Mimi & Granddad. He had just opened a little guitar from them...and for some reason, thought this might be another guitar. Too funny. He really does like his pots and pans, though!
Some funny Ollie-isms from this week:
This morning, we were at a playground when Ollie tried to crawl through a tunnel that had a small rain puddle in it. He announces, “This tunnel is wet. I should not probably go in there.” I’m really going to miss these funny sentences when he starts putting words together differently!
A new word: “spatulizing.” Ollie adds –ing onto most nouns that perform an action, which is actually pretty cool. Yesterday, he was playing with his favorite “Daddy spatula” by pushing cars with it. When I asked him what he was doing, he said he was “spatulizing the cars.” Haha
Tonight while we were eating dinner, our upstairs neighbors started using the shower or bath. Ollie turned to me and asked, “What is that noise I hear in our ceiling?” When I explained what it was, he insisted on taking a bath “just like our neighbors.” This little guy cracks me up. My little two year old!
Ollie loves to shave just like Daddy. The cutest thing is when they both shave together in the morning. My guys!
Tennis guy flashback. These pics are from a while ago...but I think they're soooo cute! Ollie really likes to watch tennis--especially if he gets to hold Daddy's tennis racket and wear a "tennis guy" headband!
Ollie, at bedtime, pretending to be "Daddy." His hair is wet from his bath...and he's getting ready for storytime with the "Daddy sweatshirt" on. He REALLY wanted to sleep with the sweatshirt on...but he & I compromised by merely sleeping next to it. When I went in to check on him later, he was clutching it next to him. So cute. The next few nights, he insisted on going to sleep with the "Daddy blanket" covering him. He really does miss Daddy at night but likes to know that when he gets home from work he will "peek at him."
The three of us had an interesting conversation recently. While Ollie and I were waiting in the car for Daddy to come out of a store, we saw a giant raccoon cross the street. When Daddy came back to the car, Ollie excitedly said, "Daddy! A raccoon crossed the street! Ummm...animals eat raccoons." This floors me, as we don't eat animals in our house (both Ollie & I are vegetarians) and, as far as I can remember, we've never talked about how animals are considered food by other animals and some humans. So I ask him, "What do mean, Ollie?" He answers, "Ummm...sometimes foxes eat raccoons." Okay. That could be. "Where did you learn about that, Ollie?" asks Daddy. Totally ignoring the question, he continues..."and, usually frosties like to eat raccoons." ("Frosties" is the name he uses for snowmen.) Okay...I'm stumped. Maybe it's true. Maybe snowmen do eat raccoons. I guess I learned something! :)
My one year old is turning two next week! I'm not ready!!! My little guy is getting bigger and bigger every day. I look at this picture and video from July...and compare it to today...and he has changed so much. While I celebrate each of Ollie's new accomplishments, each one brings a bit of sadness, as well. Caring for a child--and watching them grow and change before your very eyes--is a constant reminder of just how little time we actually have with the people we love. Life goes so fast! I don't mean to be a downer...I'm just trying to soak up every little minute I have with this silly little boy. :)My one year old at 19 months old (yes...i'm incredibly retrospective these days!).
Transcript: (watching the birdies on top of our apartment building) Flew away! See...more. (hearing the siren) Ambulance! Ollie has had a fascination with ambulances since he was quite young and can talk for a while, now, about how ambulances come to help people who need to go to the doctor, if they have boo-boos, or are sick or hurt. Hopefully, he will never need to see an ambulance for himself.
Bedtime stories with Daddy.
We have a lot of fun going to a waterfall near our home. Today, Ollie met a friend of his there for a playdate. Here, they are stomping down sand piles. Ollie was so sweet with her. He kept giving her LOTS of hugs. She wasn't quite sure what to do with him. Maybe, we need to start talking about personal space with him! :)
Ollie & his friend sit in the giant chair.
Ollie's buddy, Sean, came to play, too! One of Ollie's favorite things about the waterfall is this elephant statue/fountain. The nice thing about cooler weather is that the water's turned off and he can ride it!
Ollie held onto this cracker for almost an hour before eating it. Too funny. 
These pics are from a trip to the waterfall this summer. I miss all of Ollie's curls!!! To this day, Ollie loves his umbrella and takes it as many places as he can. On this particular day, the umbrella went with him to the waterfall.
Post-waterfall tea party. Ollie likes to share his afternoon snacks with his bunnies. He props them up on the table, like this...talks to them and feeds them by hand. Trying to give them milk was where I drew the line. :) I thought this was so cute, I had to take a picture.
Ollie had quite an exciting morning. First, he poured milk in Daddy's cereal for him when no one was looking (and didn't spill a drop! Ollie thoroughly enjoys pouring things these days.), then...Ollie and Mama went to the beach. We had a lot of fun...until Ollie decided to go for a swim! Actually, we still had fun even then. We just had to get home, take a warm bath, and have some hot chocolate with marshmallows. yummy!
Ollie's buddy, Sean, gave him this hat yesterday. Ollie has insisted on wearing the "Sean hat" as much as he can since then...indoors and out.
In addition to loving hats, Ollie adores his mittens...which I love, since last year, we couldn't get him to keep any on. He loves them so much, though, that he's slept with them on the past three nights. It's so funny. About the only time he takes them off is to eat. Apparently, he doesn't think he's quite as efficient at eating with them on.
I enjoyed comparing the pics from our beach visit today with some from a beach day this summer (see below). It truly amazes me how much Ollie has grown and changed in just a few months! How time flies....
