To: Oliver Love: Mommy

Dear Oliver,

I am taking over your blog for this one entry.  Now that you are 18 months old, I wanted to take this opportunity to reflect on some of my favorite moments of being your mom.  Where should I begin?

The day you were born my life changed in a way that I could never have imagined.  Your birth was one of the best days of my life.  I could have never imagined what adventures the next 18 months would bring for the two of us.  I knew instantly that you were going to be a curious, loving, intelligent little person.  Most babies are so tired when they are first born that they sleep for hours.  Not you!  The second the nurse put you in my arms you looked at your dad and me with this very inquisitive look in your eyes.  There is no doubt in my mind you were studying us because you knew we were going to be an important part of your life.  Little did I know at the time that this alertness would lead to you having a love of staying awake!  

From that moment on, you have been on the go.  You love doing all sorts of new things.  Over the past 18 months, we have spent countless weekends in Maine and Mashpee.  You've flown on an airplane twice- once for Uncle Mike and Aunt Carolyn's wedding and once for the funeral of your Great Uncle Tony.  We've taken many other road trips together.  You've been down to Long Island for Aunt Erin's shower and to visit Uncle Matt, Aunt Shannon and Lorelai.  You've been out to Williamstown to see where mommy and daddy went to college.  You've been to New York City for Uncle Dan and Aunt Erin's wedding.  You've been to Pennsylvania to attend GG's funeral.  We've taken all sorts of local trips.  We've been to the Boston Children's Museum twice, the Stone Zoo, North Shore Children's Museum, Peabody Essex Museum, Ipswich Historical Society, the library for numerous story hours, trips to the Hamilton House to see The Music Man.  We have gone to almost a dozen different parks and taken Charley for an absurd amount of walks.  One of my favorite things we have done together is go on The Polar Express Ride this past winter where you saw Santa, the Elves and Frosty.  You've been my buddy for 18 months now!

I hope you realize how lucky you are to have so many people in your life who love you so much.  Your daddy just thinks you are the greatest little person.  He would do anything for you.  He works so hard and hopefully you learn from his work ethic.   Your Grammi and Dziadzia love spending time with you as does your Nonna and Papa.  I think you will always associate a purse and keys with your Grammi and going for rides with your Dziadzia.  I will never forget you looking out the window, seeing Dziadzia's truck in the parking lot and shouting "Dziadzia, ride, Dziadzia, ride" and getting incredibly excited when he got to the door to take you for a ride.  With Nonna and Papa, your favorite spot is that cabinet in their kitchen where you have no problem at all making yourself at home.  They also introduced you to Elmo and dates.  By dates, I mean the fruit!  Your Uncle Mike and Aunt Carolyn live down the hall and for some reason, you seem to think they are both named "Bike"!  They have spent hours with you and you are lucky they are your godparents.  Your other godparents, Uncle Dan and Aunt Erin introduced you to King Bidgood and I am convinced that it is because of that book that you started talking so early.  We have read that book hundreds of times together.   You also have your Aunt Margaret, Uncle Tom, Aunt Shannon and Uncle Matt who I know will always be there for you if you ever need anything.

Over the past few months your vocabulary has really developed.  I love that you shake people's hands and say "How do you do?"  And you are always asking "What is that?"  One of your favorite words is "beer".  Not sure how you learned it but you know it's a silly word because every time you say it you start smirking.  We have all sorts of songs that we sing together.  You love the My Buddy song.  You lean your head into mine and start singing.  There's also the song Bye Bye Baby that I made up.  You also like Itsy Bitsy Spider and Patty Cake.  You are such a big help around the house.  You love to help with the laundry, swiffering the floor and using the windex.  I cannot forget to mention Choo Choo Soul and Mickey.

Boy do you love your sister.  She is the first person you ask for in the morning and the last person you say good night to at night.  You give her kisses and help me as much as possible.  You have your own baby named Baby who you change, feed, swaddle, kiss and love.  Watching you with your baby makes me realize just how loving and gentle you are.  I know that as you get older you will be the best big brother in the world.

The past 18 months have flown by but they have been really special.  You've already changed my life in so many ways.  Every morning you wake up and have this excitement in your eyes as if to say "what are we doing today?"  You make me smile.  You make me laugh.  You make me think about things differently.  You challenge me.  I hope that you don't ever change.  Because of having you and your sister, I appreciate my own parents so much more.  I could never understand the love a parent feels until I became one myself.  I only want the best for you.  I don't want you to ever be afraid to go after your dreams and goals.  Your dad and I will always be there to support you and encourage you with whatever you choose to do.  This is your life to live and I want you to live it to your fullest.  You will encounter difficult times in your life but as long as you know how loved you are by all your special people you will be fine.  I cherish you my little one.

I love you,

Mom