Oliver Turns 4

Today Oliver turns four! I remember his birth like it was yesterday- all 8 hours in our home in Washington, DC. He was my hardest labor, my little lightweight who packed quite a punch. I loved him from the moment I saw him, and the name we had chosen fit his little face and personality from the start.

Oliver is as sweet as a peach and has the round soft cheeks to go along. He is pretty easy going and has such a good outlook on life. He is the most appreciative, grateful person I have ever known. Give him a small toy and he will cherish it, hug and kiss it, and carry it around for days, sleep with it at night. He will thank you profusely and tell you, “Oh! I just love this little thing so much! I’m so glad to have this!” It is so endearing, it’s difficult to restrain myself from buying him little things all the time. But that, of course, would ruin it!

Oliver is more calm than his two brothers. He has a huge imagination and can play quietly by himself on “the gold chair” for hours, or draw in the dirt, or sing to himself in the living room as he lies down on the couch. And good thing, because he was months away from turning two when he gave up all naps. But when his big brother is gone, he sure does notice and miss him.

Lately, his favorite thing to do has been to dress up in last Halloween’s spider costume (but he will correct you and tell you it is a tarantula), make a “lair” for himself with pillows, and snuggle in. If he asks you to play “tarantulas,” say yes. All you have to do is sit with him and give him hugs, tell him you like his lair, and pat his soft spidery head. But be warned: personal space is an issue for this one.

But sweet sweet Oliver is also one force to be reckoned with. He is headstrong beyond belief. If, for instance, at dinnertime, you do not serve one of the five foods he currently eats, be prepared for a battle of epic proportions. Many a night he goes to bed hungry after holding out for something different. We are consistent with him (this is what’s for dinner, and nothing else), and in turn he is consistent with us (I will not eat that no matter what, no matter how hungry I am).

Oliver at four idolizes his big brother Milo and dotes on his little brother Emil. He can do cool tricks (he has counted 18 new ones this summer) and loves preschool. He loves pancakes for dinner, the color purple, and sleeping pressed up against the side rail of his bed, so that when he awakens in the morning, he sometimes has the mesh pattern across his forehead or cheek.

Happy Birthday, Oliver. You are so lovely. I hope this year is the best one yet for you, my buddy!