Ramone

Dear Olivia,

First, let's talk about park encounters.

At the park, swinging next to a little black boy...
O:  Hi.
No response
O:  I'm wearing my sister's pants.
No response
O:  What's your name?
Jordan
O:  Jorda?
JordaN
O:  Jordash?
JordaNNN!
O:  Oh.  Jordan.  OK.  My name's Olivia.
(Jordan runs off)
O:  What was he in such a hurry for?

Next, we have a few things to catch up on...

 State fair.  Food.  Fun.  Predictable.  Love.

You love aunt Amber.  She took you for a day to the mall, the zoo, her house...and you loved that!

Family camp...you were making plans to live here.  Olivia, I could live at camp too.

Cousin's camp ...here you are only crying because you bumped your head on a rock.  After the tears, you talked non-stop about the fun.  Thank you Aunt Mel and Uncle Marcus for the forever-memories!

You sat with great-grandma Miller and told her about cousins camp.  Grandma says you're maturing into a sweet little girl instead of a toddler:)  If I could freeze time, I would...

Sierra's birthday cake included Elsa...this cake raised the bar for all future cakes and I have a feeling you won't want just a "purple cake" anymore.

Finally, we should talk about our last trip to mom's doctor.  First you double checked to make sure mom was getting shots, not you.

Then you looked up during the ultrasound and saw the monitor...

"Is that a BABY?"

"Cate, we're having a BABY!"

"We're having a BABY, Cate!"

According to you, the baby is a boy and his name will be Ramone.  

Ramone is the name of the cat on a cartoon, Peg Plus Cat, which we never watch.

I had never considered naming a baby after an IPTV spanish cat...but maybe you're on to something.

Love,

mom

on being black...and other things

Dear Olivia,
This has been our favorite summer with you!  The next blog will be about that.

Today I am writing your thoughts on life, because if I don't, I will forget.

On Mother's Day (After giving me a card and I unwrap your gift and we hug):
Daddy:  "Who's the best mommy in the world??"
You:  "Aunt Kathy?"

On naming things:
  Frog's name=Kermis
  Pet rock=Aaron
Olivia, what's your doll's name?
  Salad-a  (Familiar word plus your own ending).
  Piano-dy

On strawberry shortcake Underwear:
  "mom, they match than the movie"

On wedgies:
  "why do my undies keep going up?"

On bridges:
  "mom there's a bridge.  is this a bridge?  now are we on a bridge?  are there cars under the bridge? mom?  mom?  mom? mooooooooom?  is this another bridge?"
  (REPEAT from Altoona to West Des Moines.)

On losing Snoop:
"oh no.  My dog is lost and gone forever.  I guess we will have to get another dog.  Probably a purple poodle this time."
(We found him so you will have to wait on your purple poodle.)

On black baby boys:
  "mom, could we trade Cate?  I want a boy instead."
  "No, we can't trade babies."
  "then can we go to heaven to get a boy?  I want a black one."

On being black:
  "I'm not black, but I'm tannish."

It's funny how Alaina is steering, but nobody's eyes are open.

The teddy bear picnic that trumps all other teddy bear picnics.

Aquarium=so cool you didn't realize it was educational

Isabelle, Olivia, Amelia climbing, looking, exploring the aquarium.

Painting is always more fun on faces

You are a daddy's girl, there's no hiding it, and I think it's sweet.

Great aunt Cindy read to you and your cousins and I heard you asking LOTS of questions:)

Your new friends, Emily and Sierra:)  This was your first visit to Menchies.  

Could you have been more excited?  I don't think so!

I couldn't ask for a sweeter little Olivia.

mom

"A person is a person, no matter how small." -Dr. Seuss

Dear Cate and Olivia,

I am writing to you both on Olivia's blog because I know baby V is very dear to Olivia's heart. 

On February 6, mommy and daddy found out we would be having another baby to love.  First we told Olivia.  Olivia wanted to know if it could be a boy.  Also, could he be black?

Mommy felt very sick for awhile, but then I didn't feel sick anymore.  So we went to the doctor for an ultrasound.  Cate sat on my legs while we watched.  Then, the room became very quiet.  Our ultrasound tech stammered for words and Cate looked up at me with her big eyes, then rested her head in my lap.  Olivia quickly forgot what we were watching and listening for, and started asking the tech questions.  "Are you the doctor?"

Olivia, for weeks it seemed you forgot all about the baby in mommy's tummy.

Until today.

"Mommy, can I have a baby brother?"
You have a baby sister instead.
"Do boys cost too much money?"
We just have the girls God gave us.
"Where did the baby go from your tummy?"
Well sometimes babies go straight to heaven instead of being born.
"Did the baby died?"
Olivia, when you were a baby you grew bigger.  This baby didn't get bigger, but the little baby went to heaven.
"Oh.  I want to go there too."

Olivia and Cate, there is nothing I want more for you than to have Christ be the Lord of your lives.  Dad and I pray this salvation and eternal peace for you every day. 

Then, when we get to heaven, we can all meet this little black brother of yours;)

Love,
mom

my little minion

Dear Livey LooLoo,

You are as pinky-purple-girly-girl as a girl can be.

Aunt Mel got you the "married dress" you always wanted.  Later in your bedroom, you swung the dress around saying, "It's a dream come true!"

For your 4th b-day we went to Teddy Bear Connection with the cousins.  Each of you got a mini-animal to stuff and name.  You got to take home Tigger, although you wanted to take home Santa Bear.

Paige reads to her cousins:)

"You found my ring you Amaaaazing mommy."

"Dear God, thank you that mommy be mean to me like a witch and I talk back and mommy say to be respectful.  Thank you that mommy be mean like a witch.  Amen." 

--Moms have to say sorry sometimes too!

 

you: "onion"

everybody else:  minion

 

And, now that you have your glasses, you're even more my little minion.

 

Love,

your Amaaaaazing mommy