You run around the house without your shirt, yelling, "Moooooooommmmmmmm!!!!!!" When you find me you hug my leg before you turn and run some more. You climb on the back of the couch and jump to the leather seat and then to the pillows on the floor that you threw down moments before as you said, "Yaaaaa!" Just last night, I said, "Ow," when you climbed over my head and knelt on my hair. You jumped beside me, brushed my bangs out of my eyes with soft fingers. "Owey," you said. Your brown eyes found mine, "Owey."
Your bring me books to read but turn the pages before I can say two words. You close the cover, "Aw done." You scoot off the couch, run to the bookshelf, pick out another book, bring it to the small ottoman I use as a footrest, climb onto the soft black cube, stand up, step across to the other ottoman, jump to the couch, climb over me, sit down, open the book, turn the pages, close the cover, "Aw done." And you do it again and again and again.
You dance in the kitchen, without music. "Moomoo!" you point to the radio. "Moomoo!" When we turn on the stereo, you draw us all out to the dance floor. Turning dishes into a dance party. Not wanting your hands held, making up your own moves. Galloping across the kitchen, clapping, twirling.
You prefer to squeeze your mash potatoes between your hands or pat them flat against the table or rub them in your hair, over eating them. You eat oatmeal, with craisins, by the bowl-full. And grapes galore. But most dinners, after a bite, maybe two, you push yourself back from the table, cross your arms together, throw them up into the air, and declare, "Aw done!!!"
You climb down from your booster and run to the romp room. You may return with your Radio Flyer bike or you Mardi Gras necklaces or your wipe board or Paddington or with my shoes on your feet. You often climb up on my lap, leave hand prints on my thighs, and take a bit of my dinner.
You claim me as your own.
And Babe, as much as I love you, I can't claim you as mine. You are all your own. Making the world anew with everything you do. I can't even capture the essence of you in words-- for you will not sit still enough for semicolons, metaphor, or prose.
You are two.
Happy Birthday Olive! I love you!!!
Happy Birthday, Olive! I can't believe she's two already.
Posted by: Procrastamom | 12/19/2011 at 10:45 AM
Just so you know, I love your writing. I wish you had time to write more! I don't even remember how I found your blog, but I wish you and your family happiness in the up coming year. PS: Write a book!
Posted by: Laura | 12/19/2011 at 01:19 PM
Happy Birthday, Olive! Can't believe it's been two years!
Posted by: Shelley | 12/19/2011 at 05:34 PM
Laura, thank you! I do hope to start working on a book soon. Its been a dream for awhile. I'm glad you found my blog and I too wish I had more time to write:)
And I too can't believe Olive is already two!
Posted by: Christy | 12/19/2011 at 08:06 PM
To all Christy's readers: We all want her to write a book. She has the makings of a best seller. Keep pushing her but to find the time! Christy's parents
Posted by: Mom | 12/20/2011 at 04:43 AM
Thanks Mom and Dad for your belief in me. Love you!
Posted by: Christy | 12/20/2011 at 09:08 AM
Happy Birthday Olive!
My little girl will be 2 on the 31st. You have beautifully and perfectly captured her as well as Olive in this post.
Posted by: Amanda | 12/20/2011 at 07:31 PM
another shout out for the book here. your ability to capture your kids in words and pictures stuns me. happy birthday olive and hope everything goes smoothly at the ent for elias!
Posted by: Kate | 12/21/2011 at 04:47 AM
Does Olive look like Nick or or do you and Nick look kind of alike??
The book: set a word count goal. It doesn't matter if it is 200 words a day. That's what I keep telling myself!
But please, please, don't stop the blog.
200x 365 = 73,000 = a book! (You can of course work on it for more than a year if you want.)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLIVE GIRL!
Posted by: danielle in zurich | 12/21/2011 at 08:42 AM
Happy Birthday Olive
(sorry I'm a little late)
Posted by: Sarah | 12/21/2011 at 04:18 PM
Danielle, Nick and I look kinda alike. He has the blues eyes that Elias got and Olive has my brown ones but more of Nick's shaped face. And thanks to you and Kate for the book boost. I like the 200 words a day idea. I have at times teetered with the idea of stopping the blog to work on a book but I know I'd miss you all too much. Plus then who would be there to read it when I finished?
And thanks for the birthday wishes Sarah and Amanda and a happy b-day to your little girl on the 31st!
Posted by: Christy | 12/21/2011 at 08:58 PM
Perfect.
Happy Birthday to you both.
Posted by: Shannon | 12/26/2011 at 09:59 AM