A Letter to My Son

Dear Oliver,

This morning I checked on you before heading to the gym. You were quietly breathing, fast asleep but not fully covered, so I put your cozy snowman blanket over you to keep you warm. When I returned home your bedroom door was wide open — but the living room was empty and our bedroom door was still closed. A short pang of panic swept through me as I thought of where you might be. I quickly went into our bedroom, happily finding you curled up on my side of the bed, cuddled with your two cozy blankets and sleeping peacefully. 

Today was the second morning in a row that you quietly found your way to our bed, snuggling in for a little more sleep early in the morning. What a blessing! Even when it means you get twisted around, with your feet in my face, cutting my sleep short (like Sunday morning), I wouldn’t have it any other way.

It was only a few months ago that your father and I were making up games and songs and other silliness in order to impress upon you that yes, you should wake us up if you need us and we are sleeping — to let you know that we are here for you all of the time, day or night. After awhile, you began to quietly call for us from your bed (so quietly I am not sure how I heard you), eventually using a louder, but still tentative, voice. Waiting for us to come to you or to call you into our room. 

Now you regularly come into our room without hesitation, knowing you belong. You crawl into bed without waking us, curling up between us. Knowing you are home. That you belong with us. A part of our family, a part of our lives, a part of our hearts. Forever.

I love you, and I am so proud of how far you have come, how brave you continue to be. My son.

With all my heart,
Mommy 

The End is Near

April is nearly upon us. The days are lengthening, the snow is (likely) done for the year and we are getting ready to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Oliver is very excited for Easter and while I know part of his excitement is for the egg hunt and treats, he talks more about Jesus and the reason we celebrate Easter than the Easter Bunny -- that's certainly praise worthy!

The second half of March has been rather fuzzy for me -- a virus turned sinus infection has kept me on the outs for a while. I am hoping that April will bring a little health and energy my way so I can keep up with Oliver and join in some outdoors time as the weather warms. 

On the Homefront things are going well. We are still waiting for the amended Certificate of Citizenship to be redelivered and have officially passed the one year mark. Hopefully it will come soon. I'm trying to keep my cool but it's getting tough. 

I imagine many parents feel this way, but lately I feel as though I'm constantly working on things with Oliver. In nearly all of our interactions I'm sneaking in something educational, socially or developmentally challenging. Much of it comes naturally, but not all of it. And it has been wearing me down these past two weeks as I struggle with feeling better. Yet, he still warms my heart and makes me laugh all of the time. I've not yet had an overnight away, and as much as I might benefit from it, the idea of not being here for a night sends a shiver of fear through me. I wonder if that will subside before a first night away or if I will just have to push through it? 

One of the great things recently -- Oliver is singing to us! His language has come far enough along that he's now often singing to himself. Wheels on the Bus, Happy Birthday, Row Row Row Your Boat, and more. He's talking up a storm, even to himself, and his imagination continues to entertain us all. 

I don't have much for recent photos, so here's a flashback to March 2014:

And...Delayed. Again.

This post is, well, delayed. Not the delay referenced in the subject line, but rather late in being posted. While most of Minnesota enjoyed a lovely weekend outside, I have "enjoyed" some quality indoor time with a rather nasty cold. I'm finally back among the living and ready to share the latest development in our quest to prove Oliver is a citizen of the United States. 

Flashback to Thursday evening. We arrive home after dinner and collect the mail. I'm already feeling the tickle of what will be a full blown cold the following morning, and am tired. I see an envelope from USCIS and feel concern because it is folded and can't possibly be Oliver's official Certificate of Citizenship. 

My concern is quickly confirmed. Apparently they received the certified document back from the USPS as undeliverable and are giving us 180 days to provide our current mailing address before destroying the document and forcing us to start the process again. 

What?! We didn't receive any notification that a certified document was waiting for us. There was no note in our mailbox or sticker saying we needed to come in. And clearly they have our correct address since the letter asking for our current information promptly reached us. 

I cannot believe that there is yet another delay. Next week will mark one year that we have been trying to obtain an amended certificate of citizenship for Oliver. It should take 5 to 6 months!

Leave it to my two boys to add levity to the situation. Upon reading the letter I was livid. I could nearly scream, but instead of scaring Oliver, I just said that I was losing my mind. Tony promptly told Oliver that Mommy needed help finding my mind and asked that he help look for it. After a little digging, Oliver found it and put it back inside my head with a soft pat. Melt my heart! Just what I needed. 

So while I wait for USCIS to try again, I have his packet of information ready for the Social Security office the moment we get the official certificate. The finish line is in sight, just a bit further away than I hoped.

Red tape. Yuck. 

I will leave you with a photo of Oliver enjoying his tractor for the first time this season, and a couple more great phrases/words of late. 

- "Oh, it takes a little while." (Said anytime we aren't getting to where he wants to go fast enough -- getting home, getting to his birthday or another holiday, getting through the line, etc.)

- apparently 

- "When you get to be my age" (he thinks we will somehow get to be 3.5 again.  If only he knew!)

Top 10

Here are the latest top 10 phrases heard at the Meyers' house, keeping us entertained (along with my own commentary):

1. Hold on. Me show you trick.
   (used as a delay tactic or a sneaky way to show us something he knows he shouldn't be doing)
2. You came back!
   (said upon our return to him, regardless of where he is -- daycare, sunday school, our house...)
3. I come back!
   (said upon his return to one of us when he was away with the other parent)
4. Me have energy now.
   (said when he is supposed to be having quiet time but doesn't want to rest)
5. I can't remember. You tell me?
6. I a good baker. I bake cookies. Cakes too.
7. I be Astrid, you be Hookfang.
   (said to me, numerous times a day, when he wants to play Dragons)
8. Let's go on a bear hunt
   (includes eating our way through a candy factory and swimming through a peanut butter and jelly lake -- after packing our milk and crackers, of course)
9. I give you big hug and smooch
10. I love you

Oliver has been talking up a storm -- carrying on full conversations, enjoying lots of imaginary play, and making us laugh. He's full of snuggles, hugs and kisses. Overflowing with energy. Keeping us on our toes.