To My Birthday Boy

 An Ollie Tale

Where to begin? Ah, yes. Concerning Ollie. . .

Ollie's are happy, jolly and love to eat. You prefer to be comfortable and cozy, rather than run off and have adventures. Most times.

Thus making you a hobbit of sorts. . .

You have had one rockstar of a year, kiddo. First year of Middle School is in the books! You are now a 7th grader, baby! This year you were MISTER MIDDLE SCHOOL - You got all the awards - 4.0 ALL YEAR, choir student of the year and more. You were everywhere. Choir, drama, honor society, out with friends, swim parties, birthday parties, retirement parties. It is amazing to see you figure out what brings you joy. 

You DO still love your alone time. Video games ("I am at the end of my game, do not come in."), making movies, writing novels, playing with toys you have room to do so after cleaning your room, recording the entire Alexander Hamilton song with your pandas, playing piano, just bonking stuff. 

You were selected Choir Student of the Year for the 6th grade. INCREDIBLE. Mr. Gordon said that you are missed when you're not there. I am so proud of you, Bean. You had a solo at each concert. You were so confident and amazing. Your voice, your ear, your ability to remember it all - chef's kiss.

You were in the Seussification of Romeo and Juliet and did SO MANY shows and had so many rehearsals! It was INCREDIBLE. We LOVED going to see your performances and what an impressive cast.

You did math camp with Mr. Holmquist over the summer and went to his retirement party. He waited for you all to be his student before he decided it was time to retire. I'm so glad you and Felix and dad got to be his students. That is such a special thing.

We did some fun traveling. We went to Lompoc and we loved it just like always. Swimming and Floriano's, BABY. UGH you always love the pool so much. And I just love how the house feels like home instantly. You've gotten to be a really great swimmer. I should probably get the OTHER color of Santa Barbara sweatshirt next time, huh?

We went back to Seabrook for the first time in a LONG time. And we brought our bikes! You and Felix biked to town and we went to the ocean and went to secret beach and had pizza and ice cream and you made a huge fort in the downstairs with the couch cushions.

There were some hard things you tackled this year, too. I think it's important to remember how strong and brave and smart and kind you are even in and especially in hard times. You had friends go thru some stuff and you supported them while still using your resources to care of yourself. You were so clear with your words that you wanted to go back to therapy and we found you a good one who has given you tools and your whole vibe has shifted for the better and happier.

You've been quite the little baker and chef this year, too. You are EXCELLENT at making eggs and have made them for all of us. Even for the ramen, you're great at it. AND you made the most amazing panda cake EVER. Just wow, it looked amazing and tasted great.

It's been an incredible year, I'd do it all over in a heartbeat, there and back again, for sure. Thanks for choosing me to be your mom.

All my love, 

Your mama

To My Birthday Boy

Oh sweet boy. What a wonderful, hilarious, joyful, exceedingly blissful year it's been. What do you think of your life so far? It's hard to believe that, twelve years ago today, I was just going in for one of your last checkups only to find you'd be joining us in the world a few short whirlwind hours later.

FOURTEEN. I cannot believe you’re 14. Seriously. Where does the time GO. Every single year. Every single year when I go to write this, I think, "That age, that cannot be right." 

I love listening to you sing. In the car. Thru the walls. You have a great voice and you sing with such passion. And even still, when you’re on stage I wonder if you’re having fun because you’re so serious.

I love how much you love your people. I hope you always have the serious face and dedicated passion for protecting, supporting and encouraging those you love.

This year you started guitar lessons. You can play Zelda and Mario and seem to be loving it! Hour long classes and you’re just so here for it.

We had sleepovers at home and away. 

You started your last year of middle school. 8th grade. Amazing. You’re crushing it. Truly. Schoolwork and work ethic on lock. You know you’re good at math even if you don’t like it. You’ve grown into all the parts of school and you like most of it and and I cannot wait for your last concert of the year. 

We went back to Seabrook for the first time in a long time. You were allowed to go to town by yourself and to escort Ollie. You loved that freedom and you said how you can’t wait for your license so you can run errands for us.

You have your new laptop and gods you love love love playing with your friends until so so so early in the morning. You scream so loudly it’s a wonder you have a voice.

When you get mad or frustrated, you move thru it so quickly. I’m amazed how you can be so intensely angry one minute and then totally rational the next. You feel safe to feel your feelings and then we just move on. Incredible.

You are tall and have man muscles. You eat a sandwich for snack, have a full dinner and then have a hot pocket or two before bed. Your bones hurt sometimes for how fast you grow.

You are SO into dinosaurs. I love listening to you and how much you know. I love to ask you questions about them. I could listen to paleontology Felix for hours.

We still cannot be in the car together for any length of time without talking about politics. We’re so curious and care so hard, we’ve had so many convos about the world.

I love how most than daily you come into the USLR to tell me you love me and tell me about your day and to lay your head on my knee. You’re so gentle and sweet and little still. I keep waiting for you to turn into this sullen teenager who hates communicating and his family but you continue to love being with us and talk to us and share your life with us. When we had some time off this year and we planned to watch movies, you brought your laptop down to hangout with us. We all had so much fun doing our own thing next to each other. You’re one of my favorite people, kiddo.

I think you’re a great, cool kid and the best son a mom could ask for. Stay kind, stay curious, stay little and stay kind, even when the world seems against you, work to change it. Tuck on in next to me and tell me about your drawing and building and newest joke. You're my most favorite Felix in the whole world. I know I say it each year, but seriously, best year of my life.  

All my love, 
Your mama