Mile High Hamiltons: Big Five O

Wow... FIVE!

Five whole years since we labored for 24 hours, walking the halls of the hospital with inconsistent contractions, insane gut wrenching pain and great anticipation of meeting Oliver. He was right on time with an arrival the day before his due date. The on-call Dr tried sending me home since the contractions were inconsistent but I insisted on staying because the time had arrived. Never underestimate a Mother's instinct, or laboring mood. I say "we" labored because Keith was the rock that grounded the process. He walked the halls, provided an arm for squeeze relief and gave hallway encounters a friendly smile as if to say "don't mind the laboring woman buckled over in the hallway, there's nothing to see here."

Inconsistent laboring had nothing to do with Oliver's personality In fact, it is the complete opposite. I think that was just mother nature preparing us that every master plan is now open for variation now that we are about to be parents. Oliver is an enhanced version of his Mother with a big dose of his Father. He is a planner to the core. He wants to know when, where, what, who and why. His father brings out the why and how. Everything is a lesson, much beyond what most would say are his comprehensible years. Not Oliver. He has a big 'ol curious brain that is brilliant and his Daddy fuels it with vast knowledge of how things work and what makes the world turn. On top of all of this, he is an extreme competitor and perfectionist. When he sets out to do something, he does it well and strives to do it faster and better than the competition. Our Oliver is amazing and we cherish every single day with him. Someday, he'll want to go off to college and conquer the world but until then, we'll hold him close and smother him in kisses and bun pinches.

Labor started at 3:15 October 13, Saturday Morning. He was born at 3:14 AM October 14, Sunday Morning. By time everything was done and we were in recovery it was 5 AM. The Doctor insisted that we send Oliver to the nursery so that I could get some sleep. At 7:30 AM, Keith and I were awake and calling for our baby. It was like Christmas morning and we couldn't sleep anymore. When we called for Oliver, the nurse expressed concern that I was suppose to be sleeping and I said "but it's like Christmas morning!" Five years later and Oliver's birthday is still like Christmas morning.

All through the week prior, the mailman was busy delivering boxes for Oliver. Oliver always checks for boxes on the front porch but somehow he had missed the arrival of every single one of these. I guess it had been a while and he had given up on the box delivery.

The night before Oliver's birthday we stacked the boxes at the bottom of the stairs so that they were the first thing he saw. When he came into our room Sunday morning (same day that he was born) we asked if he saw anything and he said with awe and wonder "a big stack of boxes". The excitement was just like Christmas morning when we told him that they were all for him and he could open them NOW!

But first... a photo or two.

The stack of gifts from family was taller than he was!

In the wee hours of the morning, even before Kellan was up, he dove into the boxes.

What could possibly be in here?

See how the sun hasn't even come up yet outside.

Bey Blade, Bey Blade, Let it Rip!

This turned out to be his all time favorite birthday gift. Who would have known?

Oh ya... Grandma Garner!!! She has a secret weapon with Rio. He's two years older than Oliver and gives Grandma a sneak peak into all things cool for boys.

Aunt Lindsey and Uncle Jeff caught wind that Oliver is a HUGE Broncos Fan.

Watch out Broncos, here's your next NFL star... in 18 years!!

He got some great books from Nana and Papa.

Our book shelf is full, but we are in need of some new ones. His Daddy says "we need new books. I've read the ones we have a thousand times!"

Uncle Jerry has been getting text messages with flag football updates and he knows that Oliver loves football. Uncle Jerry lives in Oregon with the Oregon Ducks. I kept getting text messages that "O is for Oliver." Ya ya ya... we get it. He had sent Kellan's birthday gift in the same box, so he must have put O on Oliver's so that we would know them apart. Well.... it took a few minutes but then we got it. OH... O is for Oliver!!!

It's hard to see, but the t-shirt has a silhouette of football players and the Oregon Duck O is actually for OLIVER!!

As the sun was brightening the sky, Oliver was waking up the neighborhood with a duck call.

It was a HOOT!

er... uh... a QUACK or a good time!

Uncle Brian knows how to pick a great gift when the Monster Truck arrived.

Nana and Papa sent a Sack of Snakes. EWWW!!!! Yes... the boys loved them!!

Kellan hooked Oliver up with some new bullets for his nerf guns.

Then... it was time for the grand gifts.

For months, the gift that he had been asking for.

He was SO excited that I wish I had it on video.

He expressed this with "Oh... COOL!!"

A light up Light Saber!!

In no time, the fight was on.

Kellan, he was content reading the card.

Then, it was time to Let it Rip.

The Light Saber hit the floor and the battle was on in the Bey Blade arena.

Bey Blades were deemed the favorite gift.

Oliver was determined to conquer Daddy in the Bey Blade battle.

Kellan was standing by to judge the battle.

Yes, the light sabor still came out to battle now and then, even with the Darth Vador mask.

Later that morning I conducted an interview of a few of Oliver's favorite things. I got this idea from another blog to list his favorites, plus, I thought it was a great way to capture a few moments from Oliver. You'll also notice that we captured a few moments of Kellan who was upstairs in the play room.

That afternoon, Oliver had flag football.
It was a great fall day for Kellan to discover random things the trees were dropping like these berries.

Mommy was standing by for some great action shots.

and maybe a movie star lip pout.

The teams were lined up to hear a word from the ref and do the coin toss.

Oliver spent some time on the side, as all the boys do. Isn't he a cutie pie?!

There goes our big Five Year Old!

Headed down the field for another touch down!!!!

On the sidelines, Cole and Kellan were more interested in the action on the iPad than the action on the field.

There he goes again, for another touchdown.

On the way home, he had to call his peeps (aka return Nana and Papa's call).

That night was our traditional Red Robin birthday dinner.

YUM!!

On the way there, Kellan serenaded Oliver with a traditional birthday song.

Kellan and Mommy had to cool off the fries because they were HOT HOT HOT!!!

Oliver had a smiley face fry.

Daddy and his football star.

Mommy and her snuggle bug.

Oliver was SO excited for the Red Robin birthday song and dessert, but this is the look he gave the wait staff. Good thing they didn't take his sunday back.