Ollie Turns One-and-a-Half. AND It's Mother's Day. AND "The Roo Review" Retires!!

Today is a big day. Huge.

First of all, and most importantly, our beloved "Baby Roo," our little "Sneaker Peeker," the one and only "Hurricane Ollie" turns one-and-a-half years old. Eighteen months. Today is May 10 and it's his official halfway-t0-two birthday. Happy Birthday, Baby Roo! We love you so so much and every single day with you has been a treasure! You are full of joy, always adventurous, always pulling your unpredictible antics, and always making us laugh. Our family is blessed because you are in it!

Today is also Mother's Day. This morning, Mike got up with the kids and let me sleep in. At about 8:30, he came into the room holding a breakfast tray with both boys in tow. On the tray: two eggs over easy with toast, grapefruit, yogurt, hot French-pressed coffee, silverware, napkin. Also on the tray: a handmade Mother's Day card from Mike and Merrit on which Merrit wrote "I love you to Mars and back," decorated with Martians drawn by Mike and colored in by Merrit. Priceless. Merrit also pulled $1.25 out of his piggy bank and put it in the card as a gift for me. What could I possibly buy for $1.25 that would ever equal the "gift" of Merrit--on his own initiative--giving me his hard-earned money (10 cents per chore)? Ollie, you have the most amazing big brother!

It's been a great Mother's Day already...and it's just getting started. Mike has said that he is my "Personal Servant for a Day," (he knows that my Love Language is "Acts of Service"). He already cleaned the kitchen after making breakfast (and, though I hate to admit this, last night's dinner dishes were still in the sink). As I sit here in bed, typing on my laptop, I can hear the dishwasher humming away, Ollie down for his nap, and Merrit and Mike quietly talking and sharing a snack in the dining room. Rarely is our house this calm and peaceful (that's an understatement!), but when it is, what a lovely happening. Happy Mother's Day to me! I feel so grateful for my three guys.

And, lastly, today is the day that I'm retiring "The Roo Review." It's been a special privilege to document Ollie's first 18 months. Our Baby Roo has grown up so much since November 10, 2007!!

Ollie, it seems like just yesterday that you were my tiny little infant boy! Where has the time gone? You weigh almost 30 pounds! You have molars! You feed yourself! You drink from a cup! You walk, run, and dance! You're talking! You're learning stairs! You put yourself to sleep! You sleep all night! You are an amazing, independent, curious toddler! What a treasure you are to me. To Daddy. To Merrit. To your grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. To everyone that meets you.

Heavenly Father, thank you for our little Oliver William! He is a treasure straight from your heart to us. You shaped his personality. You have given him gifts and abilities that we still have yet to discover. Mike and I get to be first-hand witnesses to all the goodness that you have planted inside Ollie. Please equip us to teach him about You, to love him unconditionally, to train him up in the way that he should go, and to turn to You for wisdom. Thank you for Ollie.

This song, "O Praise Him (All This for a King)" by David Crowder Band, is on my heart this morning. It's a joyful, thankful song...and it expresses this bursting, joyful feeling I have inside today.

Turn your ear
To Heaven and hear
The noise inside
The sound of angels awe
The sound of angels songs
And all this for a King
We could join and sing
'All to Christ our King!'

How constant
How divine
This love of ours will rise
Oh, how constant
How divine
This song of ours will rise
Will rise...

Ohh praise Him! Ohh praise Him!
He is Holy! He is Holy!

Turn your gaze
To Heaven and raise
A joyous noise
Oh the sound of salvation come
The sound of rescued ones
And all this for a king
Angels join to sing
'All for Christ our King!'

Ohh praise Him! Ohh praise Him!
He is Holy! He is Holy!

Ohh praise Him! Ohh praise Him!
He is Holy! He is Holy!

How infinite and sweet
This love so rescuing
Oh how infinitely sweet
This great love that has redeemed
As one, we sing...

Hallelujah, Hallelujah!
He is Holy! He is Holy!

Ohh praise Him! Ohh praise Him!
He is Holy! He is Holy!