Olivia's Pick--20 December 2008

There's a little hill just down the street from our house that, when blanketed with 10 inches of snow, transforms into a peak of sledding perfection. Neighborhood kids, bundled up to their eyes, can be seen tugging their brightly colored, plastic discs and toboggans toward the hill, long before the snow stops falling.

Of course, we took Olivia last year. We pulled her through the snow, avoiding the steepest part of the hill.

But this year, she was ready for the real deal. Layered in Thinsulate and making that "swish swish" noise as she walked, we trudged down the block. We could hear the laughter before we even arrived. She was mesmerized, watching the other, older kids go zooming down. I had thought she might be scared or slightly intimidated but now, she just looked excited.

We climbed onto our two-seater, no frills, red, plastic sled. "Let's go, Mama!" she yelled.

"Hang on," I said.

A small push and we were off! Her laughter rang out as we bumped and bounced down the slope. Giggling and cold, we skidded to a stop at the bottom of the hill.

She turned back, looked at me from behind layers of pink outerwear and said, "Again?"

Olivia's Pick--14 December 2008

Maurice Sendak's whimsical illustrations + E.T.A. Hoffman's original "Nutcracker" legend = Olivia's favorite new book. This story is the mother of all Nutcrackers, the inspirational blueprint Tchaikovsky used to create his ballet monopoly on Christmas.

Sendak's illustrations illuminate this fanciful and slightly haunting tale in such a delightful way that, upon closing the book for the evening, Olivia will inevitably look at me and say "again!"

Plus, we've added the complete ballet recording to her musical repertoire, layering her experience of this holiday classic. Next year, she'll be ready to see the ballet live!

Olivia's Pick--7 December 2008

Honestly, what is better than the magic of the Christmas season as seen through a child's eyes? Especially a two-and-a-half year-old child who doesn't remember her two previous Christmases!

The wide-eyed wonder on her face when we lit up our tree was priceless. And now, whenever we get in the car, she makes it her job to find and point out every decoration or bundle of lights visible from her car seat. She's even learned several Christmas carols.

I know that as her Mama, I face the challenge of teaching her the true meaning of Christmas, and helping her learn that giving feels better in your heart than getting ever could. And I am already trying to weave these ideas into the fabric of her mind.

But right now, this Christmas, she's still only two-and-a-half. And it only takes lighting up our Christmas tree to put a smile on her sweet face. She's experiencing the magic of Christmas for the first time (even if it is really her third time). And witnessing that is, frankly, one of the best gifts this Mama could receive.

Olivia's Pick--30 November 2008

Horses. Ponies. And more horses.

What can I say? During our week-long, Midwestern, family-filled, Thanksgiving Odessey we managed to get in a visit to a cousin's farm where they had--you guessed it--horses! Olivia took her very first pony ride on Bonnie, a patient brown and white little pony.

Since then, she's talked of little else and I have a sneaking suspicion that her little, plastic, toy horses at home will simply not measure up to her latest experience.

We might have to start an "Olivia's Pony" fund. In the meantime, maybe I'll pick up a copy of Anna Sewell's Black Beauty.

Olivia's Pick--23 November 2008

This past weekend, Olivia flew on an airplane, something she'd been looking forward to for weeks. She would fly around our living room, arms out, flapping her wings, saying "I'm flying like a plane!"

I'm not the best flyer, and I was afraid that, once faced with a real airplane, she might be nervous, too. I gave her the window seat, while I took the aisle, managing books, snacks, juice and my nerves. As we rumbled down the runway, I swallowed my anxiety, reading to her from a beautifully illustrated children's version of "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

We shot into the air and I concentrated, silently willing the plane to stay in airborne, trying not to vomit or lose consciousness. Next to me, buckled in tight, Olivia still managed to bounce happily in her seat. "I want to fly, Mama! Let's fly!" she shouted.

I couldn't help but laugh."We are flying sweetie, see?" I pointed out the window at the receding earth below as the plane turned at a nauseating angle.

"Oh. OK," she said, pressing her little nose to the window. "This is pretty fun."

I guess we'll have to do this more often. Maybe I'll even learn to enjoy it.