The Happy Cricket

The Squirms. The tiny baby girl that we brought home from the other side of the state. She's two now, and while she is as squirmy, or active, as ever, it's time for a big girl nickname. Like Happy Cricket. Or Jane. Or My Heart.

R gave Happy Cricket a flower for Valentine's Day.

 I've been considering this for a while and Happy Cricket seems like the perfect fit. She loves to try and jump, she loves being outside, she loves making continuous noise, she loves the movie Mary Poppins which contains the line "she's as happy as a cricket", and she likes to randomly say "Happy Cricket". But I might also start calling her Jane.

That pickle looks good. 

 Did I mention that she calls the pattern camouflage, pickle?

And that she likes to try and add leaves to the crape myrtle that R planted in the back yard when she was born? It's adorable.

Her cake! Made with love, not necessarily skill.

 She also eats cake like her mom, one delicious tiny morsel at a time, savoring each crumb, and not saying all done until she's certain we're not going to give her thirds.

Our best family photo yet!

 My parents visited for her birthday weekend and the Great's dedication Sunday. Her other grandparents and Aunties H and L joined us by FaceTime in singing Happy Birthday to her, and Auntie C called in for present opening time. 

Astronaut Barbie!!

Of course the first gift she opened was a barbie from Auntie L. We had to take it away from her to get her to even consider opening other gifts.

A Ribbon!!

 At her baby shower each guest wrote down a piece of advice for me, the new mom. 

Auntie L wrote: give her tons of Barbies. No bangs! take pictures all the time.

Auntie H wrote: not to ever give her straight across bangs.

Auntie C wrote: snuggle, snuggle, and snuggle some more!

Barbie helped her open the other gifts.

I've done an okay job following their advice so far. Only one hair cut, for the mullet; she now has three barbies; and snuggling is a priority in our home.

Puzzle!!

 She did play with each gift as she opened it. And, our sweet neighbors stopped by to give her a present too! She greeted them at the door and talked to them about the stars being out, to make sure they noticed. 

She always makes sure I notice the important things in life.

Her own vacuum!!

 My mother-in-law wrote on her advice card: It gets better every day. 

And she has a 31 and 26 year old. She is right; and I have a feeling I'll feel the same way when this two year old turns 31.

A crown and veil, and Mary Poppins Barbie!!

 Sunday, after the celebrating Friday and Saturday, we stood as a family of four in front of our church and dedicated to raise the Great in a home that is following Jesus.

Parenting. Showing these two who Jesus is.

 Thankfully, our church family is also dedicated to helping us. The prayers and practical help they gave during Squirm's adoption two years ago is a reminder that they take this vow seriously.

This photo shows the only time during her four day stay that Gran put the Great down.

 We were so happy to have "Grun-grun" and Gran in town with us! I suspect that my father is going through Squirms-withdrawals as she is really the only one in the family who has as much energy as him and likes to be outside just as much.

What is my sister doing?

Happy Birthday Squirms.

Happy Dedication Day the Great.

Oh. If you have a nickname suggestion let me know. Otherwise I'm sure Auntie L will choose when she visits next week.

Dear Mindy

Dear Mindy,

I thoroughly enjoyed reading your book, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, several weeks ago and wanted to send a note of encouragement, as asked for in the chapter entitled Married People Need to Step It Up.

First, let me say that I agree with you about your observations on men versus boys, and that men definitely should have chest hair (Pete Sampras. That's all the evidence needed). And your childhood stories had me laughing and running to tell my husband what you'd written.

Which brings me to the point of this letter that you'll probably never know I've written to you: Marriage is great. When I'm reading a good book, I immediately share the best parts with my husband. When we're watching TV or a movie he immediately lets me know if any actor in the current program used to be on Star Trek (any series or movie of the Star Trek franchise). We fist bump regularly to acknowledge occurrences we consider to be awesome (this would be the every-day awesome, small fun things; not awesome like the Grand Canyon) and call ourselves "Team Fail" as a nickname (obviously there is a long story here, not really relevant to a short note of encouragement). His coordination has greatly improved after living with the constant threat of where-did-she-leave-her-shoes-for-me-to-trip-over-today for almost eight years, and my ability to pronounce words correctly has improved after living with a good-looking man who takes grammar seriously.

We play in a volleyball league together, talk about how cool our kids are, and considered our hour and a half drive without kids to visit friends in the hospital last Saturday as a date night. Together we have explored Ireland, hiked Mount Snowdon, stared at glaciers, gotten very muddy in Nicaragua, been speechless at the Grand Canyon, and adopted two amazing children. Together we talk about what happened at work today, what our two year old tried to feed our four month old, what bills are due this week, how behind I am on practicing the violin, and if he has any clean undershirts for work tomorrow.

Marriage is fun, and yes, that big party after the wedding ceremony is just the beginning. Maybe Shakespeare just didn't have the words, or time within the constraints of a play, to explain just how simple, complex, and wonderful it is. I think you should continue to look forward to marriage. The easy days are fun, the work put in is fun (I mean really, working on intimacy? What's not fun about that?), and I wouldn't want to spend the hard days with anyone else.

-A fan of your writing and A happily married woman

Four Months

The Great is now four months old. He talks more than R, me, and the Squirms combined (if you calculate talking time in reference to awake time)! Little boy, as I am apt to call him, loves to be spoken to, be held, have his diaper changed, grab any toy he reach, and has recently been enjoying eating his fists. He really likes sitting up on his own in the bumbo seat - he is very alert and prefers constant interaction when he is awake.

The pillow on the left is his first monogrammed gift - from AnniePants. Sorry I blotted it out, it's really cute.

I'm not sure I like that thing that keeps flashing.

He also has physic abilities - I only have to think Well, they are both asleep, maybe I should lay down for 15 minutes and he cries out Hi Mom! I'd like to play now! Come get me! Hurry, before I wake up my sister! 

Look how cute I am! You don't need sleep!

What is this collar doing? Do I look like a clown?

R says that the Great loves his mom. While I will admit that he responds immediately with a smile to my voice, especially if I say Hi little boy, I would say that the Great loves to spit up on his mom. Having clean pants to wear in public has become a real problem.

I'm practicing my thoughtful stare....

and my prankster face.

Good thing his cheeks are so kissable and legs so chunky.

Now you just put me on the floor?

My play mat - I can see it. My cat and zebra!

I took a lot of pictures yesterday. He wears six month clothes now and I was sadly clearing his room of three month clothes when I came across this gentlemanly outfit in his closet and decided that he should just wear it around the house for the day. Both kids have colds again so we're back on quarantine - but he has so many awesome clothes to wear that I've had to just dress him like he belongs in Town & Country magazine at home.

How can you not pick me up?

Seriously. How?

What is it called when babies don't sleep for more than 45 minutes at a time? Cat-napping? Excuse me....

Chubby feet.

I'll be crawling by next week.

Well, let's finish this up quickly.

Ah ha! I don't want tummy time! I can roll!

Oh mom. Look at this face. I'm just going to roll myself over again.

Four exciting, tiring, fun months.

Can I have a kiss now?

It's Christmas!

It's probably not a good sign of my parenting skills when Squirms runs into the kitchen yelling "coooookies" as I take them out of the oven. It must have been the smell that gave me away - she hadn't seen me making them.

Here in Central Florida the weather is warm (shocking) and we bought a jogging stroller. I'm sore. And a bit sun burned. The Squirms turns two years old on Friday. Two. Two years and she still amazes me each day with something new. The Great's baby dedication at church is going to be Sunday. I love when finalization has occurred and we feel ready to do things like baby announcements and dedication. Also, I've had two different people comment this week that Squirms and the Great look alike. Strange.

Since it's almost Valentine's Day, here are the photos we took on Christmas Day. Look, two children under two and I'm supposed to be practicing Violin right now, not writing; it's a wonder that I've posted these before Squirms moves away to college.

What do you mean, wait? George was just sitting right here!

Oh presents!

Santa made me cry.

Stockings.

Talking on her new cell phone.

First Christmas! 

How Grandpa watches the children. He's a horse and making faces with the Great.

Present time at my Grandpa and Grandma's. First year ever that I've missed breakfast there! Oh motherhood.

Grandma is the best present-opener.

My handsome man in his bow tie.

The Atlanta crowd.

Hi! Aren't I adorable?

Luckily, there were only a couple of fist fights over who was going to hold the Great.

Ready to watch the gift KHA put together.

Yes. My coat is beautiful. And no, they don't make this skirt in adult sizes, my mom checked.

Tag!

Pretty.

Dad, I want to go play. Why all the pictures?

Telling Aunt K about his first Christmas morning.

Setting the table - name cards are important.

They LOVE me.
Why aren't y'all helping set the table?

Pit stop for fuel.

Family Photo - yes, he is pulling my hair and she seems to be eating something; it's the best we could do.

Look Auntie L.

Doesn't every baby wear a bow tie for their first Christmas?

 Happy Christmas! And Valentine's Day!