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.