Santa Baby

Well, with my first Christmas right around the corner, my mommy figured I shouldn't be a Scrooge and put me in a Santa hat. It's not so bad at home, but do you know how embarrassing it is to go to Wal-Mart like this? The only saving grace is all the GREAT comments I get from the ladies doing their Christmas shopping!

Christmas Puppies

These are my doggies, Jasper and Sako. They wouldn't sit still for the picture so my mom had to give them treats in order for them to stay still long enough to take the picture. Jasper is old and cranky but he still likes to cuddle with me and my mom sometimes. Sako is lovable and just plain crazy! He licks my face every once and a while but other than that he doesn't pay much attention to me right now. His ball is far more important!

Christmas at the Cricks

I can tell that every year is going to be an adventure with decorations. We FINALLY got our tree up this week and it looks awesome. We also decorated our fireplace to show off all of the cards we've received. Cool!

Chubby Cheeker

I'm sure you've heard of Chubby Checker...I'm way past his time. Well, I'm considered the "Chubby Cheeker"....don't know if I'm musical yet, but I sure love music. It makes me smile and coo. This is a new picture that my mom took of me. She loves it because it shows off my chubby cheeks. She and my dad sure love to kiss 'em...they must love me!

The Doctor Visit

This is NOT a picture of me after I was at the doctor's! In fact I was wide awake and mortified at the thought that the nurse would put 4 needles in my thighs...2 on each side! I let her know very loudly that needles weren't my favourite thing. I think everyone in the office knew actually! The whole visit wasn't bad though because the doctor is really nice and she said that I am 24.5 inches long and weigh 13 pounds 4 ounces which puts me in the 98th percentile for girls my age. My mom and dad said that I had no hope of being short and I think they were right. My dad said that I am going to be a long legged, brunette, blue eyed beauty! I can hold my head up really well now and can push my chest up when I'm on my tummy. The doctor told my mom that she can't leave me unattended anywhere because I am close to rolling over from my stomach to my back. I am also following sounds really well and always look for my mom if I can't see her right in front of me. The best thing according to my mommy is my smile and my noises that I make when people talk to me. After all is said and done, I am looking forward to going to bed because I am sore, tired and very cranky...maybe that baby Tylenol will come in handy after all!

2 Month Milestone

I am 2 months old today! My mom and dad can hardly believe it. My eyes are getting more blue everyday just like my dad's. How cool is that? I weigh 13 pounds and I'm now wearing 3-6 month clothes! I love to listen to music and I smile a lot and "talk" when I hear my favourite songs. I like the fact that I can recognize some things now. I have to go to the doctor's office on Tuesday. My mom is going to take me and she told me that I am going to have a shot. Doesn't sound good...hope it doesn't hurt! I'll try to be brave. We are going to a Christmas party for my mom's work this afternoon so that everyone can see what a big girl I am now. I even get to see Santa...hopefully he doesn't scare me because I don't really like beards that much.

Snow Angel

It's the first of December! I am so excited to go to Canada for Christmas and meet the Canadian side of my family. Today is 29 degrees Farenheit (-1 Celsius) and it's blustery and snowing. We are taking a family outing to Red Lodge to the Christmas stroll tonight. I am looking forward to seeing all of the pretty lights and decorations with my mom and dad. Maybe I'll even get a sneak peak at Santa Claus!

My new snowsuit

I'm not really sure what to make of this thing yet...my Great-Gran sent it all the way from Canada because she told my mom that I would need it for cold weather. Well it's really cold outside now and I have to wear it, but I can't suck on my hand with this on and the floppy hat covers my whole head which frustrates me! It's such a pretty colour though and it has a cute little bunny rabbit on it. I do like it because it's nice and warm and when I come home from an outing I love to stay sleeping in it for awhile. I love snuggly things!

Dedication

Today I was dedicated back to God at church. I was dressed up in a pretty dress and I had to go up to the front so that Pastor Stan could pray for me and my parents. My mommy and daddy kept praying that I would stay sleeping because I normally wake up in the middle of the church service. My daddy carried me up there in his strong arms and I felt really safe so I stayed asleep. It was a good thing I didn't cry because the man behind the camera at church captured the whole thing on DVD for us. When I'm older I can watch it and know how important it was. Pastor Stan gave my mom and dad a letter for me to open when I'm 12. He asked that they keep it in a safe place and let it stay sealed...hmmmm.....I wonder what he'll say in it. When I'm 12 it will be 2018! That's a long time from now...but I know that what he says will be important and will help me understand why my mom and dad dedicated me back God. I know already that God loves me because He gave me to 2 parents who also love Him. We are a very blessed family.

My Montana Family

This is my Montana Family! Grandpa America and Uncle Denny live 5 minutes away and I get to visit them quite a bit at my Grandpa's apartment. They both love me very much even when I get fussy while they're watching the football game!

Grandma Canada

November 23rd is a very special day because it would have been my Grandma's birthday. I never got to meet her, but I have learned all about her because my mommy tells me all the wonderful things about her and shows me her picture. I know that she really would have loved me and my cousin Shaylah. The best gift she left me is the piano CD that she made because my mom plays it for me every night when I go to bed. It settles me right down and I have a really good sleep. My grandpa, my mommy and my auntie Marsalie miss her a lot. I love you Grandma.

New Skills

Well now that I'm 7 weeks old I figure that I better start learning some new things. I mastered the art of melting my mommy's heart with my smile a couple of weeks ago, and I've learned that making really cute sounds (my mommy calls it "cooing") gets my mommy and daddy to smile. So now, I can really hold my head up and turn it to the side. I've almost learned to push up enough to get my chest off the ground, but I think I'll wait a week or two for that yet. At least now I can see something else other than the ground!

LIttle Red Riding Hood

I have outgrown every coat I had and now that it's cold out my mom and dad had to buy me a new one. I'm only 6 weeks in this picture, but I am wearing a 3-6 month coat! I am quite tall now and I weigh 12 pounds, so I need a big girl coat. I love this coat because it's so soft and warm. Is red my colour? It must be because it matches the colour of my cheeks!

My Mommy's Blessing

My mommy tells me that I am her miracle. I'm not sure really what that word means right now, but I think it must be pretty special. I am really glad that my mom has been able to be with me everyday. She holds me, sings to me, dresses me, prays with me, dances with me and lets me sleep on her chest when I don't feel like laying in my crib. The coolest thing is that she wakes up in the middle of the night when she hears me crying and then I get a midnight snack! I wonder how long I can keep this "gig" up? My mommy keeps telling me that I need to sleep through the night...I don't think I want to do that quite yet. I have tricked her a couple of times and slept for 6 hours at a time, but I figure why do that every night? I'm going to keep her guessing for a little while yet! :0) Even though she doesn't get a lot of sleep she still tells me everyday that I'm her blessing and that's she is really glad that God brought me to her and my daddy.

Safe in my Daddy's arms

My daddy is my hero. He took such good care of my mommy while I was in her tummy and now that I'm here he shows me everyday that he loves me. He tells me that I'm his "little girl" and that he will protect me...well no kidding, look at those arms! I feel very sorry for the boys who come by the house when I'm a teenager...they will have to get by my dad; my protector! Anyway, he plays with me, sings to me, prays with me and tells me how much God loves me. That "tough guy" image doesn't hold a candle to the softie that he is when he's holding me...I think his bark is way bigger than his bite. I REALLY love my daddy and I can't wait until I'm old enough to draw for him, play outside with him and give him big hugs.

Our first REAL family picture

My mommy said that it's important to "capture the moment" and make sure that we get a family picture done every year at Christmas....so this is it! It was quite a production because I'm only 5 1/2 weeks and I wasn't sure what I was supposed to be looking at. The lights on the ceiling and all the shadows were so neat that I couldn't concentrate on the lady's weird sounds that she was making to get my attention. Well I think things turned out pretty good. I know my mommy and daddy really loved the pictures. My daddy loves to show them to everyone because he's very proud of our family. What a great feeling!

Grandma Dottie

Today would have been my Grandma Dottie's birthday. Daddy tells me that she was very loving and a really neat lady who was a good mom. My mommy and I wish we could have met her. Grandpa Marvin tells my mommy and daddy lots of great stories about her and I know that one day I will be able to understand all of those stories and see pictures of her. God bless you Grandma.

I'm Awake

I am 3 weeks old now! It's hard to believe that I've lived with my mom and dad for 3 whole weeks. I'm not really awake that much because I would prefer to sleep in the arms of anyone who wants to hold me. So they just "had" to get these pictures of me while I was awake; a momentous occasion. I even managed to look like I was smiling on purpose...gas does amazing things!

My Auntie Marsalie

I got to meet my Auntie Marsalie at the same time I met my Grandpa Fred because she drove with him for 2 whole days to see me and my mom. She is so great! She looked after me while my mom slept and she sang to me and she even changed my poopie pants! What an awesome aunt! I can't wait to see her again at Christmas time; I'll be a big girl then and will be able to "talk" to her when she sings to me again and I'll even smile at her when she talks to me. She'll be so impressed!

My BIG cousin

This is my big cousin Shaylah. She is only 7 months older than me, but she is still my really cool big cousin. It was fun to hang out with her because she does some really neat things like rolling around on the floor and laughing and standing up against the furniture. One day I want to do all of those cool things too; maybe she can help me learn.

Grandpa Canada and Me

This is my Grandpa Lowenberger and me. He is very pleased to have 2 granddaughters...at least that's what he says now. Just wait until we are both teenagers and then we'll see what he says! He and my Auntie Marsalie and my "big" cousin Shaylah drove for 2 whole days just to come and see me. Now that's pretty cool. I loved to sleep in his arms because he talked to me and rocked me in the rocking chair. And that about sums it up, it was great because when I had poopie pants, he gave me back to my mom! :o) He stayed for a whole week but had to go back home. I'll see you again at Christmas time, but that's a long time from now. I love you Grandpa Canada!

The Kentucky Contingent

Uncle Larry and Auntie Cathy came all the way from Henderson, Kentucky to see me. It was neat to see them so soon because they live really far away. My auntie is so sweet...there's something to be said for those southern aunties. My uncle says that he's a pediatrician; that's a really big word for me right now. He tried burping me but it didn't work. Aren't those pediatricians supposed to be able to do that? Oh well, I love them both anyway!

My First Hospital Visit

Well so far the hospital is not so bad. The only thing I hate is the nurse who keeps poking my heel with a really sharp thing. They keep telling my mom that I have jaundice so that's why. It's not bad though, so I can still go home in a few days. Other than that who can go wrong with my new pink blanket to keep me warm and snuggly? It sure makes me want to sleep!

Auntie Leann

My Auntie Leann traveled on the plane from Maple Ridge, BC to be here when I was born. My mom says that she has been friends with her for 20 years...that seems like a long time; I'm only a couple days old! She was here 2 days before I was born and helped my Mommy and Daddy out a lot during the week that she was here. I love her bunches because she took really good care of me and gave me lots of snuggles.

My Story Thus Far

Here's my story thus far...
It all started on October 2, 2oo6 when I fought for 27 hours to finally come into the world at St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings, MT. After no progress down the birth canal the doctor decided I should be born by c-section, whatever that means. When Dr. Forseth pulled me out on October 3rd at 7:46pm, those bright lights and cold air made me scream, and scream and scream; just ask my daddy! Then they measured me and said I was 22 inches long and weighed me and said I was 9 lbs 1 oz. Apparently that's a pretty good size. My mom says that she's glad that I'm finally out of her tummy.

My dad got to be with me by himself for the first hour of my life which was really cool. So he got all the "first" pictures of me and even cut my umbilical cord. I only saw my mom just for a few minutes at first because she was stuck behind a big blue curtain and the doctor was putting her tummy back together. After I got cleaned up and the doctor said I was ok I got to be with my mom and dad for real. This world isn't so bad after all because I get lots of love and people always hold me, hug me and kiss me!