cuggle mummy

a note on cuggle as opposed to cuddle: this cuteness is entirely due to particular in-laws. enough said.

well, c'mon, are they not the sweetest words I have heard since Christmas day? cuggle mummy? cuggle mummy? and then, when I lift her (how can I not lift her, arms outstretched, big dark eyes turned upwards into mine) I hear a little voice in my ear, "ohhhhh," a tiny hand patting me on the back and then clinging, clinging on for dear life, arms and legs gripping me like I have a little koala attached, as though nothing and no one will separate us. of course, then her daddy wants the same cuggle but, sadly for him, this royal treatment is reserved- for now- for the mama. poor daddy! so sad! look at his sad face! Poppy, there will be tears! (and if you know Sam you know how he can turn on the tears)!

whoever thought her voice would be so low and soft? and yet, at the same time (strangly) I always knew how it would sound.

actually, there are times when Poppy has the most powerful vocals in the house! lately, when she sees a box or something that looks like it must be very special (for some unknown and rather exciting reason, indicated of course, only by taking in mummy's or daddy's widening eyes, little smile and lower, softer voices that say, "oh, that's very special. be very careful/gentle," she stands back from said box and bends back from the hips so that we think she is about to hit us with her own rendition of The Time Warp (until it drives you insay-yay-yay-yay-yane) and she releases joyous bewilderment at the top of her voice, which I haven't entirely caught yet; all in one expiration of breath, almost on the beginning of a giggle, something like,

"OHBDBWELLBOHDAYBODIOHHHHAHHHEEEE!"

the first time Poppy executed this perfect demonstration of freeing the natural voice (thank you Kristin Linklater), I stopped still and stared at her! and then laughed out loud and gave her a big cuggle! I'm so glad that my laughter (n.b. not at her but near her) did not appear to have scarred her for life. I'm sure there must be many less-resilient toddlers out there. good luck to them too, because ohmylordylord, I know the sensitive types they grow up to be! god bless them and give their families strength! especially when they come together at Christmas!