...I was strolling through Prospect Park when I happened upon a very large egg. It started to rumble and crack, and out popped a fully-dressed (and very angry) little girl.
(as always, click photos to embiggen)
She was so adorable, I had to take her home with me. I named her Cheburashka, and we lived happily ever after.
Okay, so it didn't happen quite that way. The truth is, we were in a Manhattan hospital and she didn't arrive fully dressed. And I was the one doing the screaming. Can you blame me? Look at the size of that kid:
Though we did live happily ever after. She was a giggly little baby.
But she did grow up quite fast. there was hardly any time at all between learning to walk
and insisting that I stay behind as she walked into school for the first time.
And today she's seven years old, no longer fits perfectly into my lap, and is a smart, funny, sweet, independent little widgie-woo girl. I do miss the chubby cheeks and rolls of baby fat (now when I hug her, it's all elbows and knees), but I like what she's become.
Happy Birthday Cheb! What a sweet homage to your little widgie woo. She'll always be that no matter how grown she is.
Posted by: Gina | Monday, July 24, 2006 at 10:25 AM
HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHEBURASHKA!!! what a big, big happy girl...
Posted by: caroline | Monday, July 24, 2006 at 10:33 AM
Happy, happy birthday, Cheburashka!
Posted by: Norma | Monday, July 24, 2006 at 10:35 AM
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Erica B. | Monday, July 24, 2006 at 10:42 AM
Happy birthday, Cheb!!!
Posted by: cari | Monday, July 24, 2006 at 10:58 AM
Yay!! Happy Birthday to Cheb!!
Posted by: jackie | Monday, July 24, 2006 at 11:01 AM
Happy birthday, Cheb.
It just goes by in a blink, doesn't it?
Posted by: Jessica | Monday, July 24, 2006 at 11:29 AM
Aww, HB to your little one--they do grow up fast don't they? Sigh. My boy isn't far behind. :)
Posted by: Sharlene | Monday, July 24, 2006 at 11:32 AM
What a sweet pic of her, all grown up now! Happy birthday to you Cheb! Enjoy the moments.
Posted by: Wanda | Monday, July 24, 2006 at 12:05 PM
Happy birthday, Cheb! You're making me bawl with this!
Posted by: valentina | Monday, July 24, 2006 at 12:32 PM
Happy Birthday, Cheb! Many happy returns of the day!
Posted by: Kathy | Monday, July 24, 2006 at 01:35 PM
Seven! Dang, that's old. Happy B-day, Cheb, and Iris? You're adorable.
Posted by: Michelle | Monday, July 24, 2006 at 02:11 PM
Many many happy returns of the day, you two!
Posted by: redheaddread | Monday, July 24, 2006 at 07:50 PM
Could you actually be any cuter? Happy (belated) Birthday Cheb!
Posted by: ginx | Tuesday, July 25, 2006 at 09:32 AM
Precious and beautiful. Happy Birthday [Baby} Girl!
Posted by: Christie | Wednesday, July 26, 2006 at 01:07 AM
You have to be pretty darn cute to be pitching that kind of fit in the egg and still look adorable! Cheb is the most dangerous kind of cutie. The kind that makes everyone think, "Oh! I want one of those!" But she is one-of-a-kind. Birthday smooches!
Posted by: Laurie | Wednesday, July 26, 2006 at 05:42 PM