Two candles for Maisie Mouse

Soft, straight blonde hair with a mullet of ringlets.

Big blue eyes framed with long eyelashes (apparently with the ability to flutter beguilingly genetically pre-programmed).

Eyebrows that always, always go up and down when she is drinking, as though she is silently asking a very serious question.

Velvety-soft, creamy skin, punctuated with teeny birth marks on the inside of one finger, on her big toe and on her bottom.

Pearly, straight little teeth permanently arranged in a cheeky grin.

Arms always ready for a duddle.

A tummy willingly revealed when requested, and affectionately named her "mummy".

Feet that run after her big brother and sister, endlessly trying to catch up.

Legs that were long and skinny at birth, and remain fat-free even now.

A sense of humour so sharp that fart jokes, or 'bop' jokes, are standard issue. Especially bop jokes that blame the offending smell on someone else (more often than not, the dog is blamed...and we didn't teach her that!)

A winsome smile for every person met, especially the ladies in the deli at the supermarket who hand out free pieces of ham...

A personality full of determination (some might call it stubborn), perseverance and...well, more determination.

The tendency to be found playing so very quietly, hidden away on Phoebe's bed, murmuring sweetly to the dollies lined up on the pillow.

A sweet tooth bigger than Texas, and the accompanying wily ways that are necessary to coax treats out of Mummy. And then Daddy when he comes home.

The ability to share, and play nicely, and to be kind to Beebee and Dack, that every day displays her love and devotion to her elder siblings.

A passion, nay, obsession with pussy cats and puppy dogs that has not been seen since Aunty Miffy was a toddler.

The desire to watch Teletubbies, and Dora, AND the Wiggles at the same time. And the complete and utter inability to understand that this simply cannot happen.

A love, pure and simple, of babies, baby dolls, and baby accoutrements. And the cooing, gentle voice that comes out whilst cradling one of these dolls almost as big as herself.

A mad, crazed, obsession with cheese. (Literally. The child could happily exist on cheese alone, and has done on several occasions.)

A very clear understanding about birthdays, and what they mean. All week our Mouse has been singing her own version of 'Happy Birthday' to Beebee, complete with hip hip hoorays, and pantomimed blowing out of the candles at the end. To see her little face when her own candles were lit today and she got to blow them out...oh. Just magic.

A very cute little vocabulary all of her own. 'Bopples' are apples. 'Dong!' means, "I've bumped my head in a humorous fashion and am maximising the comedic potential because it didn't hurt at all". 'More' means water. (Well, der.) 'Up' means chair, pick me up, put me down, or can I get down. Or all of the above. 'Danshing' can mean dancing (the verb), dancing music, a dancing dress, any old dress, or even a blouse that looks a bit like a dress. It's a versatile word. Apparently, 'gonk gonk' means twinkle twinkle, which we only deciphered by listening to her singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star the other night. According to the Mouse it goes, "Gonk, gonk, gonk, gonk, ee ee tar!!! Ow I nder u u are!!!!!" Obviously. Don't ask me to type the Mousian lyrics to Happy Birthday, I'm not sure my phonetics are that good. Only today, she began calling herself Mouse. Which is pronounced "Mowt". Like 'mouth', but with a t, not a th. Geddit?

Then, she was a fuzzy-headed tiny baby in a buttercup-yellow growsuit, with legs curled up to her tummy and a besotted big brother and sister. Now, she is our curly blonde little muppet, still gorgeous in yellow danshings, and equally in love with her Beebee and Dack. A beautiful, spirited, wondrous, affectionate, delightful little girl, who has turned our hearts inside out with love for two years today.

Happy second birthday, Miss Maisie Mouse. Your Mummy and Daddy love you more than space.