Bates? Me?

Little Miss and I were driving home from the store, either Monday or Tuesday of this week. She said that they were talking about family at preschool. Then, she asked "Mommy, What is Grammy's name?". I told her that Grammy's name was really Sherry. She said, no her WHOLE name. I told her that too. Then that Papa, Mimi, and Uncle M all had the same last name. That Auntie T, Auntie K, and I used to have that last name, before we married. Little Miss was thoughtful for a second. In her silence, I continued to tell her about the family. That Auntie K, Uncle R, Racer and Princess all had the same last name. That Auntie T, Uncle L, and Abs had the same last name....

Then I told her that one day, before she goes to big school, before summer time comes back... that a big Judge was going to tell us we could absolutely keep her forever and ever. On that day, she would become Little Miss Bates. Bates, like Mommy and Daddy. A family.

Little Miss started crying. Which broke my heart, maybe she didn't want to be a Bates after all. Maybe she had an attachment to her current name. Then, she started squealing... or making noises in octaves that only dogs can hear... and started saying "I am so Excited" "I'm so Excited".

She ran in the house, laughing and hugging the dogs, hugging me. When Daddy got home, she ran up to him and told him she was going to be a Bates like us one day... and then bestowed upon him the biggest hug ever. How can you not love that? Pitter Patter goes my heart.