Kricket's Adventures

By Lorretta Thompson

Kricket's Adventures is a compilation of true-life stories that took place during the first five years of her life. It is designed to be read to younger children or to be read by an older child. Within these pages, you will be quite entertained by the imagination and humor of one so young.

Alongside her puppies, kittens, ducks, snakes, worms, chickens, birds, and squirrels, you will discover Kricket's wonderful imagination and playfulness. One adventure to look forward to is when Sissy left the refrigerator door untied.

I heard laughing, and I thought to myself, The refrigerator is tied so it can't be that Kricket was throwing food around. That was the laughing sound I heard, very familiar to my ears. I sat a moment or two and decided that you were just laughing at your dog, Bubba, and your cat, Spice. Then you kept laughing, and I decided that I had better check on you. Sure enough, you had taken out the vegetable soup, and you had thrown it all over the kitchen, walls, tables, floor--you name it. Bubba was trying to catch the food as you threw it, and that was what was making you laugh so hard. My mop was broken, and I had to clean the floor on my hands and knees. You were saying, "Kricket be nice, Mom." I had you sit and watch me the whole time I cleaned. You were about two years old during this episode.

As Kricket's mother, I hope you enjoy reading Kricket's Adventures and have many of your own with your child.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Feb 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9781685266844

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

Kricket's Arrival

Kricket Recognizes Us from Our Voices

Kricket's First Six Weeks

Kricket's First Adventure Trip to Kentucky

Return Trip to Kentucky

Kricket at Ten Months Old

Kricket Is Thirteen Months Old

Kricket's Favorite Times

Kricket at Fifteen Months Old

First Galveston Adventure

Kricket Is Sixteen Months Old

Kricket Is Seventeen Months Old

Hello, Grandmother

Visiting Aunt Jean and Uncle Ed

Hello, Grandma Betty

Finally, We Are Returning Home

Kricket Was Eighteen Months Old

Kricket Is Nineteen Months Old

Kricket Meets Stephanie

Kricket Is Twenty Months Old

Kricket Cutler Thompson, Twenty Months

Kricket Is Twenty-One Months Old

Kricket Is Twenty-Two Months Old

Kricket Is Two Years and Ten Months Old

Kricket Is Two Years and Eleven Months Old

Kricket Is Now Three Years and One Month Old

Kricket Is Three Years and Two Months Old

Kricket Is Three Years and Two Months Old

Kricket Is Three Years and Three Months Old

Kricket Is Three Years and Four Months Old

Kricket Is Three Years and Five Months Old

Kricket Is Three Years and Six Months Old

Kricket Is Three Years and Seven Months Old

Kricket Is Three Years and Seven Months Old

Kricket Is Three Years and Eight Months Old

Kricket Is Now Three Years and Nine Months Old

Kricket Is Three Years and Ten Months Old

Kricket Is Three Years and Eleven Months Old

Kricket Is Three Years and Eleven Months Old

Kricket Is Four Years and Four Months Old

Kricket Is Four Years and Five Months Old

Kricket Is Four Years and Six Months Old

Kricket Is Four Years and Ten Months Old

Kricket Is Four Years and Eleven Months Old

Kricket Is Five Years Old

Kricket Is Five Years Old

Kricket Is Five Years and Ten Months Old

About the Author

cover.jpg

Kricket's Adventures

Lorretta Thompson

ISBN 978-1-68526-683-7 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-68526-685-1 (Hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-68526-684-4 (Digital)

Copyright © 2023 Lorretta Thompson

All rights reserved

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Covenant Books

11661 Hwy 707

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

www.covenantbooks.com

Kricket's Arrival

Kricket is coming into this world!

I remember bringing you into this life, of course, with your help too. I reached down and took hold of one shoulder and then the other shoulder and pulled you right up onto my stomach.

The feeling cannot be put into words, Kricket. You will understand this feeling when you have your own child. The word to describe it would be love. There was so much love in the room when you were born, and you could feel it all around you. You were so aware of the love you had helped to create. Your Dad Tom, Sissy Stacey, Auntie Dorothy, and my friend Pat were there when you were born. The energy was so good and so strong. Truly a miracle was being born. Your uncle Larry and Jesse were waiting outside to see you. Uncle Larry had to take Jesse home and he came back just before you were born. Your dad and Sissy had dressed for the occasion. The hospital had them put on hospital gown. We got to keep them. They put your footprints on them and your date of birth and how much you weighed and what time you were born.

You laid on my tummy for about an hour. I nursed you, and everyone took turns holding you with amazement at how alert you were.

We took turns holding you all night.

I didn't want you to be by yourself. Your doctor came in about two in the morning to check on you.

The whole time he was checking you, I told you what he was doing and you didn't cry at all. The doctor was amazed at how well you trusted my voice and how calm it made you feel. We were only there for twenty-four hours!

Kricket Recognizes Us from Our Voices

You recognized all of us from the voices you had listened to for nine months while you were inside of me. After you were born, about an hour later, you were taken to the nursery to be checked out. Sissy and Auntie Dorothy stayed with you the whole time, never leaving you for a minute. You held Sissy's hand while the nurses checked you over.

Sissy and Auntie Dorothy told you everything that was going on so you wouldn't wonder what they were doing to you. When Sissy brought you back to me, she cried because it was hard for her to see you on the nurses working with you and you not understanding what was happening. It was really an experience for Sissy to have watched your birth and to be with you during your hour of checkup. A special bond was created during that time that will never be broken. She loves you so much. You are a part of her that is a part of me which is a part of us.

When they brought you back to me, I felt the oneness again that we had shared for nine months.

Daddy, Auntie Dorothy, and I held you all night. Auntie Dorothy could sit in the rocking chair and hold you and sleep too.

Daddy tried it and couldn't sleep, so Auntie Dorothy held you most of the night. Your daddy was so excited during your birth. That night, I don't think he got much sleep.

Bringing you home after twenty-four hours was not soon enough for us. We were so excited! When we got home all the cats—Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice—and our dog, Bubba, knew something had happened one. When they realized it was you, they all had to check you out one-by-one. I had been telling them about you for nine months. When you were inside of me, I called you Baby T. So when I brought you home, I told all the animals that Baby T was home. They all got in bed with us and took turns greeting you. Later that night, you woke up, and I was really tired and Sissy came and got you and put you in bed with her for the night. Your first night.

Kricket's First Six Weeks

I slept with you on the chair for about six weeks and then put your bed in our room until you were about three months old.

We bought a monitor so I could hear if you woke up. I still sleep with the sound of your breathing and can't sleep without it.

Kricket's First Adventure Trip to Kentucky

I wanted so much for you to meet your grandmother, Mom. She called and said, What are you waiting for? Bring Kricket up so I can meet her. We were on the plane the next day.

You were only six weeks old. You slept on a pillow on top of the food tray that folds down on.

We finally got to Mom, Grandmother's house. Grandmother took you, and I was a part of her, and that was a part of us. It was such a special moment. I felt complete now that my mom had gotten to hold you. Aunt Betty was there too, and I was waiting for my luggage and I started nursing you. Aunt Betty, who was Old fashioned, said, Cover yourself. That man over there can see you. I laughed. I had been telling you for a while that when you met your grandmother, she would say, Goodness sakes, alive today. Sure enough, she did. Mom had so much fun holding you and playing with you and seeing you smile and try to talk to her.

Your aunt Betty wanted you to call her great-great-grandma because she didn't have any children. She even started a book for your pictures. She made you a blanket, sweater, and a hat to match. The sweater that she had crocheted was too big, so she made another sweater and hat.

She made you a Care Bear blanket, quilting it while we were there. She also got you some clothes to wear when you were older. She would come over to Mom's, and sure enough, if you were asleep, you weren't asleep for very long because Aunt Betty had to wake you up to hold you and play with you. Grandmother, Mom, also crocheted you a blanket and made the wall hanging of the lion, bear, and turtle.

Your aunt Francis tried to fatten you up with potatoes and gravy, our Uncle Wilson told you a few fish stories, Uncle JR held you as though you just had always been sitting on his lap.

Return Trip to Kentucky

Three months later, we went back to visit Grandmother, Mom.

This time Sissy went with us in the car. What a trip, especially when you found out that you didn't have to sit in your car seat. Grandmother had to talk Sissy into driving that far. Grandmother told Sissy, Now you can pull off the road and take out your blanket and lay on it for a while to rest and have a picnic. I remember us sitting on that blanket with you and it must have been 100 degrees. We were all sitting there, sweating to death. I started laughing, thinking about what Mom had told Sissy how to make our trip a pleasure trip. We again visited all the relatives. This time, you met your aunt Jean and cousin Carolyn Jean. You also got to see aunt Virginia and uncle Vince. Of course, your aunt Francis had to feed you some beans and potatoes to try to fatten you up. Everyone really enjoyed you. You started crawling at your grandmother's house. She would coax you every day, and finally before we left, you had started to crawl.

Kricket at Ten Months Old

First trick or treat

Kricket's first Halloween occurred when she was ten months old; at first, I had thought about staying home. Auntie Dorothy kept saying you have got to take her out. I went out and bought you a Big Bird outfit because that is one of your favorite characters on Sesame Street. We got you all dressed and tried to take pictures, and of course, you would not cooperate. I don't even know if I got one picture that turned out. Justin and Jesse came over, and we went out walking. You had the little basket that Auntie Dorothy had brought you to put all of your candy in. We walked over to the first house, and you were all excited because we were all outside walking in the dark. You walked along like you were really big, just like the other kids. We walked to the first house and rang the doorbell. Someone opened the door, and you thought we were supposed to go in and we said, No, no, Kricket! Wait, wait! Say, ‘Trick or treat, trick or treat.

You said, Trick or treat, and they gave you some candy. That was really exciting! You took the candy out of your basket and carried it in your hand. You didn't get candy too often, and you were going to make sure you got to eat it! You carried this candy to the next house, and we told you that you were going to get more candy, to say, Trick or treat! You did and you got more candy. You put this candy in your other hand. Then you wanted to stop and eat your candy. I had to open your bag of M&Ms and give you one at a time to coax you to go on. We didn't go too far, but you began to understand that each house had more candy. Now you would run up to each house and say, Candy, candy! and then wouldn't leave. They would give you more candy and tell you Bye, bye, and you wouldn't budge. You were getting tired and wanted to go into their houses for a rest. We were finally close to home and you told me, Hold me, Mommy. I carried you home and you got a second wind and ran in, showing Daddy and Sissy all your candy. Then kids came to our house saying, Trick or treat! and you gave them candy and looked at their masks and outfits. Anyway, we did get rid of most of your candy by letting you answer the door and give away your candy. Your first experience with Halloween was really fun.

Kricket Is Thirteen Months Old

Kricket in the Kitchen

You have mastered opening the refrigerator and can get up on the veggie tray and a bottle a half gallon of juice and get a bottle out of the dishwasher and try to fill it yourself. Of course, most of it ends up on the floor. Well, I had to put the lock back on the refrigerator. Haha!

One day Sissy left the refrigerator untied, and I heard you laughing and I thought to myself, Well, the refrigerator is tied so it can't be that you were throwing food around. That was the laughing sound you were making, very familiar to my ears. I sat for a moment or two and decided that you were just laughing at Bubba and Spice. Then you kept laughing, and I decided I had better check on you. Sure enough, you had the vegetable soup and you had thrown it all over the kitchen, walls, table, floor—everything had soup on it and pieces of butter. My mop was broken, and I had to clean the floor on my hands and knees. I made you sit in the corner the whole time I cleaned up, you kept telling me, Kricket, be nice, Mom.

Kricket's Favorite Times

One of your favorite times is when I am on the phone because I can't watch over you as closely as I do normally. You know this. I was talking with Grandmother one day, long-distance. You were outside for a while and inside for a while. I got involved in my conversation with Mom, and suddenly, I realized you were in the laundry room. You had poured all of Bubbas, the dog's, water, and food out on the floor; opened the dryer. You had taken all the clean clothes out; climbed up on the dryer door and on top of the dryer; and had thrown all of the dirt out of my potted plant on top of all the clothes. You had also taken all your clothes out of the hamper and had thrown them on the floor. You were throwing the cat food down to Bubba and laughing every time he tried to catch the food you were throwing. I heard laughing, and that is when I said, Mom, I have got to check on Kricket. Your face had dirt and water on it. It had turned into mud on your clothes and in your hair. I got you down and was laughing so hard trying to tell Mom how she wouldn't believe what you had done, and she said, Oh yes, I would, all five of you kids just loved it when I got on the phone.

I was telling Mom about this mess and forgot about you again. You had gone into my bedroom and got into my makeup. What a sight you were when you came back into the room.

I told Mom what you had done, and we were both in tears from laughing. I told Mom Goodbye. and put you in the tub and down for a nap. Cleaned up your litta mess.

You are now thirteen months old, and we gave you the first of your horses.

I have gotten up every night, and I find you laying on the floor by my door. I put you back into bed. You have gotten up every morning at 6:30 a.m. for a week. I finally put you back in bed and turned the air on to make some noise and you slept this morning until 8:30 a.m. One day, you were taking a nap and screamed horribly, scaring me that something was terribly wrong. I ran to your room and you were pointing to the corner and screaming, Wolf, wolf! I assured you that the wolf was gone and would never return.

Kricket at Fifteen Months Old

Momma's Booboo

I had a feeling I would do this one day, and sure enough, my fear came true. I got you all dressed to go and have lunch with Daddy. I put you in the car along with my purse and keys to the car and shut your door after I locked it with you in it. As I shut the door, I realized my keys were locked in the car along with you. I didn't panic; so you didn't panic either. I told you I had to go and get another key in the house. I came in and called Daddy and told him I had locked you in the car and to hurry home. I went back out to the car and told you I had to go and get some crackers. Then, I put a towel over the windshield so it wouldn't get too hot. Your bottle was in my purse, and I had you try to reach it and you were about one inch from getting it. You had a banana, but it dropped down beside you when you reached for my purse. I told you to hold your baby doll up and show her the trees that I had to go back in the house and feed the cats. Daddy was home in ten minutes. His car was hot, and water was coming out of the radiator. I was in the house looking out the window, watching you showing your baby doll the trees and you seemed to be just fine. Usually, when we go somewhere, I have to go back to the house several times for things that I have forgotten. Far as you were concerned, this was par for the course. Daddy jumped out of his van and opened the car door and hugged you. I came outside and hugged you too. Everything was okay, and you never realized you were locked in the car. said, You did Mom, you did well.

Easter Experience

Easter is here! You sure had fun hiding the eggs and finding them.

Daddy would hide the eggs, and you and I would find them. Then I would hide the eggs and you would go to all the hiding places first that Daddy had hidden the eggs and then look from there. We let you hide the eggs and you would hide all the eggs in one place. Then give me the basket and I would say, Now where are those eggs? You would say, Here they are! Kricket get 'em, Momma, here they are, here they are. Your daddy would sit back and laugh and then you would hide them from him. You got a bean bag Cabbage Patch doll. Her name is Cori Cutler, and she is precious. She sleeps with you now. You got a Bunny Bank, a drill that you pull the string, and then push a button, and it works like a real drill, just like Daddy's. Also, a rabbit water gun and you love to squirt us with it. A set of little ducks, a water chirping bird, a little windup chick, and a mother chick on wheels. Of course, candy eggs, rabbits made of carob. We took you to McDonald's to play in their little children's park and then took you to the Playland Park and then home for a nap. Then we had a picnic out back in our yard.

First Galveston Adventure

You and I went to Galveston. It was your first time. We went to a place called Surfside. You saw the ocean, and your eyes sure were wide with excitement. You had never seen so much water. It just went on and on forever. You looked at it and called it Daddy water. We got your bathing suit on and walked to the ocean and put your foot in and smiled. Then you took