new stuff

As I type this, I'm sitting on the couch with my legs up. Leah is lying down fast asleep with her head on my stomach. I only mention this because Leah has a tendency to say really funny things when she wakes up suddenly and I promise I'll include them if she says another one. A few minutes ago she just popped her head up, looked at me closely and said, "Why are you still up?" Of course, by now I've learned to milk this for all it's worth so I ask her as many questions as I can before she stops answering. So I said, "Why are YOU still up?" She just shook her head and replied, "I don't get it." Pretty good, but not as funny as when she popped up in bed and said, "Where is Cayla?!" before looking under the covers down by our feet. Yeah, pretty sure she's not down there, sweetie.

Anyway, a couple new tidbits regarding Cayla Joy:

*she now has a bottom molar coming in. I think that would be number ten now. We're hoping she will start to chew stuff up better. She is still swallowing a lot of foods without chewing them up first.

*she was giggling like crazy tonight--it was awesome! I was lying on my back and she was kind of pouncing on my chest. So I'd grab her and roll over to my side with her and then blow kisses on her chin. She was laughing so hard. I'd put her back down and she just kept pouncing on me for more--it was heaven.

*she thinks it's really funny to put things in our mouths. Of course, you must accept whatever it is and hold it temporarily in your mouth to her satisfaction. Usually not a big deal. Although I am not such a fan of her dirty socks that she pulls off then chews on. Are we bad parents? She loves playing with her socks. And that includes putting them in her mouth. And then my mouth.

*she has started mimicking animal sounds. I do a monkey noise for her. Nothing too professional, just your basic "hoo hoo hoo ha ha ha ha!" stuff. Not to brag, but I'm actually pretty good at it. Anyway, she started trying to do the "ha ha ha ha!" part with her tongue sticking way out.

*she loves to read books with Mommy before bed. Points at the pictures with her non-sucking-on-fingers hand. Turns the pages. Sits there patiently. It's great.

*she has been loving turkey dogs a LOT lately. She had two the other day in one meal. It's kind of annoying putting all the condiments on that she likes. You know, the onions, mustard, tabasco sauce and all. But that's how she likes it. Joking aside, we just cut 'em up into little pieces and she goes to town.

*she is also getting a bit more... selective with her eating. There are some things that she just isn't interested in eating anymore. We still try to sneak a few in, but now she is watching to see which container the spoon goes into. Just to cover her bases, she also double-checks the spoon as it gets closer to her mouth. Here's what typically happens lately:

Dad: (sneaks a few peas onto the spoon with applesauce and reaches toward Cayla) Mmmmm! Applesauce!! Cayla loves applesauce!

Cayla: (looks at me slyly) You think this is my first rodeo, kid? (she then proceeds to take in the applesauce and spit out the peas into her trough-bib thingy (TBT), while still looking at me. And then she winks! Okay, she doesn't wink. But the rest is true!)

Dad: (not ready to give up yet. i.e., Leah told me to make sure she got some veggies so here goes again...) Cayla, but you love the applesauce, sweetheart!! Remember?? (as if this will somehow trigger some happy memory of pea-eating from her past)

Cayla: (watches my spoon take a quick swipe into the plastic peas container. Then looks back at me while the spoon gets closer and gives a "yeah, right" nod before opening up again, humoring me.) Ya know, I can do this all night, Pops. (again she takes in the applesauce and spits out the two well-hidden--at least I thought--peas into her TBT.)

Dad: (exasperated) Who wants marshmallows???

(Leah just woke up and said, "It's all right. It's all right." I asked her for specifics but she couldn't provide them.)

Okay, that's all for now. Blessings from the Garlands.