things that make cayla laugh

I remember the days when getting a laugh from Cayla was like finding water in the desert. She just wouldn't laugh very much early on. We wanted to hear that sound so badly because it was so beautiful. I'd work and work for one. I mean, I worked hard. I'd bring out my best material, everything I have in my arsenal: my strangest faces, my most ridiculous voices, and even silly songs about her having pee-pee in her diapee. If she would finally giggle it was enough to bring tears to your eyes. We wanted to just bottle it up so we could open it whenever we wanted. I remember going back to watch clips of her laughing we'd caught on the video camera just to hear it again.

Well, times have changed. One of the things we've prayed for Cayla since before she was born was that she would bring joy and smiles to others. It's been so incredible to witness her personality coming out lately. She still has her moods, don't get me wrong. When she is tired, crankiness is soon to follow.

But Cayla also has these crazy moods where she'll laugh at basically anything. I have to say, it's a good boost for the ego. She makes you feel like you are the most hilarious person in the world. Say her name a little differently? Laughter. A tickle on the ribs? Big giggles. Tilt your head in a goofy way? She's chuckling like you're Jerry Seinfeld. Pretty soon you're nodding to yourself slowly, thinking, Yep, it's true. I am the funniest man on the face of the earth.

The fun thing is that even when she's not in complete-goof-mode, she will still laugh quite a bit. Here are some things that will usually get a smile or laugh:

*putting her on your back or shoulders and running

*reading a book to her with silly voices (this is Leah's specialty)

*making silly animal noises

*funny songs or faces

*when she makes her fake-burp noise after one of us really does burp (guess whose specialty that is). Sometimes she echoes it back to us within a second of hearing it. And then, of course, like all good entertainers she smiles and claps for herself.

Cayla Joy, we look forward to the times of laughter still ahead of us.