Pictures, Bye-bye, and Barking?

Yesterday we went to take our Christmas pictures...a seemingly simple task that turns out to be anything but---getting a smile (at least for a picture) from Leila Joy is far from simple. The photographer, Keisha, definitely earned her pay working with us. She did everything short of standing on her head to try and get a smile out of our little one. She was actually very good (which is why I am remembering her name for future appts.)---she was even able to get Leila to smile and laugh; problem was by the time she stepped back to take the shot, the smile was gone. I felt a little bad for her; she was jumping, running, making noises and totally out of breath (I think she even tripped a few times running backwards to take the picture). Anyway, an hour later we had some decent pictures....I'll post one or two when we get them in.
Other than that, not much going on. Ryan has been gone the last few days taking a couple of certification classes; Leila misses him...she gets so excited when he gets home :)

Leila's got her second tooth coming in and she has figured out how to wave hi/bye...very cute! She's also really into her mirror right now...talking to herself and barking--yes barking! She got a stuffed dalmatian from Grandma that she loves and I sometimes take it and have it "bark" at her. This morning I caught her looking into the mirror (with her doggy in her hand) and "barking" at the mirror! Later, when I was playing with her and the dog, everytime the dog would bark at her she would bark right back. It's pretty funny....as long as she doesn't start biting!