Our little girl

Leila Joy will be eleven months the day after tomorrow! Where has the time gone? It seems like all of a sudden our little baby is more our little girl/toddler...where did that baby go? It's a little sad to see that baby changing, but we are so proud of all the things she can do and the little person she is becoming. Her walking is getting better and better; she's smart as a whip; and best of all, she's a genuinely sweet and happy person....our little JOY :)

I really need to stay updated on this blog so I can have some sort of record of all the things she does (and pretty soon says!) Let's see...a few things that come to mind from this week:

*helping mommy with laundry--I was loading the dryer when she crawled out of her room to "check on me." she was playing around with the dryer door, so I handed her a bib and said, "here help mommy, put this in the dryer." She took it, looked at me for half a second and tossed it in! I didn't really think she would do it (I didn't point or show her how) but she figured it out...dishes next! j/k

*sign language--she is really into signing...I can't wait to take her to the baby sign classes at the library (they are during her naptime right now)...she watches me sign and is actually starting to make some signs herself ("milk," "more," "book")...I can even say "Leila, where's" (sign book) and she will look around and grab the nearest book!

*singing!--she loves music and singing...I think the only time she ever sits still is when daddy is playing guitar--she's mesmerized! He doesn't like to sing, but he's not too bad (I, on the other hand, am terrible; but I sing all the time, Leila doesn't know any better--yet). So I made him try singing to her, insisting that she really likes it. He did, and she put her head on his shoulder and starting singing too! (so sweet...yes, I cried)

*more singing--today we took a trip to Babies r us (shh...don't tell daddy!) On the way, I was singing along with the radio; I heard Leila and thought she might be whining/crying so I stopped to listen...she was singing along! Just kind of "la, la, ba, la" singsong....we sang the whole way there--I loved it! Then, when we were in the store looking at a couple of things (ok, feverishly pawing through the clothes on the clearance rack). Leila Joy has gotten into this really bad habit of yelling/shrieking to get attention when we are out shopping, so I usually tune her out a bit. Today, however, I suddenly became aware of the sounds she was making..."ba, ba, la, ma, la," in a sweet little tune...she was singing to herself! I thought it was so awesome...because really all I want most for her is to be happy--the kind of person who goes around singing to themself.

I looked at her and smiled and kind of copied her tune and then asked..."are you singing? You sing so beautifully!" She stopped for a second, looked right at me, gave me the biggest smile, and starting singing again--this time I realized not just to herself, but also for me.....even better :)