Leila's Post

Check this kid out! I was hoping that my baby would stay... well, a baby, for longer than she has. I call a "NOT FAIR!" on babyhood.... they grow much too fast. Especially this one. Within the last few weeks she's started crawling (like really real crawling) and exclaiming "DADA!" at everything she likes... and sometimes at her Dada.She salivates and lunges at all the foods she can't have yet and scarfs down the stuff she is allowed to have (she can eat, that's really what I'm getting at. Don't be embarrassed later Leila, but really, you can put it AWAY!). I've noticed subtle differences between her personality and Cooper's that are typical "girl" tendancies. For one, she is very particular about how she is held when being put to sleep: Arm out, face up, sucking on her blanket. Her Daddy knows how to do this the best so she mostly prefers him to do it. In fact, she mostly prefers him for everything. I feel kind of bad for her that all day long she just wants daddy and she has to deal with me until he comes home. (Sorry Leila, I'll just have to do!)Also, she and Cooper have developed a funny sort of brother/sister relationship which is mostly defined by Cooper trying to play with her and she enjoying it, then getting hurt and looking to mom or dad and Cooper pretending like nothing's wrong.I mentioned previously that my children are "disarmingly" adorable. This has turned out to be literally true of Leila in several cases. Mid-July when she was a mere 7 months old we were at temple square for cousin Allison's wedding. Leila was enjoying the day on a blanket in the shade, when a group of 8 or so tourists stopped to listen to her cooing and jabbering and watch her smiling and grabbing at her feet. They stayed for a few minutes, all of them comenting on how sweet and bright she was and just as they were moving on ANOTHER GROUP (this time only 5 or 6) stopped to talk to her and smile at her. Talk about missionary experience!! If these people weren't members already I bet they want to be now just because of the cute baby at Temple Square!! Seriously, wouldn't you?!!
Also, our ward Chorister sat next to us in sacrament meeting last week and her daughters were holding and doting on Leila, as we stood to sing the rest hymn I was holding Leila as she grinned up at the chorister and (for the first time) started opening and closing her chubby hand in a primitive wave. The chorister smiled and continued leading the song with a grin and renewed vigor. The experience was nothing if not charming.
Leila seems to be a very personable personality. She is ingenious in her efforts to win over new acquaintances by constantly mastering new tricks just as the opportunity develops. Perhaps she'll join the circus.