blind side

We are watching Blind Side and we were at the part where Leanne is reading to SJ and Michael a story and Colins is sitting in the stairway so that her mom can't see, listening and smiling. I burst into tears and said that one day that might be Leah. Then of course I told Julian that I am going to read her stories forever.

new words

Leah has been starting to say some new words....she's got mama, dada, di di, nana, dog, moon (mmmm), cow (ca) ,cat (KAH) and cock. Yes. You have read the last one correctly.

We were at her little 13 month old friend's house. She is a genius....knows like 30 or more words already including some mandarin. Leah hasn't picked up anything she's doing yet....except Kenzie was pointing to the clock and exclaimed, "Cock!" and from the kitchen I hear Leah yelling COCK! That's fun.

Two different friends have made comments recently about how they think Leah will be in high school. One said that she seems like she already has a ton of confidence....and that she thinks Leah will be a popular girl who has a lot of friends but kind of laughs off when she gets into trouble for talking in class. Another friend and I joke that her son is taking Leah to prom in England but then she wrote me a card that said she can't wait for Leah to take Arthur to prom. I tol dher he is taking her. She replied that no one will be able to take her anywhere she doesn't want to go, so wherever it is England or here, SHE will be taking him. That made me laugh.

She's a good girl. She is working on not hitting others. She has been especially clingy to me at home.....she cries a lot when put down.

We tried to take Christmas pictures with my dad dressed up as santa and she melted down like crazy. It was super sad.

Right now we are watching the Office Christmas special and it's awesome. Leah is sleeping in her crib upstairs....she usually wakes up in about 41 minutes.

updates

Well,

Leah's surgery went well and she healed fine. You can barely see her scar. She's such a trouper!!!!

She had her first hair cut yesterday. She looks like a little china doll. It was 20 dollars and the last 20 dollar hair cut we are going to spend on her for a while....that seems like so much and I think they only cut about a teaspoon of hair total! But it was the experience, I suppose. And I did cry. I didn't think I would but as she took the sheers to her little hairs, I just cried because that little girl had that hair from the time she pooped out into this world and then SNIP!. Leah did a great job, though. She didn't cry that much. She sat on my lap.

Of course we hadn't gven her a bath and she had crusties in her hair. Oh well.

Leah's into giving kisses....she's also into hitting other kids. We are working on this.

We joined a co-op preschool that meets Tuesday mornings. We have only gone once (I go with her this year) and she had a blast. I just pick a station and work at that station, but she can venture and go where she wants. She stayed at the fake kitchen station last Tuesday and enjoyed eating the pretend pizza.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. I looked at pics from last Thanksgiving and I can't believe how little she was. Where'd that little baby go? Sometimes when she naps I just touch her little hands and kiss them. They are so much bigger than they used to be. And we kiss her little, growing sweaty feet. Where are those little feet going to take you, little girl?

Thanksgiving last year....compared to now...

surgery

Leah's having surgery to remove her cyst tomorrow morning (most likely). It might be moved due to us givng her ib profin for her teething. They never told us we couldn't but then in the pre-surgery phone consultation they seemed concerned about it. Hopefully they can do it and get it over with because we have been staying away from other kids and playgroups, stores, etc so that she doesn't get sick. If she got sick, they wouldn't do it.

Leah's cut 2 new teeth in the last week. She has been hurting! She has 8 teeth now but a lot of them are on the verge of breaking through. Talk about rough nights of sleep for everyone.

She's been walking around and running. She has sucha fun time.

She started saying Dog. Which is said "Ogg! Ogggg!" but it's super cute. She started to find her own nose, lips, and eyes when asked. She discovered how to plug her nostrils which brings her hilarious joy.

walking

Leah walked over 11 steps today....she was WALKING. crazy.

updates

Well, the sleeping has been OK. She will have good nights and bad....She's been falling asleep quickly but getting her to fall back asleep come midnight is not as easy....Some nights she sleeps longer and others not so much. And we are too weak to make her so we just snuggle with her. It's so hard when we go to change her and then she wraps her little arms around your neck so tight and doesn't let go because she just wants to be with you!!! Heart breaker.

Lately we have been having fun at home playing on the new slide that Lola got Leah....and we have bene playing with blocks and she loves breaking down whatever I build. I got her a little drum and we've been playing with it as well...

She said "cat" today. She doesn't repeat words she says but what we've heard thus far has been- mama, dada, nana, di-di (diamond), hi, bye, sauce, cran (crayon), and cat.

It's time to read and put her in her crib. Cross your fingers all goes well.

success????

She fell asleep within 5 minutes....

and last night she slept the whole night through.

cross your fingers it continues.....