The many nicknames of Leila...

Here is the running list so far...given that she is only 10 1/2 months old, she is clearly in for a few more over the course of her lifetime. These are in chronological order (sort of...) and Samy is responsible for most of these of course...hence some of them don't make much sense!

1. L.J.
2. Baby Joi
3. Bundle
4. Bundleliscious
5. Soondella (don't ask...)
6. La Loucha
7. Toolessa (another obscure one...)
8. Baloutta

Bye Bye Birdie

Leila is a movin' and a groovin'. She has definitely taken off this month and is a bundle of energy. Crawling has ramped up...she is faster and has adapted her style to use her legs more. She now can sit up from her crawling position. However, little Leila has little patience for crawling and clearly wants to stand and walk. She constantly pulls up on furniture and people to go vertical and is now cruising around the furniture more confidently. She is just pleased as punch with her ability to stand. I can't count the times that I have put her down for a nap, go back in after hearing grunting noises of exertion to find her standing up in her crib, grinning ear to ear. She is quite proud of her accomplishment and also just loves it when she skirts the nap altogether. I think her napping time during the day will be decreasing soon (although Samy does his best to "bond" with Leila numerous times throughout the day (otherwise known as napping with Leila in his arms...he just loves having that excuse to nap!)
I call this installment "Bye Bye Birdie" because Leila has also just learned to wave bye bye. Oh it is so cute! Who would have thought a simple waving of the arm could give you so much pleasure! She doesn't do it consistently, but ALWAYS waves bye bye when we take her to and from Cristina's (her babysitter) house. We are starting to make some plans for Leila's first birthday...can't believe that one year has almost gone by. I am sure Leila is looking forward to her cake if she is anything like her mom!

April Fool

On April Fool's day we went to the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gater park to see an exhibit. Then headed to a friend's house to celebrate his birthday. These pictures are from the Conservatory. Leila looked so pretty in her Easter dress (couldn't help but have her wear it a little early). I think she looked like a little European girl...precious!

Little Miss Sunshine

Leila brightens up our day and is definitely communicating her desires, wants and needs. It is great to see her develop and interact with the world. She is so inquisitive and wants to see EVERYTHING. Any little noise makes her turn to see what is happening. She squirms around in your lap...ready to stand or move around to get into "stuff". Mommy gets more and more nervous when Leila will be fully mobile. Somehow Leila knows instinctively the things that you DON'T want her to get into, and those are just the things she is interested in. Can't Wait! That being said, she is pulling herself around--wouldn't quite call it crawling, but she is moving. After a while of arm pulling crawling dragging her legs behind her, she starts to cry, clearly not wanted to exert any more effort to move. She seems quite content to explore on her own terms when she feels like it. She also loves to grab onto the furniture and stands quite well. Me thinks she is going to be a walker before she really even masters crawling! This picture was taken at Leila's park--we visited her park when Grandma Bayne visited. Leila had a blast on the playground!