The girl has attitude

I've been reprimanded for not updating my blog so here I am. It's not that I'm too busy to post. On the contrary, I have plenty of time while she's sleeping or playing. I just never know what to write, and I have no cute recent pictures of her. I'll take a stab at an update, though.

Layla has grown like a weed. When we were in Ethiopia, I had her in size 3.5 shoes and she was swimming in them. Well, she was just measured the other day and now wears a size 5! Big girl! She also officially grew out of some of her 12 month shirts. Can't wait to get new measurements on her. Unfortunately, she has had a cough or runny nose or both almost non-stop since she started daycare over a month ago. I am on my second cold-like thing in the same period of time. Oh, the joys of daycare. Which doesn't mean that I'm displeased with her daycare. Au contraire, they are wonderful and I couldn't be happier!

Layla is also talking a lot. Her vocabulary includes: doggie, kitty, hi, bye, Layla, Kelsie, bird, bunny, Blue's Clues (with corresponding hand motion), mommy, mama, and much more. Now, they may not sound like the actual word she's attempting, but it's clear what she's trying to say. Example, bird is "birr" and bunny is "buh." Other things are very clear, like mommy and mama, which sometime come out as "bobby" and "baba," and sometimes "mommy" and "mama." Her understanding of the English language is incredible for only being here for 4 months.

I don't know if it's the lack of a proper sleep schedule, the transition to daycare, the constant sickness, the teething (she now has her canines!), or a combination thereof, but lately she's not been a very nice person. Of course, she is still cute and sweet when she wants to be. However, when she is tired or not getting her way, she can be quite whiney and b*&%$y. She often whines "Mam, Mam" when she can't do something on her own that she wants to do so I come and help her. She gets sooo mad when I don't let her do something that she wants to do. And she wants to do absolutely everything I do. I have to say that I admire her spunk and spirit and determination, I'd rather have her that way than not wanting to do anything on her own. However, I am hoping that this whineyness will pass and I will get my sweet daughter back again full-time.

Lots of cute things too, as she grows up so quickly. She hugs really well, gives kisses, is happy at daycare and plays with the other kids, says her own name very cutely ("alala"), points her finger and reprimands me when she wants me to stop interfering with her current mission (okay, that one is only gonna be cute one or two more times, then I'll file it with "whiney"), and I almost forgot... I thought she looked cute in summer clothes, but man does she look beautiful in her new fall clothes!

I have started back at exercise class to lose my "baby weight." Since I eat differently now (i.e., more meals, more complete meals, Layla's food she doesn't eat, some modest treats that I never kept in the house before) and haven't been working out, I did gain several pounds.

Here is a relatively recent picture of Layla playing with stickers and watching TV (her favorite pastime). Check out that attitude written all over her face.