November

Things about Layla at this stage:

- even before she could talk she will “diggadiggadigga” you, where she runs up to you and squiggles her little fingers around to tickle your arm or forehead, while she smiles a big smile and says “diggadiggadigga!” Sometimes it’s the first thing she says to me when I get her up from her nap. Sometimes the first thing she says is “Dose”, and points to my nose, then sticks her finger in my eye “Yi”. Often she looks very pleased with herself after this conversation.

- she loves to help me. She helps with everything. Cooking – pushes her stool over or asks to be held so she can see, washing dishes – stands beside me on a stool and busily dumps dishwater over the clean dishes (or has herself a nice long drink of dishwater !!!! BLECH!!! Then when I take that nasty stuff away from her and put fresh water in her cup she busily dumps it out into the dishwater and goes back to scooping. Shake of head…), putting clothes in the dryer – she stands beside me and throws clothes in that I give her, hanging wash on the line – she follows me out and hands me items of clothes, and then helps to carry the empty basket back in, sweeping the floor -

she likes to run the little sweeper herself, and pushes the handle of the bigger vacuum while one of us are sweeping the hardwood floor.

- “Dea!” (tea) was her first word, and is the word she uses for all drinks. She just started saying “Gabe” and it seems to be the word she uses for any brother. ”Kie-kie!” (kitty cat) is the word she uses for animals, and “woo woo!” is the word she uses for animal noises. Hence you have kie-kies who woo woo.

- She still nurses to sleep (don’t necessarily love this) but I find it amusing how she “kneads” her way to sleep by giving my arm lots of tiny pinches. She also has the “trachea clutch”, the “trachea jab”, and the “collarbone clench and twist” in her arsenal, along with the “face/chest whack”. Wince.

-One of her favorite activities: catching running water with a cup and dumping it elsewhere. This will occupy her for long periods of time.

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We switched back from Daylight Savings Time today. I came out of Layla’s room this morning after getting her back to sleep, and the morning light was beautiful and golden. And the cozy stove out in the office to that mix, throw in a nice hot beverage, and getting up might not hurt quite so bad. winky