Lots of New Words!

Liliana is starting to talk and it is so cute. Here are the words that she can say (and uses correctly in context about 80% of the time):

Momma

Dada

Daddy

Bahmpa (Grandpa)

Ah-dahn (All Done)

Hi

eyesss (eyes)

up

pees (please)

no

ba-ba (Baby)

Ni-Night (we use "baby talk" for this word too and call bedtime "ni-night"--our fault!)

Dat (that)

Helping Mommy in the Kitchen

Liliana loves helping Mommy in the kitchen. Thanks Lila...I couldn't do it without you!

Birch Aquarium

The girls had fun at the aquarium. Liliana was scared of the sea horses and jelly fish, but the rest of the fish were interesting to both of them. They especially liked the sea kelp forest.

Ashlyn and Taryn

Taryn and her GORGEOUS little Ashlyn came to visit us today. Ashlyn is such a happy, smiley baby girl. She is practicing all of her sounds and smiles and giggles. I loved cuddling her and can't believe Liliana was that size just a blink-of-an-eye ago. It's also hard to believe that while they seem worlds apart now, soon their age difference will be unnoticeable and they will be running around together.

The Sweetest Moment

Another time I wish I had my camera right in my hand...

Liliana and Layla were standing side by side today playing at the table in the Tollack's living room when out of nowhere Layla leaned in and gave Liliana a huge 'beso' right on the cheek. She pulled back to look at Liliana's reaction and Liliana looked at her with big eyes. Layla must have been satisfied with this response because she went in for the kill again...and again...and again! She gave her 5 besos!! My eyes were already filled with tears because of how sweet this moment was between two little buddies, and then they took it to a whole 'nother level of sweetness. Layla reached forward and grabbed Liliana by the collar of her dress and nuzzled her head into Liliana's neck. Liliana started giggling and wrapped her arms around Layla in a hug and they both toppled over together and popped up with the BIGGEST smiles on their cute little faces. I couldn't take it--the tears flowed down my cheeks as I joined them in laughter. I have the best "job" in the world. Our girls are so cute.

Las Cruces

Liliana and I went to Las Cruces, New Mexico to visit my grandparents. It was such a nice trip. My grandparents live on a very pretty golf course there. We ate great food and visited with each other and their friends and relaxed. Liliana loved having her Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa show her all of the birds and rabbits outside and all of the sculptures and art in the house. We both had so much fun and only wish that the trip was longer. Everything about the weekend was perfect...except for the plane trip home.

The trip home was rough. My little traveler had her first bad flight. I guess we are all entitled to one every once in a while. She didn't sleep well in Las Cruces because of the altitude and I think that the sleep deprivation caught up with her on the last day and made her very grouchy. She is also at a stage where she wants to get down and crawl all of the time, which is impossible on an airplane. Because the flight was not full we had a whole row to ourselves--THANK GOD. Otherwise the person who would have sat next to us would have had a black and eye and been missing clumps of hair. She threw a total fit and writhed like a crazy girl batting at me and pulling my hair. She was so tired and could not calm herself down. Finally, for the last 15 minutes of the trip she passed out. Poor baby.

So Many Great Moments...that I can't catch on film!!

Liliana is obsessed with the camera and video camera. Whenever I pull one out to capture her on film she immediately stops what she is doing to race towards me to take it from me. Soooo...I have been unsuccessful at getting pictures or video of her new "tricks". Here are the highlights:

-Liliana DANCES!! It is so cute. When music comes on (and even when I sing) she moves her little body back and forth from side to side and bounces her knees if she is standing. I really want to catch this one on camera. It cracks me up. We say, "Baila Lila" and she shakes her little booty.

-She lifts her arms up in the air when I ask her, "how big is Liliana?" ("Sooo BIG!")

-She popped another tooth on the bottom right.

-She initiates peek-a-boo by covering her face with different objects or by hiding behind furniture. This new version of the game is making it impossible to nurse on airplanes or in public anymore because she wants to rip the nursing cover off of me and thinks that it is a game.

-She likes to play chase. She giggles like a little maniac while chasing Layla or I around the house and screams with delight when we turn around to chase her.

-She is cruising along furniture, opening every cabinet in the house, and getting a ton of bruises along the way. I know it is a little early to tell, but I'm afraid she may be just as klutzy as her mother.

-She hisses. Okay, so maybe this one isn't that cute, but it is a little bit funny. When she gets upset she makes a hissing sound from the back of her throat and glares. I think that she learned it from me. It seems to be her interpretation of an exasperation sigh. "Ugh!"

Grandma and Grandpa Come to Town

My parents came to visit us in Encinitas. As always, we had a great weekend together. We took trips to the park, went for walks on the beach, and ate and drank around town. I wish that we lived closer!
During their visit, My mom swears that she heard Liliana yell, "aaahmpa, aaahmpa" ("grandpa, grandpa") from her crib when she was trying to get out of her afternoon nap. I have to admit that when my mom called me on the phone to hear it for myself it did sound like that's what she was saying. But, we haven't heard it again since, so who knows?

Playing at the park with Grandma:

Enjoying her first muffin at Pannikin with Grandpa:

Love the CHUB!

People have commented on the fact that Liliana has slimmed out a little...just a little. While she may not have the tight "rubberband" rolls all over her arms and legs that she had a few months ago, she is still our little chub and I can't get enough. I can hardly keep my hands and mouth off of all her chunky body parts. She is sweet enough to eat.
She keeps her girlish figure going strong by continuing to be a good little eater. I still make all of her food, but I figured that she eats the equivalent of about 3 baby food jars of food each meal (12 oz +). I asked our pediatrician if I am overfeeding her, and he said that because all she is mostly getting at this point is fresh veggies and fruit and breast milk, there is no harm in letting her have all that she wants. Piglet!

Someone told me that I shouldn't post naked pics on the blog, but I really can't resist! Check out the tum, the buns, and the knees. Yum!

The Beeans

The cutest little bumblebees:


"Mom...Are you serious?!? ENOUGH with the costumes and the pictures!"

Halloween Weekend in Yuma

Our family had a great time celebrating Halloween in Yuma. On Friday night we stayed in at The Morrison's and enjoyed a yummy seasonal pumpkin dish made by Krissy, had some drinks and played with Liliana. On Saturday we celebrated Halloween at a wonderful party hosted by Margo and Athon, complete with witch's brew and a TON of cute little trick or treaters.

Queen Bee and Princess Bee:
The Bees and their Bee Keeper:
Bee Keeper, Princess Bee and Poppa Doc as "The Tooth Fairy":

Cousin Cooper as a Nascar Driver:
Liliana and her Poppa Doc (she thought he was HILARIOUS! She loved laughing at his silly faces and she leaned it to give him unsolicited besos to show her appreciation):

Fun in Grammy Krissy's tubby:
Grammy, Da-Da, and Baby Lila: