Kitty

Meet Kitty.

Kitty is Lyla's special friend. He sleeps in her crib with her and comes on some outings with us. He's starting to feel quite loved and smell a little, how shall I say, ripe. She loves him though.

I don't yet know how I will steal him to wash him, but we have a little time to figure that out still.

Choosing her Own Headband

Lyla hates hats. She'll tolerate one for barely 10 seconds before she rips it off. So imagine my surprise last week when she came crawling into the kitchen with this on her head.

She had got hold of one of the headbands I wear to work out, somehow put it on her head, and left it there.

It stayed on her head through a trip out to dinner (we went to Jack's Prime and she stole both of our straws), all the way up to bath time.

I'd like to think she purposely put it there, but I'm afraid not. More likely it accidentally landed on her head and she couldn't feel it. Still, it looked really cute. I'm scheming a way to put one on her again.

Lyla's Vocabulary

At almost 15 months, this is Lyla's repertoire of speech (in rough order because I don't completely remember):

Wow

Hi 

Dada

Meow (cat sound, in reference to felines and other mammals including small dogs)

Uff Uff and Bow-Wow (doggie sounds, in reference to dogs)

Yea

Baa (sheep sound, in reference to sheep, goats, and cows)

Bye-Bye

Mama

Up

Down

Again

Oh Yea

No

Me

You

Yes

Apple

Everything is pretty clear except 'Again,' which loosely sounds like the word but I know that's what she is saying because I'm her mom.

Cabo San Lucas 2012

We've taken our third flight trip with Lyla, this time to Mexico!

Ray's company had their annual President's Club trip to Cabo San Lucas this year, so we headed down there for three days. This was the third visit for Ray and I, and the shortest flight we've taken with Lyla.

We lucked out with empty seats in our row both there and back, which was a lifesaver. As hard as flying was before, it's more challenging now with a squirmy toddler who doesn't want to sit nicely and refuses to take a nap!

We stayed at the Esperanza Resort in Cabo. The property was absolutely gorgeous, and our 3-bedroom villa was amazing with a full kitchen, 2 balconies, 3 bathrooms, and a washer/dryer.

Lyla did lots of walking practice in the living room, around the coffee table and couch. No walking yet though; still waiting and watching. She did look cute in the rash guard and bottoms I found at Target.

Being February, it was just a little too chilly to spend too much time in the pool, but we still spent a bunch of time beside it.

Ray and I had a wonderful time at his awards dinner. We borrowed a friend's nanny for the trip, and it was wonderful to have her there taking care of Lyla so we could go out in the evening.

The morning of our departure, Ray and Lyla took a nap while I packed. I can't deny I was a little jealous of the sleeping, but it was a very sweet moment I was able to capture.

As always it was really great to get back home, but I'm so grateful we have these opportunities to go and see new places with Lyla together. It's a wonderful experience for her, and for us too.

Lyla in December and January

Two days after Christmas we drove back home from Lake Tahoe, and stopped at Five Guys/Jamba Juice for lunch. Lyla and I shared an apple cinnamon smoothie. She let me have some.

February 3rd-6th we will be in Cabo San Lucas for Ray's company President's Club trip. This bathing suit was given to us before her birth, and the timing is going to be perfect! It fits pretty well, and I'm so glad she has a cute one piece suit. I have long standing issues with little girls wearing bikinis.

Lyla loves books, and recently she has been fascinated with the texture and sound of books with paper pages. Her books are almost all board books so she likes to get hold of one of mine to play with.

Her hair is getting so long. Recently I discovered the secret to dealing with the awful tangles that are always in the back: some leave-in conditioner and combing right after her bath and shampoo. This works much better than detangler later.

I was able to make this little ponytail with her long curls in the back. The one and only time though, for the most part I leave her hair alone. I attempt to clip her bangs back with barrettes but she takes them out immediately.

This is the most recent photo, taken this past Sunday. Hanging out in her unbuttoned shirt, messing with the laundry in our room.