Upbeat Update

Josh pointed out to me that my posts lately are getting sentimental to the extreme. I think it's because I've been working so much...I am acutely aware of how much I am missing, and Lila is extra-clingy and sensitive at the moment and it adds to the guilt. But now, I'll take a step back...and file a report light on gravitas, if you will.




Right now, all things Lila pertain to babies, dogs, shoes, and her friend Avery, known in this blogosphere as Wee Wee. Wee Wee is the first thing she wants to talk about in the morning, and her conversations throughout the day are peppered with Wee Wee in both the inquisitive form and the statement of fact. She is also quick to follow "Wee Wee" with "woof woof", because of Avery's dog Soki.

I had Friday off from work, so I took Lila for the first time to her Gymboree class, which she takes with Avery. As we parked and made our way through the mall to the class, Lila could sense that Wee Wee was close, as she said her name to me aloud, as well as to her traveling buddy, Gingerbread Jimmy (He squeaked in response, upon squeezing his midsection. That Jimmy! So predictable!). And when we finally saw Wee Wee, live and in the flesh, oh, the pointing that ensued. Avery looked equally pleased to see Lila, and when they were both finally together, free to reminisce, catch up, gossip, whatever...they both completely ignored each other for the entire class.

But their parting was sweet and elaborate. First Lila kissed Avery, then Avery kissed Lila, then there was a hug and more kissing. And as we returned to our car alone, "Wee Wee" echoed repeatedly all throughout the mall.




And Friday we also saw my New York friend Sheila and her son Arlo, who is 6 weeks younger than Lila. We last saw them in December, I think, and since then Arlo has suddenly gone from baby to a living model for a Mercer Mayer character - a full blown little boy with big blue eyes, soft brown hair and apple cheeks. Arlo is as boyish and Lila is girlish. He was most pleased with toys that could be pushed or pulled (things Lila never cared much for), and he cleverly figured out how to open a china cabinet that Lila walks by all the time and has never bothered to open. Sheila also said that he has never gotten attached to any of his stuffed animals, while Lila treats hers like family. And yet for their differences, they seem very similar in terms of development, and even temperament.

Visits from New York always make me homesick...But wait - levity, levity is the name of the game here! A lovely time was had by all!




Elsewhere to report, Lila is showing her Boston roots, by insisting on calling a car "ca!" That should please Pop Pop immensely. Now if he could just get her to pronounce "bathroom" "bhah-throom".