My Sweet Laila 'Laine

I don't often write about Laila. I don't know the reason. What I know is that Laila is a gift from God. She is such a happy baby. I often joke that she is our reward for having put up with Connor when he was a baby. Here is a video of Laila having lunch. She is pretty much like this all the time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN6czn4yY14

She is a happy baby, but she definitely has an attitude when she doesn't get her way. Her attitude is most apparrent around mealtime. Lee and I are not accustomed to a baby who actually likes to eat food; we couldn't get Connor to eat much of anything until he was about 10-12 months old. So sometimes we overlook her at mealtime. But she speaks up: she will hit the table and "yell" at us until we comply with food. Her appetizer is usually cheerios. We give her that so that she will allow us to set the table and prepare our plates. But once we sit down, she insists on having what we're having. It doesn't really matter what it is--pasta, meat, rice, potatoes, beans, fruits, vegetables--she will eat it as long as it is what we are eating. Once she's had our food, she insists on having her food., so her "real" food is followed by a jar of baby food. Occassionally she still wants more, so she gets rice cereal. Once she's had all the solid food she wants, she gets to nurse or she gets a bottle (depending on my mood).

Her insistance on food extends beyond mealtime. Anytime I put anything in my mouth, be it candy, fruit, a piece of cake, a glass of water--whatever, she insists that she will have some too. (She will actually reach for my glass and try to drink from it when I give it to her!)

The attitude extends beyond mealtime as well. The other day we stopped by Walgreens so that I could run in and pick up something. I had planned to leave the children in the car with Lee, but Connor wanted to go inside. Lee was going to wait in the car with Laila, but a few minutes after we walked inside the store, Lee and Laila went inside as well.

"She wouldn't have it," Lee said. "As soon as you took Connor out the car, she yelled and then hurled her toy at the window! Then she started fussing, so I brought her in."

So it looks like we have a little attitude to deal with. Should be interesting. It's a good thing she's so incredibly sweet. :)