7 Month Leila Update

Well, I am a little behind. The good news is that she is STILL 7 months, albeit, barely :)

Here's some pictures of my princess

Hanging out in the bathroom sink while Daddy takes a shower

#whitetrashbumboseat

Leila's Aby (Jared's mom) made her this freaking cute hat - Cabbage Patch Kid anyone!?

I couldn't help but put this one in! And big news in the Joyner household is that the binky is GONE!

Here is a headband that I made with help from my friend Stephanie!

Another view

Ugh. Melts my heart she is so cute!

Aaaaannnnddd....here's her scary face! See, she isn't always cute but she sure makes me laugh!

She still has zero interest in crawling, but I am alright with that. She is getting taller, but still isn't putting on much weight. Don't get me wrong, she is totally fine and healthy, but I think all her chubbiness is in her face! I just wish this little mama would eat. It is still a no-go for solid foods. I have decided not to worry about it. She is still nursing, I still consistently offer her cereal and other baby foods and now it's up to her. Although she is extremely sweet and easy-going, oooowheeee, this girl will NOT do something she doesn't want. Stubborn anyone?

She loves her jumper and her legs are getting stronger everyday. Leila loves anything with music and that is light enough for her to lift and put in her mouth. My favorite developments have been when she wants to be picked up she will start flapping her arms and kicking her legs and reach for me! She is rolling like crazy and determined to get what she wants. I am hoping she will wait on crawling just a little bit longer. Leila loves to suck on her bottom or top lip and blow raspberries on her own arms. It's hilarious. Love my little Leila girl!

***Just a quick plug for Christian. I know I don't do his updates anymore because, let's be honest, he's old news!;)  But he is growing like a weed and is a lot of fun. He has officially entered the terrible twos, just a little late since he will be 3 in March. He loves to throw tantrums and toys, but for the most part is a sweet kid. He talks NON-STOP and is very detail-oriented, just like his Dad. He is in size 4T clothes and size 11 toddler shoes, so I still call him my Great Dane puppy. His newest things are:

1. Asking me to go to Disneyland DAILY
2. Puzzles
3. Learning new songs (his favorites are "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star", "Row, Row, Row Your Boat", "A,B,C,D,E,F,G", "The Itsy Bitsy Spider", "Give Said the Little Stream", "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep" and asks for each before bedtime at night)
4. Yes or No questions. "Mom, is Leila awake? Tell me yes or no.", "Mom, is Dad going to be home right now? Tell me yes or no.", "Mom, do you want some crackers? Tell me yes or no." Cute. Funny. Annoying. All of the above :)

My friend, Nik

I think everyone has that friend...the one where your mom and his mom are friends - you are around the same age and you are thrust together by circumstance as much as anything else. I had that friend.

Last week I learned that he had finally succumbed to the brain tumor he had been valiantly fighting for twice as long as the doctor's said he could. That was just Nik. In all honesty, I almost believed he would fight it off, because he was just THAT strong; that determined.

 I found out on Saturday, Jared's birthday. I cried, but I knew I couldn't grieve. Jared was counting on me to put together the party at our house, there was too much to do. I put my pain and sadness in a compartment to be re-visited later. There were moments of sadness, but always at inopportune times: church, work, at a friend's house for dinner. Again, I stuffed it back inside and moved forward.

Yesterday I read a post from his mom. She said, "It's interesting how, when your world stops....you sometimes look around at others nonchalantly going about their day and think "what are you THINKING?!! Don't you know what has HAPPENED?!?!?". 

It caught up with me. The memories. The pain. The sadness at a life such as his being taken. I didn't take the time to do it, so it creeped up and forced its way in. Last night, I couldn't sleep. When I did finally fall asleep, my dreams were memories of Nik and his friendship. We were the younger kids. Our older siblings played and "hung out" when they were teenagers, and Nik and I weren't included. You know how it is, we weren't as cool as them, or so they thought! We were thick as thieves when we were together.

I thought of his quiet demeanor, always taking things in first before acting or speaking. Some people took that quietness as shyness, but I knew he was really just thinking and examining the situation before jumping in. He was always smarter than me, but kind enough to not let me know. He laughed at all my jokes. We were total opposites, but friends for so long that we didn't let it stand in between our friendship. 

I remember, as a teenager, thinking that I wished I could be more like him; that I could be as brave as him. He was himself and made no excuses. He didn't try to fit in. He didn't try to change himself so that he would be more accepted and people loved him for that. I wished I could be more that way.  

His eyes were so blue. I felt like he could look into me and see the facade I sometimes put on. He was completely without guile. Never trying to be someone he wasn't. Never pretending.

He was my first friend. I am grateful for a religion and belief that I will see him again. Those blue eyes deserve to be seen again. 

To his mom I say, "Yes. We know what happened. Life, for me, will never be the same without your dear, sweet son."