A Big Day

Yesterday was a big day for Miss Leah. First off, we had our weekly full morning at church, during which a multitude of people had very deep and meaningful (to be sure) conversations with Leah, and this was the first week, I think, that she really interacted with them. Usually they talk to her, ooh and aah over her, and play with her and she kind of just looks at them all like she can't quite figure them out. Yesterday, though, she talked to them and smiled at them and was generally a little gem. This apparently was exhausting for her (she might be an introvert at heart like her mama), because midway through the second service this was the scene at the back of the church:

Leah, sound asleep and perfectly content in her Weezer's arms. Too, too precious.

Apparently, too, all of that worship and conversation worked up quite a thirst in Miss Leah, because this was the scene at lunch, over and over:

She had her eyes on everything we had to eat and drink, and this was the first day she had really expressed an interest in actually having whatever it was we had. She was particularly intrigued by my sweet tea. (Can you believe that's just a medium? In what world is a medium drink bigger than your head? Gracious. Insane.) We always have her on the table when we eat out (not much longer, I suspect), and I had to buckle her back into her seat so she wouldn't fall all over the table. She had her first taste of ketchup, too, since that was the only thing we were eating that should could reasonably be expected to taste. (A bacon cheeseburger is generally not infant-approved.) Good times for all, especially those families lucky enough to be seated near us.

Last night, as I gave her her bedtime bath, I called Scott upstairs to see the funniest thing of all....of which I unfortunately have no pictures (and it probably wouldn't be a very good idea to share them with you, even if I did). Leah was kicking and splashing in the tub, sloshing water everywhere, for the first time. Every other time thus far, she has seen the bath as optimal relaxation time, laying back and crossing her ankles, casually watching all I'm doing. Last night, though, suddenly the bath took on new meaning. It was playtime, and she seized it with gusto. Fabulous. So much fun.

After the bath, she had her bedtime bottle, and I again summoned Scott to come see his daughter. For the first time ever, this was what he saw when he came into the family room:

She was holding her bottle - all by herself - for the first time. Incredible!

Not surprisingly, she fell asleep after that bottle and slept hard all night. It was a big day, and she had to recharge for today!