I decided to post today when I'm not so tired that what I'm saying barely makes sense. Lucky you! :o)~ Yesterday was a *looong* day!

Lila and I were supposed to have lunch plans, but they had to be rescheduled. With that time freed up and Lila waking up from a nap at just the right time, we were able to go to some friends' play group for the first time! We've been invited since before Lila was even born! It was at someone's apartment swimming pool. Now, the last time we had Lila in a swimming pool, the chlorine made her excema flare up terribly. But she really hasn't been having any breakouts lately so I thought we'd try again. She hated it at first because the water was cold, but once she got used to it we had lots of fun! And her skin seems to have suffered no ill effects - woohoo!

I generally don't spend a lot of time in the sun because I just don't like it, so I'd forgotten how draining it can be! Lila fell asleep on the way home and napped for two and a half hours! I should have taken a nap, but didn't. I also should have put sunscreen on my shoulders and back, but didn't. Naughty Angela! And OUCH!

Oops, I guess I'll have to fill you in on the rest of the day later. Lila just woke up from a nap...

This is our old entertainment/media center that we're getting rid of. Anyone wanna buy it? :) 

Here's another view. Pretty wood! 

Alexi Murdoch. [sigh] I want to kidnap him. 

"Look, Mommy! I'm an Ewok!" Lila had no idea why we were laughing at her so much, but she was eating it up! 

The patient customer, reading as she waits for her lunch. She's reading 'Pat the Bunny', in case you were wondering. 

Here's Lila crawling! Yeah - Go Lila! :) 

Lila had her evaluation by the physical therapist today and it went great. From a practical standpoint, she napped on the way there so she was rested and ready to go during her appointment - yeah! :)

The PT said that she does have some weakness in her lower trunk and legs, but that it's nothing major at this point. She even got Lila, with some help and encouragement, to stand up while holding on to something a few times - she's never done that before! The PT told us a few things to do to help her practice her skills and build strength and we'll go back in a month for a follow-up visit. I'm very relieved (but not surprised)!

I am officially on a mission to get this house baby-proofed as quickly as possible for the sake of my sanity. I can't tell you how tiring it is to follow Lila around all day trying to keep her out of things. And it's no fun for her if Mommy is always saying "No no!" to her! I had already been taking steps toward things like covering outlets, etc., so we're doing alright there. But there are three big things that we need to do:

1. Put doors on the cart that holds the electronics - these are Lila's favorite things to go after!

2. Find some way to rearrange the desk/computer arrangement so that she cannot get to the computer boxes. Her second favorite things to go after are the power buttons!

3. Get a new media center (with doors or drawers) to hold our cds and dvds. These are Lila's third favorite thing to go after!

All that being said, I'm so excited that Lila can crawl! I want the house safe for her so that she can crawl all she wants and explore! Maybe I'll go do some baby-proofing now...

Lila learned to crawl yesterday! It's very funny to see her do it. All her life, she's been immobile, so it's just bizarre to see her moving around on her own. It looks kind of funny too because she's mostly using her upper body and 'core muscles' to move herself and her legs look like they're just along for the ride. :o)~ We'll still be taking her for the evaluation with the physical therapist on Wednesday and I'll keep you updated on that.

She's also finally started saying 'Mama', and not just when she's crying! A couple of days ago, I had my back turned toward her and she pointed right at me and said, "Mama!" I'm so happy!

Finally, we just put Lila to bed a while ago and she had a hard time going to sleep. She fussed for several minutes and I finally went in to rock her a bit more. I found both pacifiers on the floor, she had taken off one of her socks and flung it who-knows-where, and she was sitting up! That sitting up thing is new! I mean, sitting up on her own. Crazy!

I would write more, but I'm too tired from following Lila around all day saying, "No no!" and moving what I could out of her reach. Whew!

This was the first time Lila left a room on her own. She started out in the study (where the photo is taken from) and wiggled her way out into the hallway. Eek! 

Could she be any cuter?!? In this dress, she looks like a beautiful Easter egg! 

This was Lila's first ride in her new swing. The photo is kind of fuzzy, but you get the idea - she was having fun! 

Alright, my head is out of Harry Potter Land. At least until Monday. :)

I'm very annoyed with myself right now becuase I killed dinner. I have a recipe for 'Mock Crock Paella'* that I was going to make for tonight. I had been reminding myself constantly since last night that I needed to prepare it this morning because it would cook all day. And I didn't forget to start it! I started defrosting the chicken in the microwave while I was feeding Lila her breakfast.

But that's where I goofed up. After her breakfast, I was in such a hurry to get us ready and out the door for lunch that I forgot to *finish* preparing it. I went off and left the defrosted chicken sitting in the microwave the whole time I was gone! Eek! So not only does that mean we will not be having this dish tonight, I also ruined two pounds of chicken! Curses! :oI~

* I have subscribed to the weekly Menu Mailer from SavingDinner.com and so far we are loving it!

I am completely sucked into a Harry Potter reading group. I will publish a real post again when I emerge...

I still have a saucer-sized bruise on my tush, in case you were wondering.

"What the heck are you doing to me Mom? This water is freakin' COLD!!!" - Lila did not care for her first experience in the wading pool... 

"Yeah - I did feed myself today. How did you know?!?" 

"Ewwwww! Mashed potatoes are grooooossss!" My drama queen has finally started actively disliking some foods. :) 

Pay no attention to this photo. I'm just posting it so it wil have a url... :) 

I tried to convince Doug to let me get some sort of small furry animal yesterday evening, but he wouldn't go for it. :( I am always in the market for a new kitten, but he's not going to go for that one until Lila's a little older (in the spring, probably). After dinner last night, we went into Petco to let Lila look at the animals and I ended up getting attached to the idea of a new little friend.

They have several guinea pigs and I held a couple of them. They are so cute! One of them (not one that i held) kept nibbling on my finger and it was really cute (until the time it bit hard enough to draw blood - she was just playing though)! That one also sneezed once and it was the funniest thing. It had a lot of personality and I liked it a lot! There were a couple of really pretty ones too...

Anyway, Doug wasn't having any part of it. He said we could "talk about it later," but we weren't going home with one. I thought the little balls of fur would have more of an impact on him than that. Clearly I have not trained him well enough yet. Oh well, at least I get a kitten in the not-too-distant future. :)

Doug was playing Naked Baby Roulette this evening and lost. Lila peed on him before he could get her into the bathtub.

He he he...