Playgroup Today!

Libby and I are in a playgroup Wednesdays (although if I were honest, I'd call it Playgroup for Moms). It's so nice to get out and see other adorable babies and give Libby some time with other kids. All of the other mothers are super-nice, and the host mom always serves super-yummy chow. What more could I ask for?

Here's a shot from last week. Notice how interested Libby is in Maria's bottle of water? ("Hey, where's my water to drink?" In case I haven't done it recently, thanks again for teaching her how to drink from a glass, Grandma Kennedy.)

And speaking of Maria, her David is the first boy that Libby held hands with. Sorry, Owen and Alejandro. Libby's found herself a younger man!


Update from today's playgroup. Although Libby appears quite serious here, I can assure you, she always has quite a bit of fun at group. She's quite the animal -- stealing toys from one and all and "petting" the other kids (no one has lost an eye yet, but it's really just a matter of time). I can't get over how much Libby looks like me in this picture; she usually looks so much like Martin. Here, she's playing with Eliza (another Elizabeth!), and David.


Here's a picture of Rachel, who's the first girl that Libby held hands with. She's a doll, isn't she? My Libby has good taste! Today she held hands with the equally lovely Mia, but -- alas -- we don't have any pictures of Mia to show you.

Weanie

So I weaned Libby (or I should say, I finally gave in to Libby weaning herself, which had been happening since, oh, birth). She had been eating less and less on the boob and more and more on the bottle, so it was inevitable. Once we'd started solids, though, it was all over. She just would not let me force her little head down anymore, and I got tired of the battle.

I'm grateful that we had a tiny little window there where everything seemed to go well for us. She was off the nipple shield and seemed to be eating decently well (although we always had to supplement with a bottle). When it went well, I could not have loved it more. I would have kept going forever if she'd let me! Now that I know what I'm doing a little more, I'm hoping I'll have more breastfeeding success with the next kid.

I was doing fine with the decision until about a week ago when I suddenly got a little emotional about it. To make matters worse, in true Libby contrarian fashion, she now has started nestling in boobward when she needs comfort just before going to sleep. Ooohhh, Lib. She misses her world's largest pacifier.

As you can see, though, the weaning has left her no worse for wear:


Thanks to Aunt Kim for the sunglasses. Kim's been waiting (im)patiently for a picture of Libby in them. We took a walk yesterday, and Libby's cool shades (and her adorableness, of course) drew many smiles and comments.

Lil' Sitter

Since the peanut gallery has been complaining about the lack of posts (this means you, Kim and Alisa), I'm posting two entries today. It's a Libby bonanza!

So our fair Libby is quite the sitter. In just the last three days or so, she has really figured this sitting stuff out. She can reach for toys and balance herself and do all kinds of exciting things. I can't believe how quickly it happened. Just this weekend, she needed the Boppy to support her, or she'd plop over quickly. Now she sits just as regal as you please. Queen Elizabeth. With spit-up. Queen Elizabeth, Ruler of Reluxland.

So I was taking photos of her sitting, and we had a little impromptu photo shoot. I could not love these pictures more!


Thanks again to Evie and Sophie for generously sharing their hand-me-downs with Libby (both outfits in these pictures are theirs). I hesitate to even call them hand-me-downs; they're so pretty! In my day, I wore some f'ugly hand-me-downs, but Libby inherits the most adorable stuff.

Lil' Foodie

Our sweet (OK, sweet-ish -- she still has a temper, after all) reflux queen is just not that interested in food. The veggies are greeted with ambivalence, and even the fruits get a lukewarm reception. We've only tried apples and bananas so far; perhaps peaches will be what finally sets Libby's palate afire.

I've gotta say that she might not be the best judge in tastes. I've tasted a bit of her Zantac, which she LOVES to take, and it's disgusting. This is what she likes? Bananas are so-so, but the bitter, disgust-o medicine is lapped up with a smile?

New Pix for Kim

My sister Kim has been complaining for a week that I don't have a new picture up yet. So here are the cutest pics of the last few weeks.

I swear this one wasn't posed. I can't wait to have it framed and hang it! I tell Nub all the time that he and Libby are going to be bestest friends in a few years. (As for now, he's just not that into her.)


Here's Libby visiting Daddy at work.


Walking with Mommy

Standeroo

Yolanda and Cesar gave Libby this adorable little dress, and she wore it last week -- along with these cute little legwarmers from Joanna. She was quite the stylin' babe. Too cold for such adorable outfits today. Now we're in sensible pants, thankyouverymuch.

Well, I tried to publish the last post more than a week ago but couldn't get it to go through and then didn't have time to re-try until today. Libby continues to enjoy the Jumperoo but doesn't quite understand the concept yet, hence, my title: Standeroo. I think to her it's a more boring Exersaucer: "Gee, I can't spin around in this, and it doesn't have as many toys." Someday she'll figure out the jumping part ... maybe.

Libby has moved on past green beans to squash this week. She seems to enjoy them just fine. Mom told me to wait until fruit and then I'll start seeing some excitement. My mom and dad came to visit this weekend, and Grandma gave Libby a drink of water out of her glass. I have not had a drink in peace since and now share all of my water with this biggest backwasher on the planet. Thanks again, Grandma!