You can't help but smile at her

Oh those babies! What is it that just makes you stare at them endlessly & bust into a wide-mouthed smile every few seconds? I can't take my eyes off of her. 1) because I can so clearly see both of us in her and that amazes me and 2) because she is a stinker and she just might be standing on a table somewhere! Anyway you look at it, she is the object of our affection (and camera).
This series of photos was taken by Christian (of course) one day while I was out of town. I love it. It shows her curiosity, playfulness & sweetness in one. I'm posting it here though, mainly because I am weary and it would take hours to filter through the many thousands of pictures her daddy takes of her in a month. (Although, I still think she runs a close second to those he takes of Ansley). He is quite smitten with this little one, and I've gotta say, she is CRAZY about her Dada. He gets kisses that I long to get from her and cuddles that take my breath away. Oh, I get my share of lovin', but there's something about that Dada.


Now at 14 months, she is running rather than walking, still eating like Miss Piggy, and desperately wanting to talk more. Her best tricks involve (upon request) showing you her belly button and tongue and telling you what a fish "says" by opening & closing her mouth. She knows just how to cock her head to the side with a big squint-eyed grin to be "cute" and get anything she wants. She has an array of made-up words and very few meaningful ones. Every now & then she will just bust out with a perfectly legitimate word in which the kids and I squeal with excitement and try desperately to get her to repeat it. Of course then she just looks at us as if we are crazy as if to say, "I don't know what you are talking about, I can't say that".
Regardless, she is always full of smiles and wild laughter, living a carefree life that anyone would long for. Little girl, one thing is for sure, you are surrounded by a love-struck Daddy, a gloating Mommy, an adoring brother, and a sister (for lack of a single word) that can't-wait-till-you-wake-up-so- she-can-play-with-you-she loves you so much!