Enter the Llama.

My Mom and Emily came to visit last month. Isabelle loved seeing Grammy and Emily. And once again if I could figure out how to post a video, I could show a very silly one of Miss Emily dancing and singing and entertaining ITL. Isabelle loves this video and will watch it over and over and over again. Here is Isabelle watching the video in her favorite outfit.



My Mom brought Isabelle several goodies. She had just returned from a trip to Peru. One of the adorable items was this hat:




Isabelle normally doesn't like hats. However, once we told her to look in the mirror at the Baby wearing the hat and sang a little Peru-hat song, she decided the hat (or is it just the cute Baby wearing the hat) was very cool -- allowing me to snap some photos.



The hat was not THE GIFT to end all gifts, as cute as it might be. My Mom also brought Isabelle a fluffy soft stuffed al paca, which we -- in our infinite creativity -- call "Llama." Where once Sheepy reigned supreme the Llama has come to rest. Isabelle loves Llama. She carries it with her, kisses it, makes us kiss is, and can be found almost every night (when I sneak in to look at her sleeping) clinging to Llama like a good friend to whom she just cannot be parted. Llama is Isabelle's lovey.



Generally, having Llama around is great. It soothes her and makes her happy. Isabelle also would prefer to take Llama in the bath and outside as well as have Llama join her in her booster seat for meals. This presents a problem of course because Llama is not supposed to get wet, would be subject to mud eating/wallowing feasts outside, and has long fluffy hair that becomes easily matted with rice or whatever bits Isabelle is shovelling in her maw. My point is that Llama simply cannot partake of all the activities that Isabelle chooses and sometimes -- Heaven forbid -- must leave Isabelle's grasp. Enter the tantrum.

I almost hate to use the work tantrum because Isabelle's really aren't that bad. She howls and clings to my legs, muttering "mlammma" (which although sounding much like Mama id "Llama") in a pitiful tone full of tragic emotion. Luckily, Isabelle is easily distracted ("hey, look Isabelle - mud to eat!") and the tantrum doesn't last too long. But I can say when Isabelle reunites with Llama its a glorious thing and all is well with the world.

Anyhow, the visit was a good one. The kids played in the hot tub and Isabelle got some good Grammy and Emily time. She continues to look at Grammy's picture in her room and point back and forth between Grammy and Jose. Sometimes she even wants to sit in her crib with the picture and the one of Charlene. It's very heartwarming.