Too Pretty Not to Post

Rebekah used Willa for an impromptu photo shoot at Beulah's the other afternoon. The pictures were used on the shop's blog and Facebook page. But I just had to post them here, too. Between the sweet Mexican frock, the natural light, and Willa's untrained, yet perfect lack of expression and rare willingness to pose, these turned out to be some of my favorite photos of her. Hey, thanks, Rebekah!

Building the Biz

Be sure to check out Root's new website, designed by my uber-talented friend, Seana. http://www.rootfashion.com/. And here's the new ad she whipped up for Tribeza magazine. This is my very first glossy - it's a big step! Gorgeous model + natural setting + professional photography = pretty good, eh? Room 3 of The Roadrunner Inn shows off it's new look in the ad as well. Oh, and the cutest part of all: Willa co-models alongside Camden for the Beulah's ad.

What Have You Done With Willa?

I think I've mentioned before how Rebekah sometimes kidnaps Willa and returns her to me with a frilly new Beulah's outfit, complete with a Minnie Mouse bow atop her head. My friend thinks it's so funny to clothe Willa in things that are nauseatingly sweet and overtly girly...pink, floral, ruffled, and trimmed in lace. She expects me to loathe these ensembles, but I always LOVE them! Not a love that makes me whip out my wallet, but a love that makes me smile, and laugh, and tear up, and grab my camera, and take a zillion pictures. The other day, I was in serious work mode, trying to juggle customers and about nine different projects I had started. Willa was being her typical nap-refusing, lively self, tearing through the shop, rolling the clothing racks around, leaving a trail of deconstructed displays behind her. In an effort to help, Rebekah whisked her away and then returned a few minutes later with a different child, a demure, proper, genteel little lady. The transformation that occurred in Willa's demeanor by the simple change of an outfit was un-be-lievable. And it's no coincidence, either. I've seen it happen on a number of occasions. I unfortunately do not have any pictures of the before, but here is the after... Ah, here's my girl...

Bathing Beauty

I have to share these pictures of Willa in her new bathing suit. It's from Beulah's, of course, and by Pink Chicken, which is one of my favorite lines...I love all of the graphic prints and cool color combinations. It's SO Willa. But even better than the sweet frilly suit on her wee little bod, is the boundless personality within that is so evident in these photos. Willa never ceases to amaze me with her vivacious spirit and around-the-clock antics. There is never, ever, a dull moment in our house. And this fake laugh of her's still gets us every time. She puts her whole body into it: eyes squinted, nose scrunched, back arched. It's my favorite!

Frou Frou

This gorgeous silk dress came in today at Beulah's. Rebekah used Willa as a model, and she looked so pretty, I teared up. And then I bought the dress. Uh, of course I did.

The Bug Bites!

{Warning...If talk of baby vomit makes you queasy, skip this post.}

As much as I try to keep her out of germ's way, with my trusty Clorox wipes and hearty German breast milk, Willa has gone and gotten sick...again. Only this time, its the stomach bug. Dreadful. The poor baby was uncharacteristically clingy and a tad extra fussy a couple of days ago, and I just assumed it was because she was tired. She was especially whiny at dinner and refused three different meals before I gave up and moved on, to her bath and bedtime ritual. I was rocking her to sleep when disaster struck. Without any warning, she threw up all over the both of us, more than I ever could have imagined. And as soon as it was over, she was talking and pointing and directing Sean to her toys. Little trooper. I wasn't sure if it was something she had eaten or the real deal, until the next day when it happened again. This time, I was at work, standing with her in my arms right outside my office. Again, it was all over us and our cute outfits. I stood there, frozen, holding Willa close, and pondered the meaning of unconditional love. In that moment, soaked in baby vomit, I felt completely maternal. Sick as it sounds, it was kind of neat. Conveniently, Willa and I were able to find some alternative cute outfits just steps away at Root and Beulah's. And Billie Jean, our go-to-girl at the shop swooped in to help with the mess. I really owe her one...really.

So, Willa's been laying low, sleeping a lot, downing fluids and bland foods, and I think she's pretty much over the hump. Oddly, in the midst of all the sickness, she picked up the sign for "milk," and, brace yourselves, she took her first brave steps. I'm the only one who witnessed it, but I'm positive that it was not my imagination, because it happened more than once that evening. She took a couple of single steps first. Then she took two steps! That was last night, and she has shown no interest in stepping today. Oh well.

I took these pictures today at lunch. Willa was having a tummy-friendly feast of applesauce and dry toast. And she thinks phones are the most fun toys ever invented. So she kept pretending that her toast was a phone, putting it up to her ear and inflecting her voice to sound like "hello?" Enjoy!