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!

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...

Extreme Play-Dating

A week or so ago, Willa and I spent the afternoon with some friends for what I expected would be a low-key, rainy day play-date. It turned out to be quite the contrary. The multitudinous activity and corralling efforts, multi-tasking and multi-conversing made for a mental and physical challenge reminiscent of the day I first met Willa. (More specifically, the grueling hours of childbirth that led up to our magical meeting.) The girls slid and swung, and played in the mud. They splashed in the puddles and cruised in the Escalade. They finger painted and showered in the water hose. And eventually, they all made it to the communal tub for a good scrub before their long, well-earned naps. I don't know if it was the range of ages between the girls that made it so exhausting, or if it had something to do with the humidity in the air restricting my breathing... but it took me a couple of days to recover. I guess I should consider it a taste of my not-so-distant future, if things go according to plan and we multiply Willa by 2 or 3. Yikes! I will definitely need some more practice.

{Camden and Willa are messing with the radio controls. Notice Willa's hair dryer. This makes me think about the two of them carpooling to high school} {So Charlie's Angels...Don't you think?}{Camden was dying laughing at Harlie splashing in the puddles. And it soon became all an act for the camera.}{We checked the label...It's non-toxic.}{Oh, how fast they grow! The photo below is the same gang just 8 months ago. Click here for the full Breakfast With The Girls post, from September '08.}

Planes, Shuttles, and Automobiles

I got to my destination in one piece, my heart fully intact, after enduring a painfully long day of travel and finding myself more than 1000 miles away from my baby. I had a 5 hour lay over in El Paso with a delay on top of that. It would have been a perfect blogging opportunity, if only my computer had a charge. (My cords were inconveniently stowed away in my checked baggage. I'll never make that mistake again.) I couldn't even talk or text the time away on my phone because it was almost out of battery, too. More evidence of my lack of preparedness. So I curled up in a cold, uncomfortable seat and tried to pass the time with a nap. When I finally landed at LAX, Melissa was waiting for me at the baggage claim area and I was so glad to see her friendly and familiar face.

We got our rental car, and that perked us up - it was a brand new, fresh-smelling, shiny, black Mazda 6, as opposed to my usual luck-of-the-draw light blue Ford Focus. We made our way to Beverly Hills and pulled into our home-away-from-home at the Luxe Hotel on Rodeo Drive. It's a tiny boutique hotel that Rebekah and her mom introduced my mom and me to a few trips back. We love it for its central locale, comfortable beds, delicious macaroni and cheese, and people watching. (Plus, in case you were wondering, it is affordable, as long as you know how to budget the rest of your trip.) As Melissa and I entered the lobby, we were chattering amongst ourselves and rummaging in our bags for our travel credentials when we were greeted by a familiar voice. "Welcome to the Luxe. How are you doing?" And we looked up to find the unmistakable face of Joan Rivers. We were, of course, star-struck, but I managed to answer her with a sheepish, "Fine. Thanks." (I'm quick-witted like that.) We were in such awe of her young-looking, flawless skin and her well-proportioned facial features! For real, she's so pretty in person! Anyway, then she shushed us and we played it cool and stood quietly in the background as she wrapped up the segment she was filming. We were told it had something to do with her new reality show. Who knows? Sure was a fun welcome, though. I love LA.

After settling into our room, we decided to head down to the hotel restaurant for a glass of wine and some of that mac n' bleu cheese, but we were disappointed by news of a new chef, with a new menu that no longer includes the insanely delicious dish. We had some minuscule fish entree, instead. Over dinner, we befriended a buxom blond with a pleasing German accent and all sorts of Beverly Hills scoop. She owns (and has a patent on) the one-and- only leopard limo service. Yes, leopard. Click here and see for yourself. Just in case traveling around Beverly Hills in a sleek black limo isn't excessive enough for you, you can call my friend, Yvonne, and she'll hook you up with a leopard one. I have her number, so just let me know.

We turned in early and I looked forward to having the deepest sleep I've had in the last 15 months. Instead, I slept terribly, due to a horrendous headache I'm blaming on a combination of airplane travel, California smog, and a little Willa-withdrawal.

Saturday morning came too soon, but we hit market early and knocked out all of my appointments by 7 pm. After the fashion fest, we met up with the Sauer/Parsons of the neighboring store Beulah's, and headed west to Santa Monica for a yummy dinner at Boa Steakhouse. Mmmmm. Except for the fact that the truffle butter mashed potatoes have vanished from the menu. Still, mmmmm.

Sunday was filled with more appointments but I hit my limit around 4 o'clock and we all decided to spend the rest of the day with a little self-indulgent shopping. Rebekah, Melissa and I freshened up and headed out. I bought a one-of-a-kind dress off of a sample sale rack at a shop called Jigsaw. We all found a little something special, and then we wrapped up the evening and our trip with dinner at Il Fornaio (one of Yvonne's recommendations.) The self-indulgence resumed as we dined on warm goat cheese-smothered eggplant, sausage-filled spinach ravioli, and other equally-decadent Italian dishes. A trio of desserts followed.

The short trip ended today. Melissa and I packed our things this morning then ran around the corner to purchase a few "souvenirs" from Crib and Lululemon. And here I am, back at the airport, awaiting my flight back home. I am so ready to see Willa and give her a big kiss and hug. I am really missing her now. I hope she remembers me.

Breakfast with the Girls

This morning, Tara, Rebekah, and I met for breakfast with our girls at Rather Sweet. We enjoyed each other's company over omelettes and pancakes. Everybody noticed that Willa wasn't quite herself, though. I attributed her fussiness to her missed morning nap. But by the time we got home, she was running a temperature of 104 degrees. Dr. Stafford diagnosed her with a mild ear infection and prescribed her very first antibiotic. (Milestone!) Even Rather Sweet Pancakes couldn't pep her up...

Rebekah with Camden (15 months)...

All of the girls...

We can't all be picture-perfect, all of the time...

Gracie Jolie-Pitt (8 weeks)...

Harlie Lyn (3)...

Harlie and Camden...

Big-girl fascination...

Thankfully, the infected one did not partake in the love-fest...