I actually like her!

For those of you who don't know me extensively as a mother.... that statement is a big deal. It took me about 9 months to say that about Sam. Knowing what I know now about my diet and how it affects her and knowing that it must have affected Sam in the same way, I wonder if I could have sped that process along by eliminating more foods while I nursed Sam. But nonetheless, it took quite a long time to pass from "I love my child" into the "I actually like my child." Babies are like puppies, in that they break the world down into two categories of people.... those who get the puppy in order to have a dog, and those who want a puppy but don't actually want the dog. I fall into the first category. I suffer through the pains of infancy in order to have another toddler. Go figure. Either way, the probability that this may be our last makes me pay more attention and try to take greater notice of Eliza and her phases. Either way, I have really been enjoying her lately. She has gone through some difficult and trying phases (and has even been called birth control by people who will remain unnamed), but has emerged into a smiley, opinionated little girl whom everyone in the family loves. I thought I would post some pictures of her smiley-ness.