November 6, 2000 - Out for a Stroll

When Erin was a newborn, one of the things that she really seemed to enjoy was when I'd bundle her up and take her for a walk. She'd stare off at the things around her, and I'd always wonder what she was thinking about this strange new world she was living in. She was always quite peaceful on these walks, and it was like a special time that we could share together. These days, I look at pictures like this and then at the young lady sitting across from me (who's multitasking, playing a game on the computer and texting away on her phone) and it's hard to believe that they're the same person. Wow...

August 30, 2006 - First of Many

Everyone knows about the relationship that girls develop with the phone. They spend HOURS on it, giggling and gabbing with their friends. On this summer day in 2006, Erin called one of her friends for what wound up being a rather lengthy (for 6-year-olds) conversation. She even hopped up on the counter and made herself comfortable for the long haul. I just remember looking at her up there, leg tucked up under her, thinking that this was no doubt the first of many such conversations. And I was right. Although these days, she usually talks on her cell phone, and rarely does she hold her conversations where I can see, let alone listen to, her doing it. 

July 1, 2001 - Getting Creative with Bath Time

Giving babies baths can be something of a pain. The adult has to practically break their back leaning over the tub, control the wriggling and slippery baby, AND make sure that all the nooks and crannies get their proper cleaning. When Erin was a baby, we found a great solution for all of this when we visited my parents' house: we bathed her in the kitchen sink! No bending, it was the perfect size, and except for the stainless steel sink and counter being a little chilly sometimes, she seemed to really enjoy it. We just had to make sure to grab the shampoo instead of the lemon juice bottle.

February 22, 2003 - All Tied Up

Lots of little girls like to play dress up. I specifically remember loving to play in my mom's high heeled shoes and my grandmother's frilly nightgowns. Erin's not so different. She's always enjoyed teetering around in my shoes and trying on my jewelry. But when she was little, she really enjoyed playing around with Jim's ties. On this memorable day, she insisted on putting them ALL on at one time. She still hasn't mastered a perfect Windsor knot, though.

August 11, 2008 - Date Night at Sea

One of our favorite things about taking cruises is that there's really something for everyone. On each cruise that we've done, Erin has had a great time in the kids' club, and has spent many evenings there, playing with her new-found friends. That's especially nice because it makes it easier for Jim and me to enjoy the adults-only restaurants that each ship typically has. In 2008, aboard the Liberty of the Seas, we got to visit both of the grown-up dining options, and they were among our favorite meals that we've ever enjoyed on a cruise. Not that we don't enjoy eating with Erin at night, but it's nice to have dates nights now and again, too!

May 27, 2007 - Bedtime Buddies

What kid doesn't dream of having their dog sleep on their bed with them? Erin certainly did! At home in New Jersey, Erin slept in a twin-sized bed, and there was no room for Molly (who takes up way more than her fair share of the space). But when we'd go to Ann and Peter's house in Baltimore, Erin got to sleep on a bigger bed, and Molly was more than happy to curl up with her at night. These days, Erin has a queen-sized bed, and Molly sleeps with her every, single night. She starts out curled up at the foot of the bed, but lately, she's been doing middle-of-the-night migrations, and Erin awakes to find her right up next to, with her head practically on the pillows. Very cute... But can you say "spoiled?"

June 25, 2005 - Cousins

Ever since Erin has known who she is, she's completely adored her cousin Hannah. Hannah is 4 years older than Erin, and that means she's just old enough to have that mystique about her that fascinate little girls. I had the same thing with my cousin Stacie - I idolized her, wanted to be like her, and could never be with her enough. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to spend a lot of time with Hannah, but that doesn't mean Erin loves her any less. The two of them IM each other, and Erin likes looking at Hannah's updates on my Facebook account. It's hard to believe that Erin's now the age that Hannah was in this picture. My, how they've both changed. But I'm sure if they saw each other today, they'd be just as close as they were here.

April 20, 2004 - A Capital Visit

In April, 2004, I got to attend a professional conference being held in Washington, D.C. Because it was so close to home (relatively speaking, as opposed to the one the next year, which was in Las Vegas), Jim and Erin came with me. While I learned all about new recruiting tricks and tips, they spent the days doing the tourist thing in DC! They went to the zoo, checked out the Air and Space Museum, and had a really great time. I just looked at these pictures this morning to see when the trip was, because tomorrow we're meeting a friend of mine for lunch that we haven't seen since then (we were at the same conference). I can't wait to see her, and I can't wait to see her reaction to seeing how much Erin's grown and changed in the six years since then. Wow!  That's a long time in the life of a 9-year-old!

January 4, 2009 - Welcome "Home!"

Our trip from New Jersey to California was, for the most part, a fun-filled week that we'll no doubt never forget. Each state that we entered was a big deal for us (and especially Erin, who had never been to them before), and we took pictures of as many welcome signs and welcome centers as we could. But when we finally arrived in California, THAT was a big deal. It was our new home state, and I was glad I was able to grab my camera and get a picture of the sign (even as we traveled at quite a fast clip). We may leave and return to this state many times, but this first time was special!

February 18, 2002 - Aunt Ann

In February, 2002, Jim's sister Ann came to visit us for the first time since Erin had been born. Erin took an immediate liking to her Aunt (who, for a long time, she called Eh-Ann, as she couldn't quite pronounce "Aunt"), and enjoyed the visit thoroughly. Ever since then, Erin's always looked forward to her time with Ann, whether it was at our house or hers, and she's just as excited about Ann's upcoming visit in a few weeks. In fact, we all are! Just three more weeks to wait! Woo-hoo!

March 12, 2010 - Guard Puss

One thing you can say about Mia, she sure decides that some interesting places make good nap spots. For a few weeks, this Corona case was a favorite spot to snooze. When we'd get too close to her spot, she'd give us the hairy eyeball look that said, "Stay far away! I'm protecting these here bottles!" Uh, OK. But seriously, when we got rid of the box (because, let's face it, the beer's purpose is to be drunk!), she went to the spot a few times and looked fairly put out to find it missing. Sorry, puss.