Bits and pieces

So again another highlights reel. For a communications person I sure am having trouble keeping track of this crazy girl! :)

So...
Her favorite word right now is "uh oh." Its so cute when she says it.
When we catch her doing something she isn't supposed to be doing, she quickly changes her behavior and does the right thing and claps so that you congratulate her on her good behaviour. Erin's other words are bubbles, tootles (from mickeys playhouse) and... Oh shoot as a mama you think I would know this!

Have I mentioned Erin likes ... No, LOVES cheese.

Erin loves being outside. Her favorite outdoor activity is getting on the riding lawn mower. She and her daddy can ride in circles chanting "we ride!" all day.

My party girl

I wish that I had a video camera that followed Erin around. In her age group, she'd definitely have the most watched reality tv show.

For starters, yesterday at a gathering of friends at our house she was a social butterfly. Giving hugs to new friends, chatting up the old ones and offering half eaten food -- such the perfect hostess! ;)

Keith started to play the wii and I've never seen Erin so excited an animated! She was running from the middle of the room up to the tv. You couldn't help but laugh with all of her squeals and giggles. She ate so much junk and Uncle Kim brought surprise pie (YUM!). I cut Erin a small piece and she promptly sat and ate the whole slice. It (mostly) all went into her mouth. :)

From friend to foe?

No, just kidding, that's a little dramatic. But i did want to show how this little girl drives a person from the brink of insanity to a melted heart.

My best friend

So forgive the mushy gushy but I love my child. It's amazing how much is has changed my life and I wouldn't have it any other way. She drives me insane and wears me out and has caused a few grey hairs but then this beautiful girl looks at me with a smile and I melt.

How could you not love this face?

This past Sunday was Easter and the Rancifer girls were getting glammed up... Mommy curled her hair so that she and Erin could have matching 'dos. I propped Erin on the counter and she carefully observed as I applied my make up. Once she had the technique down (within 5 seconds), she wanted to apply her own make up. I gave her a few brushes and some closed tubes and she went to work. Oh yes, as mentioned in a previous post, this girl is definitely a girly-girl.

Tuesday we stayed home because someone was a sickypoo (yes, believe it or not the oreo-juice-covered girl at the top of this post was sick). We had a few rough moments. Fighting over breakfast and shoes (she wants to wear 5 pairs of socks and 3 pairs of shoes - all at the same time!) but then there were moments like when she woke up from her nap and came to lay with me on my chest. We cuddled on the couch in front of the living room picture window, the sun streaming in. She lifted her head and started to examine my face. I examined hers. "Yes babygirl, your face looks like my face." We then proceeded to count eyes and ears and (runny) noses. In that moment there were no worries. No bills or sick grandparents or tired mommy and daddy. In that moment, there was peace amd love and joy.

I thank God that he blessed me with a little girl that reminds me of what life really needs to full of - love and laughter.

A Girl and Her Fashion

This morning we had a near epic meltdown and it was my fault.

Before I left Erin in her class I had to take away her *GASP* accessorries (in this case, her bracelets.). "MAMANOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" What a mean mommy.

I should know, after all, that accessorries are EVERYTHING to a girl and can make or break any outfit. And if you know my child - you know she is a GIRLY girl.

Highlight Reel

Get used to a LOT of highlight reels. :) So much for writing on a regular basis. I've told myself that I'm actually doing a "photo blog" for Erin, which is not entirely a lie. I do take pictures of her everyday. My blogging guilt kicks in and I do take the occasional video also. (You can always find  videos on her YouTube page: Erin's Antics.)

My darling daughter has been growing up - super fast! This past Friday marked 16 months for Erin and I love her so much. It's crazy to think that when I was five months pregnant I had an anxiety attack and thought I wouldn't be able to handle motherhood.

So in no particular order (as my brain is a MESS right now):

October
Walking! - We started walking around 11 mo! Whoa! Trying to keep up!

November
Erin's 1st Birthday - first Mommy and Daddy threw Erin a party at school with all of Erin's friends. The Erin left early to spend the day with Mommy and Daddy. Mommy tried to start a tradition of baking Erin's birthday cakes. Maybe next year we'll start the tradition of buying pretty cakes. That night we celebrated at Granny's house with TiTi Sheryle, Lanaysha and Granny. We opened presents from everyone, even TiTi Sabrina and Auntie Rachel.

1st Thanksgiving with Real Food - celebrated at Scuba's house. Yummy turkey and dressing and mashed potatoes and all things yummy! THEN we went to see Auntie Laila and Genesis and ate all over again. So.much.food. :P

December
Christmas in California - Mommy and Erin flew to California early. Yay for getting to meet new family and friends! Met Daddy at the airport on December 23rd and went to Roscoe's chicken and waffles, yum! Then we went to our first UCLA game - Go Bruins! We celebrated Christmas eve at TiTi's apartment and woke up for another start of one of Mommy's traditions - homemade cinnamon rolls. Erin was so cute walking around with one of TiTi's scarves. It was a very lazy day followed with dinner at Auntie Frances' house.

January
Happy New Year - we sent NYE with a surprise visit from Susie and Rose Rodgers. How fun! They brought a yummy bubbly drink for Mommy and some hugs for Erin. The it was time for more adventures as Mommy and Erin made their way to Auntie Elizabeth's house. So many kids and so much food! Weeee! New Toys! Almost midnight and Daddy is home from work. It's time for little ones to make their way home for bed. Carrying a sweet one up the stairs.... wait, is that Daddy???????? I'm awake!!!!!!!!! 30 minutes later and it's New Year's! XOXO!

February
Happy Birthday Mommy! - We celebrated Mommy's birthday early by going to visit Tia Xochi in Kansas. We drove a very long time but had so much fun! Lots and lots of Yo Gabba Gabba.and junk food. It was so much fun to see Tia Xoch! Erin was really comfortable really quick at Tia Xoch's apartment. Apparently Erin really believe's in mi casa es su casa.

Abi's Birthday Party - Erin helped to celebrate Abi's 2nd birthday party. It was so much fun and so much excitement! There was cake and balloon animals and candy and pizza oh my! It was a very fun and full day. Can't wait for MORE birthday parties! :)

So that pretty much catches up the major events. Erin loves Yo Gabba Gabba (obsessed really), she likes french fries and dipping (chips/fries/fruit/etc) and Popsicles and tomatoes and bell peppers (yes, bell peppers) she LOVES to be outside and play with Gamble and go on the swing and slide. She can even climb up the slide and turn around to slide down. :) She has a little "puppy dance" when she's patiently waiting for a special treat where she bounces up and down. She loves to talk on the phone and see herself on skype. We've been to the ER three times since January (yucky ear infections). She hates getting her hair combed but loves to dress up in an an assorment of clothes she finds around the house. She gives amazing hugs and is such a diva. She loves purses and necklaces and jewelry. She often has a mischievous glint in her eye and i can't help but fall in love each day with her. 

Erin Alexis' First Halloween

Keith is anti-Halloween. I don't really have an issue with the day. I think it's harmless fun to get dressed up and go out to collect candy. My sisters and I used to love to trick or treat and then come back to dump our candy on the floor and begin the process of negotiations.

I was very excited for Erin's first halloween. I really wasn't sure what I was going to dress Erin in. I had thought about a ballerina (Mamachula made her a tutu when she was 2 months old). Costumes for little ones can be quite pricey despite the lack of fabric. While browsing at a local store I found a panda suit for less than $15.00. Sold!

As Erin was still recovering from being sick I wasn't sure if we would actually get to go trick or treating (or even where we would go to collect candy.) After asking around I was told that the nearby SOMA district has a great turn out for trick or treating. As I have friends in the area I decided it would be easiest to pick Erin up from school, eat dinner at Vadiay's house, trick or treat and head home - hopefully all before 8pm (I'm an optimist).

So excited! we had a plan for Halloween!

Monday, October 31st was finally here! I dressed Erin in a shirt I had made for her ( it was monogrammed of course. Who doesn't love monogramming?) and dressed her in her Panda suit and off to school we went!

Isn't she a doll?! I returned later in the afternoon for her Halloween party. Costume off of course - white and cheetos do not make for a good combination.

Erin had a fabulous time... junk food galore! There was music and baby dancing and kissing (Erin just has a lot of love. :D

When I came back in the early evening to pick her up, I was SUPER excited. Erin? Not so much. We went to Tia Vady's house to have dinner, very messily i might add - and still sans panda suit. At 7:00PM we were finally getting ready. 7:15PM and we were on our way.

We headed down the block to our first house. The family was on their front porch waiting for ghosts, goblins and panda bears. Mommy says, "Trick or treat!" Erin stares with her big brown eyes. Mommy says "Wow, candy!" Not a peep from Erin. As candy is dropped into Erin's bucket the lady hands Erin one. I think we know have her attention. I put Erin back in her stroller and wouldn't you know the candy monster came out, demanding that i open her package. We still had a lot of houses and so much candy to get so to keep Erin calm (yes, I thought a sugary substance would keep her calm. =I) I opened the package. As we headed down the street to our second house (Adelia's) my monster seemed momentarily satisfied.

We tried the same routine at Adelia's house. Mommy says, "Trick or treat!" Erin stares with her big brown eyes. Mommy says "Wow, candy!" Not a peep from Erin - that is until the candy is spotted and the candy monster makes her demands. First candy devoured (well as much as an 11 month old can devour it with her small hands and mouth). As we get up to leave another monster appears... this one is the scarier one... this one is the tantrum monster.... WooOOooOOoo! Erin decided she was quite content sitting on Adelia's front porch eating candy. Her little hand reaches out and she grunts her request. Trick or treaters come and go and I stare at our empty pumpkin. It's 7:45PM.

I try once again to "show" Erin that the more houses we go to the more candy we get for mommy---er---- i mean Erin! To no avail. OK, pack it up were going home. A baby kicking and screaming on a dark street in a neighborhood you're not entirely familiar with is not always ideal. So i packed us up and we were headed to another colleague's house, nearby. My little one was not a happy camper and had her bottom lip out when we arrived at our next destination.

I kept telling Erin, as we exited the car again with our empty pumpkin, "this is fun! we're making memories!" I get the feeling she was not impressed. We ring the bell and Joy answers, very excited to see us. Erin still unsure looks on. And then, from the beginning, Mommy says, "Trick or treat!" Erin stares with her big brown eyes. Mommy says "Wow, candy!" Now this time, the word candy seems to trigger something in Erin and Joy hands her a sucker. Ahhhh, bliss for an 11-month-old! Joy looked in our bucket and said, "It looks like you guys are just starting!" Uh... something like that. A happy baby and her sucker and a candy-starved mommy bid their farewells and thank yous. I think it's time to go home. Maybe next year Mommy--- er--- i mean Erin, will get her bucket full of candy.