My First Baby is a "Baby" No More

     It is hard to believe that 13 & 1/2 years ago, Erin Madison came into my life.  At only 22 years old, I barely was old enough to even have a baby.  WD & I were driving blind when it came to parenting (we still are in some aspects, as we learn as we go).  I remember how I was terrified to cut her fingernails because I didn't want to hurt her.  I also remember getting her ears pierced at only 6 months hoping that she would look more feminine only to have my precious girl look more like Mr. Clean (although her bright blue eyes gleamed bright enough to distract from her smooth bald head)!
     My nostalgia stems from a request that I got from one of Erin's 8th grade teachers.  Being the last year in middle school, the technology teacher compiles an 8th grade video for the kids/parents.  I think they'll even have an 8th grade ceremony near the end of the school year before they enter high school!  Yes, I said high school... I can barely say it out loud! The request from the teacher was for me to email 3 baby photos of Erin.  I sifted through a few piles of photos last night, and ultimately allowed Erin to select the 3 she liked best (it was too hard for me to select only 3).  Here are the three she selected:

   My favorite is the third one in her pink gingham dress with the white eyelet ruffles.  I see glimpses of that little smirk every once in a while now, especially when I catch her overhearing conversations that aren't meant for her. She insisted on including a dance photo although I advised her that that was not a "baby" photo.  She was 3 or nearly 4 years old in that photo.  Of course the top photo just cracks me up.  She was wearing one of my favorite onsies... "Don't Tell Me I'm Cute, I Wanna Be SMART!"

     As you can tell I'm very proud of her, not only then, but now too.  She is smart, compassionate, beautiful, and a natural peacekeeper.  Don't get me wrong... she tries my patience from time to time with her teen-like forgetfulness, roller-coaster moods (our household can only handle one member who does that & I was that way first :-), & sassy attitude that peeks out every once in a while.  Overall, I'm very blessed to have her, and I'm glad to call her my daughter!

Halloween 2009

Halloween is a time for pure silliness (for both adults & kids)! We had such a fabulous time selecting our costumes, carving pumpkin, filling treat bowls with lots of yummy candy, and hanging out with kids & friends. Erin & her girlfriends were amazing in their costume selection! Amazing because they pulled off the least expensive costumes using clothes they already had, but purchasing little nerdy glasses/socks. They made being a nerd "cool"! Dylan opted for a scary jester outfit.  I don't even think he knew what a jester was, but he just loved the costume.  WD & I did a couples outfit (my husband was a great sport this year... typically he wears a t-shirt that says, "This is my Costume").  Doctor & Nurse Davis! Too much fun!

We started the weekend off Friday night by stomping through the rain to our neighbor's house. Yes, the weather was terrible, but with my daughter's suggestion (using Walmart bags, tying one over each shoe) & balancing hor d'ovres & the umbrella we made it down the street without getting absolutely soaked.  Erica & Ray hosted the neighborhood Halloween party this year.  They did a fabulous job decorating & providing their place where we all danced, karaoked, & acted like kids ourselves.  It was such a good time that didn't end until wayyyy too late.

Today, after sleeping late, Dylan, Erin, & I went over to P'ville Middle School to sign Dylan up for basketball season in Ascension Parish.  We've tried almost every other sport, so hopefully this might be his "thing".  We'll see.  We ran a few errands.  Lunch was on the run where we splurged on Sonic cheese sticks & leftover pizza.  (I'm trying to shock my body's system into breaking my weight loss plateau with a 2-day splurge... crazy maybe, but I don't know what else to do.) After the kids changed into their costumes (WD & I opted for comfy clothes... jeans, t-shirts, sans the medical attire), we lit Dylan's pumpkin & headed out to the street.  Erin's a bit old for trick-or-treating, but she & her girlfriends roamed the neighborhood giggling in their nerd-wear. Dylan & WD went door to door collecting all sorts of treats while I sat in a line with my neighbors handing out candy from huge tubs to all the kids who came our way.  After closing out trick-or-treating, WD, Dylan, & I cruised on over to Cracker Barrel in Gonzales for a late supper of chicken & dumplings for me, meatloaf for WD, & pancakes/bacon for Dylan.  Yummmmmy. 

Don't know if we can ever do it up as good as we did this year, but we have an entire year to plan for Halloween 2010!