Erin met Erica the day after she was born and only hours after the hospital withdrew the H1N1 visitor restrictions. We were right in the middle of the hospital photo shoot (they are amazing these days!) and luckily Erin had spent the night with her aunt Amber who had done her hair up all cute.
A week later, Erin - who at this point is sporting a few gaps in her teeth and was in second grade - is a natural at holding her baby sister and wants to do it all the time.
A month later, in late February, we were all sleep deprived and had taken to letting Erica sleep on our shoulders whenever she fell asleep. Erin, of course, wanted in on that all the time but didn't get to do it very often. The whole head bobbling action made Clint and I both very nervous...
Two months old - back when Erica would sport a cutsie, girlie headband all day unless she rubbed her head against where she was laying enough that it would slip off - Erin was smitten and always wanted to be with her little sister. The first thing Erin would do when she woke up was go and check on Erica. So adorable!
By mid-April Erica was less wobbly and Erin held her a lot. She was even allowed (or is that requested?) to feed her baby sister while she lounged in the boppy while Mommy tried to multi-task. This was the only way some nights the house got picked up or the dog fed.
Easter came and went with Erica now three months old. Here the sisters are sporting matching flowers in their hair - Erin's idea and Erica isn't feisty or opinionated enough yet to rip them off her head.
By May Erica was awake a lot more during every day and had started interacting with her big sister more and more. Erin, of course, loved this!
This is my favorite photo of the past year of the girls... it was taken one random morning when Erin had gotten ready for school with only a hundred times of me saying "hurry" (versus the normal thousands) and was hanging out with Erica, who wakes up this happy every morning, before she headed out for school.
This was how the girls spent a majority of their time this summer... zonked in the backseat on a road trip. This was on the way home in June from Vegas but could also be seen in July to and from Montana a couple of weeks later.
June was fun - Erica was starting to sit up on her own and started to love her big sister as much as her big sister loves her. When Erin would come up to her, she'd have a huge grin and reach for Erin's face. Big sister heaven!
July was super fun - we found that Erica loves the water as much as Erin and did a bunch of swimming. Erin was home from school for the summer and hanging out with Erica having lots of fun with our amazing nanny, Kayla.
August had Erin back in dance and ready to start third grade and had Erica's hair growing in and long enough that it no longer stood straight on end. Everyone was happy!
September came around and Erica was seven months old. Crawling, laughing and adoring her big sister who could now carry her around the house and loved to do it. Erin can make Erica laugh full belly laughter just by looking at her.
October was a milestone... Erica hit eight months old and could all of a sudden sit up by herself, pull herself up to standing - in her crib - and was full on crawling as fast as one could walk to keep up with her. We had to baby proof the stairs and the crib. Erin couldn't have been more happy - now she could walk around the house behind her baby sister. They called it walking lessons.
November... Thanksgiving with a nine year old and a nine month old. How cool is that? Erica was eating people food and shared dinner with her big sissy in their fancy dresses. What a great day with two great girls.
December topped off the year... Erica was walking and could barely be contained for a photo with her big sister unless she was confined to the stroller like this night of ice skating.
I love how much they love each other and how much fun they have with each other. Erin loves to read to Erica who will hang out in her crib just listening and playing quietly for practically hours at a time. When they are together they are both laughing. They love to ride in the back seat together. Erin is such a big help with Erica and never thinks of the helping as a chore. We are so happy to have both of them in our lives and they are both growing so fast! Erica is no longer a baby but a full on toddler with an attitude enough that some days she could be two already. Erin is as sweet and loving as she always has been and in comparison I am so glad she came first to prepare the way for the feistiness that IS Erica. Erin will be ten this year and while Erica is no longer a baby, Erin will soon be a tween girl well on her way to her teens. The time flies by so quickly...
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