July 15 - 20 On the Road Again - California-bound

gg has lots of friends on the way to california. we stopped along the way to visit them. first, we went to oregon. they have lots of trees like we do in washington. mommy had to carry me everywhere because daddy's not here. he's already in california. after a "long" day of carseat-ting, i find a little belly crawling to be relaxing. be sure to find an extra soft carpet and blanket in case you get too tired to sit up again. why is everyone looking at me with those teary-eyes? (first time for erynn to rollover and crawl a bit.)

my mommy is so silly and funny, she cracks me up. some silly faces and raspberries makes the miles go by so fast. a stopover in grants pass and i'm good to go again. do you know the sasha the cat? she's cool. i never met a cat before.

on to california to visit cousins once removed (i think that's what they finally settled on after a very long discussion) randall and linea. they live in the middle of a whole lot of almond groves. they have a swimming pool. i like to swim with my mommy. (another first for erynn)

i am going to see my daddy tomorrow. do you think he likes to go swimming? i hope so.

see ya round the pool.

e

Jul 12 - 14 Getting Ready for Another Road Trip

Daddy went to Sacramento for a math competition. So, GG came to Washington to visit me. I was so tired waiting for her, I feel asleep in my highchair. I took GG to our beach. I had a baby picnic and met two sister babies who needed to borrow some toys. They were nice and their mommy talked to my mommy. So, we played together. Then, I had to take GG for a walk. She gets restless. She did not want to go swimming. So we just walked out on the pier into Lake Washington. She wanted to go picture taking.

Time to go home, are you coming ?

Hello, Sean. Yes, we would be happy to have your birthday party here. . . Today. . . Now. . .

I'll go entertain some of the guests. GG, you clean up the house. Mommy start some cooking and help Sean. Go!! Grandma Cathy help me out here. We need to keep everyone busy and excited. Let's show what we can do.

And now, if you would all help me and join me in singing the Happy Birthday song. Ha . . ppy . . .

Blow out the candles, Sean. That's not many candles. How did you get two cakes? Looks very yummy.

Happy Birthday, Sean. Thanks for coming everybody. Time to go home now. Love you. I gotta go to the doctor's so that I can go to California to pick up Daddy. Outta here everyone, please.

Oh, this is so embarrasing. GG's camera caught me at the doctor's office. This is me.

i am 2 ft 6 inches tall. i weigh about 23 pounds. my hat size is 46 centimeters. my soft spot is still soft, so i have more room for brains and dreams and such. i am perfectly plump, not too chubby and certainly not fat. i have a little cheek and shoulder rash which should clear up when i stop teething and hurling so much.

i have flat feet. (all babies do.) i like to stand up next to things. i can support all my weight on one leg. i don't crawl or walk yet.

i like to put everything in my mouth except food. i think water is too slippery. i don't eat anything through me mouth yet. i have a stomach port so that i can be healthy. my port is just above and to the side of my belly button. be careful not to push or pull on my port, that hurts me.

i passed my tests. i am going to california to pick up daddy.

bye.

e

June 26 - Picnic - Moo Baa La La La

do you know that one of my favorite books is "moo, baa, la, la, la" by sandra boynton me and my picnic pals are going to tell you the story . . . .

A cow says, Moo.

A sheep says, Baa.

Three singing pigs say, La, La, La.

No, No, you say. That isn't right. A pig says, Oink, all day and night.

Rhinocerouses snort and snuff.

And little dogs go ruff, ruff, ruff. Some other dogs go Bow Wow Wow.

And cats and kittens say Meow. Quack, says the duck.

A horse says, Neigh.

It's quiet now. What do you say ?

love from erynn, mommy, jeremy, ben, daddy, inge

June 23 - Piano Lessons

i am very sorry. i cannot come out and play with you right now. i am taking piano lessons. i am a virtuoso. i must use every bit of my talent. i do hope you understand. let me show you my new baby grand piano. i is very colorful and can help my play many kinds of music. i can play twinkle, twinkle little star. i can turn the pages. you have to be very careful when you turn the pages. you have to remember to reach up and not pull down. (the piano is very heavy when it is on top of you. i know.)

do you want me to play itsy bitsy spider ? i have the music right here.

look, i have an octave reach.

well, i really must practice my technique now. i love to play my piano. i hope you enjoy listening. i hope to be concert ready very soon.

love,

e

May 28 - Jun 2 - David and Megan - Road Trip

David and Megan are my newest married cousins. I went on my first roadtrip to go to their wedding. There were many things to learn and do on my first roadtrip. As you may recall, I had chronic lung disease due to my prematurity and as a precaution I am not allowed to fly for a while. (recycled air, colds, germs, international germs, etc.) So, Mommy and Daddy packed up the car and me up and off we went to Utah. Here are some travel tips: It is important to stop for wiggle time and a diaper check every two hours or so, unless I am sleeping. Do not wake me up. Remember to bring lots of disposable bags for messy things. Clean out the trash at every rest stop. Don't forget to wear a hat if it is really sunny out. Have a warm jacket in the car in case it rains for a little while or if you are travelling in the mountains.

Watch out for the local wildlife, they may want to get into your carseat.

Stop for food and get out of the car, it keeps the Mommy and Daddy and the Baby on speaking terms. Love you.

Exercise and play ball with your best pal. Stretch your legs. Make friends with the truckers. Learn how to wear a hat and look good. Find a shady spot for a rest. It's almost 90 degrees outside. Wear sunscreen. Wear nice clothes to the temple. (uncle kelly, me and grandma gg) Very nice clothes (megan's step-daddy, megan's mommy, cousin megan, cousin david, aunt teri and uncle greg) Close your eyes when the bright sun is out, but don't forget to open them for the picture!! Really, really nice clothes (nice girl, cousin kelsey, cousin megan, cousin david, nice boy, nice boy, nice boy) Wear long-sleeved white t-shirts in the wind so you won't get more sunburned or wind-burned. Lean on Mommy, she won't let you fall over. It's okay to change clothes if you get messy. All the clothes are in the car trunk anyway. Very handy. Be helpful getting into your carseat. It just makes everyone happier. Get used to snuggly little spaces. Take lots of naps. Play with new toys from your trip. Don't forget to let your feet play with your new toys too.

Learn how to brush your own hair. Now try Daddy and Mommy's hair.

Play teeth tug of war. Let Mommy win some of the time. She'll play with you more often.

Clap your hands and look for Daddy. Oh, there he is.

Be very thankful when you can sleep in your own crib once again. i'm bushed. i'll write soon.

erynn

May 27 - Michael and Jen

Michael and Jen Kelly are Erynn's oldest married cousins. They love to come and visit Erynn and play with her. Erynn loves to listen to Michael and his brothers sing. She loves to play with Jen, whatever and whenever Jen wants to play with her. Erynn is often in her exersaucer during big family dinners at our house. As you know, Erynn is "pop-a-matic" and loves to make lots of noise and yell. Whenever Michael is sitting next to Erynn during dinner, his favorite thing to do is to say "Timeout!" and then he turns her around in the exersaucer so that she's facing away from everyone. She pauses for a second and then slowly starts to turn back around and continues playing as if nothing had happened. It's very funny and she loves the attention from Michael. She usually flashes her cute little smile at him. Jen is a photographer and does children's portraiture in natural settings. For Erynn's one year birthday, Jen had several photoshoots with our new little family. Some of the outstanding results are posted on their blog at http://whenwilltheyeverhavekids.blogspot.com/. The entry is entitled "Erynn Ann-One Year Old." I hope you enjoy the pictures. Leslie. P.S. For those living in the Seattle area wishing they had great pictures of family and children, Jen's website is www.theperfectpic.com.