Times, they are a changing

So I took too long off from blogging...

We celebrated Erin's 1st birthday on Sun, Aug 16th. Just family and some close friends came over to watch Erin eat a huge piece of chocolate cake! (Pics to come) I think she had an upset tummy for the next two days, but she didn't complain! She is getting cuter everyday. She started walking about 11 months, and now she is toddling all over the place. She still takes such labored steps and seems little bow legged at times. I believe that I may have passed on the "graceful" gene to her - she is always bumping her head, tipping over, or falling flat on her face! She does mind, but she is relatively resilient. She's pretty courageous though, and very perseverant. When she wants to climb somewhere or grab something, she finds a way to do it! If she wants down, it is impossible to keep two hands on her. I think she is rejoicing in her new found activity and "freedom" because she can do so much more on her own. It is quite nice to see Vincent playing at his train table (from Nana and Papa) and watch Erin walking over to him and all around it and even playing independently by his side.

That brings me to how the two of them interact. Erin ADORES Vincent. She is happier when she sees him, she smiles and laughs brighter when he's around. I've got to believe it's partialy because he has always been there, and she will not remember a time without him. Vincent can be naughty (can he ever) and push her or hit her or other things that make her cry, but often it doesn't phase her and it hasn't yet changed her good opinion of him. I try to encourage a good relationship between them. I give them compliments to say to each other, ask them to share, remind them to say thank you for sharing (obviously, for Erin I say it for her). Before every nap, Vincent gives Erin a kiss and now has started giving her a blessing, the same way we give him a kiss and the sign of the cross on his forehead before bedtime. I think it's even part of Erin's naptime and bedtime routine and signals that it's time sleep. The smile and the look in her eyes is priceless.

More about the two of them later! More short posts, more frequently.