Baby Erica... a blast from the past

I scanned a few pictures while I was home over the summer- of me as a baby... its fun to see some of the similarities (and differences) between Dyllan and I.. and also my parents!

Dad teaching me how to swim 

Dad and Me- with my  E.T shirt E.T.= Erica Terese

House Boat trip- Age 1

This looks familiar.. Dyllan loves boxes and buckets too!

Houseboat trip

Me and my cousin Matt   & Dad and I at the beach

Me and mom with Grandpa Sussex and Grandma Sussex- houseboat trip

Looks like Dyllan!

Easter Bunny

Washington state ferry

Walking!

Looks like I was a piggy - just like Dyllan (ribs)

All bundled up

Happy Girl- Dyllan loves snuggles in bed too.

This looks familiar... 

... and just one of Dan (I need to find some more of baby Dan!)

Mini Me

Mothers and Daughters: Mom, Me, Celeste, Debbie

We often call Dyllan "mini"- probably short for mini me- or maybe cause she was so mini when she was born.. I'm not sure, but the name stuck.  Of course there are variations of "Mini"- we also call her Mino- Minz, Min, Yao Min, Mini Mouse.  Dan and I love nick names- and musta had trouble with "Dyllan".  The only ones the name Dyllan has produced are:  Dyll Pickle or just Pickle- Dilly Bar - Dyll Bug.  Thats about it. Back to "Mini"- she sure does look like a mini me in this photo.  I was about the same age as Dyllan is now.

Debbie posted this photo on Facebook today.  I couldn't help but re-post it on here.  I know I've seen this photo a few times- but its tucked away in a box somewhere- probably in the storage room- so thanks Debbie for scanning and posting it!

Debbie Regis was one of mom's best friends.  They met while both their families were living in Tokyo- my Grandpa Dan was in the oil industry- so mom's family moved around a bit while they were growing up.  Anyway the story mom and Debbie tell is that when they moved to Tokyo my grandma Nancy found out that there was a girl about mom's age down the street- and that mom should go introduce herself.  Mom went to Debbie's door and introduced herself.  Debbie always laughs and tells me what a dork she was- with her coke bottle glasses and braces - however I have never seen a bad photo of Debbie- she is gorgeous in every photo I have seen!  Including this one- look at how young they look!  Anyway- they became friends in 7th grade- and the rest is history.  (Debbie- feel free to comment on this post!!)  I know i'm leaving out a lot of the details, but that's the just of their friendship.  They had a special friendship- the kind that no matter what the distance, how long the separation, the stage in life.. the friendship would always be there- stronger than before.  They could pick up right where they left off, as if they hadn't missed a beat.  Those are the best kinds of friends.

Mom has now passed Debbie's friendship down to me.  I feel like she is more of a sister, or an auntie actually.  She feels like family- we call her family.. so she may as well be.  She is an amazing person- and I feel so lucky she is in my life.

MAMMA!

Yay!  FINALLY Dyllan says "Mamma"!!  She actually started saying it a few weeks ago- but didnt realize she was saying it- so I didnt think it counted.  Now she knows she is saying it- and she LOVES the reaction she gets when she yells "Mamma" to me.  How much do I look like Dyllan in some of these photos...

Eating Ribs (while camping... in CLOTH diapers.  Brave mom, brave.)
Member Dyllan eating ribs?

Cool, man.

Mom and me.  Notice the HUGE sack over my cloth diaper?!  haha. I look like Donnald Duck.

Happy in my crib.  Just like Dyllan
Funnily enough.. I actually tied a balloon up to Dyllan's mobile too (before I even saw this picture!)

mom and me

Me in a cary basket (basinet?)

On Dad's shorts shoulders
(who wears short shorts...Dad wears short shorts!)
Looks like I loved to eat just as much as Dyllan does.  Always munching...

With Grandpa Sussex



With Grandpa Dan- babies first christmas bib.. must have been about 3 months old- see my baby photo in the background?




Here is a video of Dyllan saying "Mamma" the other day.  The voice in the background is our neighbor girl- Dierie.  She is 12 and she comes over on a pretty regular basis now for what I call "babysitting training".  I am currently training her to become a babysitter... shes not quite old enough or ready for babysitting by herself- but give me another year or so and she should be really ready !   The best part is.. she loves our training sessions.. and I love having a (free) babysitter/helper!  Not to mention Dyllan loves the company.