"Oh where, oh where has my sweet baby gone?"

It seems like over night Erin turned from "baby" to Toddler and I am finding myself longing to snuggle with an infant!

I love the new found independence Erin has since she has started day care. She is sooooo independent! She loves learning new things and she also is loving testing boundaries... (as she continues to smile while she places dinner on top of her head!)

Don't get me wrong. Erin is still just as sweet and gentle as ever. I love the moments when I can steal a kiss or two or when she comes and brings me one of her favorite books to read. She is "talking" so much more since she started "school". I giggle when she comes home with a new word of the day (bubble, baby, or her new word for Grammy; Bobby!!) She is repeating everything and comprehends so much more than I thought she could at 19 months.

I think I started off this blog as kind of an "Who is this toddler and what have you done with my baby?..." but as I write, I am discovering how GREAT it is to have an independent, adventurous, curious, fun loving, carefree daughter! Instead of feeling bad about the infant years behind us, I should be enjoying this moment. Right here, right now! Erin sleeps 12 hrs. a night (provided there are no ear infections or teething nights!) She greets each new day, challenge,or person with a smile. Most importantly, Erin is HEALTHY! Can I really ask for anything more?!

First visit to the "beach"

These pictures were taken when we first arrived at Lincoln Woods. It was so much fun at the beginning, then Erin "Evel Kenevil" Saraiva decided that she didn't want us to help her anymore...we didn't have time to take pics of that!!








Today I decided that I couldn't take staying home every weekend and doing NOTHING because we don't have extra money. So we planned to take Erin to Lincoln Woods. It is something we have wanted to do all summer but Erin either was sick or we had a family function to attend.

So, today we finally went. I had this picture in my minds eye of how our time at the beach would be. Greg and I would take turns holding Erin while we swam. Erin would nervously hold on to our shoulders, afraid of the water. It would be a day of family bliss...WRONG!

Erin LOVED the water! She loved it so much, she thought she already knew how to swim! She had no fear in the water and was so annoyed with us that we wanted to keep her safe at the shore. She just kept wanting to walk through the water like it was grass. Greg and I were both nervous and Erin was ticked off!!

Oh well, there's always the zoo!

Enjoying daycare...and the germs that come with it!

Erin joined the Toddler room at the school where I teach on July 2nd. She has made one of the best transitions I have ever seen a toddler make in my 10 yrs. of working at the school! She has been having fun since day one and other than getting a minor cold every week...she's been doing great~