Happy 2nd Birthday, Erin Olivia!

Happy, happy birthday, sweet BABY Erin. You are SO funny - you keep us laughing constantly, so smart - we get comments on how clear and how MUCH you talk all the time, and so so so soooo sweet and caring. Words cannot describe how blessed we are to be your parents! I must brag on her for 2 seconds - She's been fully potty trained for months now, which is very helpful for us as parents. Her pediatrician was so impressed with her verbal skills when I took her in to check her finger injury. He told me only 1% of the population her age speak as clearly as her (He very well may have just been trying to compliment her, but he really did say that.) Not to mention she is so tough and brave! I think I was more hysterical than she was when she smashed her finger! She's definitely got an attitude and can hold her own...must be a youngest sibling thing! The other day at the museum there was a much older boy trying to tell her to stop doing something, and she gave him a piece of her mind and continued on with what she wanted to do!

Getting pregnant with Erin was quite the shock, as Jack had just turned 2 a few days before finding out, and Grace was only 9 months old. Here is a picture of them, that was taken right around the time we got pregnant with Erin. 

This picture was taken on 12/26, a mere hours before finding out I was pregnant. I remember feeling extremely puffy on this day. We went to Buffalo Wild Wings to watch the Bears game. A few days prior I had the STRONGEST craving for a bagel. Colin went out in rainy and freezing (for Florida) weather to get me a bagel. Those 2 things prompted me to take a test. And that night, we found out we were going to have baby #3. 

9 months later, we had a perfect newborn, an on-the-go one year old, and an extremely active two year old. Life certainly hasn't slowed down a BIT since!

Erin Olivia McCormick

Friday, August 19, 2011 11:47AM

10 lbs. 3 oz. 21.5 inches

We really wanted to have her on the 23rd since Jack and Grace were born on the 23rd of their birthday months. They switched the days they do scheduled c-sections from Tuesdays to Fridays, so I had her 4 days earlier. Come to find out, there was a reason for it. She had a tight knot in her umbilical cord, which could cause serious problems, even stillbirth. 

I was a giant whale when I was pregnant with Erin (as I was with the others too). The size of my belly looks as though I'm carrying triplets at least! I gained 75 pounds during the pregnancy. It took me almost a year to lose it all.

Having a baby cuddle up and sleep on my chest...one of my favorite things in the entire world!

Jack and Grace fell in love immediately, too.

Here is her first birthday:

the 1, 2, and 3 year olds

The 2, 3, and 4 year olds - This picture will be a tradition every year on Erin's birthday. I will take this tomorrow (writing this on Sunday) and edit this post to add it. 

2 Year Photo Session Pictures:

We celebrated her birthday Sunday since Monday is a school and work day. She had a fun day! We did our birthday Donut King tradition in the morning. We went swimming. We had a family pizza and cake party in the evening. (Links are videos.)

For the others I started this interview on their 3rd birthday, but I figure Erin is pretty good with her language skills, so I'd give it a shot a year early. Enjoy!

What is your name? Erin

How old are you? 1 (doing this on 8/14)

What is your favorite color? pink

What is your favorite toy? Mickey Mouse!

What is your favorite food? chicken nuggets

What is your favorite fruit? (had to give choices)  apples, grapes

What is your favorite vegetable? (silence)

What is your favorite T.V. show? Chicken Little

What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? fruit

What is your favorite outfit? my new dress up

What is your favorite game? octagon game (???)

What is your favorite snack? oatmeal

What is your favorite animal? doggy

What is your favorite song?  Twinkle Little Star

What is your favorite book? Diamond

Who is your best friend? Jack

What is your favorite kind of cereal? oatmeal

What is your favorite thing to do outside? um, mow the grass (no joke...she really said this.)

What is your favorite thing to drink? chocolate milk

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? oatmeal

What is your favorite movie? Chicken Little, I said!!!! (apparently she doesn't know the difference between a movie and a T.V. show.)

Where do you want to work when you get older? (silence)

Do you like school? yes

Who is your teacher? Ms. Lizzie

Who do you play with the most at school? Ms. Wanda (This is her new teacher.)

What is your favorite thing to do at school? chapel

Do you take a nap every day? yes

What do you want for your birthday dinner? um, this one

 What gift would you like for your birthday this year? no I don't want to

What makes you really happy? because I don't want to

What makes you feel proud? (touches the computer and said, "That's daddy's and mommy's, right? Then grabs scissors and says, "What's this? Scissors. Uh-huh! Cut your paper.") (Clearly I've exceeded her attention span.)

What makes you feel scared? monster!

What makes you feel excited? a bulldog, a bulldoggy (points to a wooden bulldog figurine. Still not paying attention)

What makes you feel sad?  because somebody's sad. 

What else would you like to say? Oatmeal. A bulldog! Will you help me? Will you put this back? Oatmeal!