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11-12-83

Took 3 or 4 steps (crawling) with hands and knees both

Drinking better from cup. Refuses bottle–even juice

Makes cute gurgling sound

(Also, Bo was a black poodle we had. Not the prissy kind. The fun, lovable, tear-up-your-curtains-when-you’re-gone kind.)

July 6, 1984 (a little over a year old)

I haven’t written in a couple of months. Everything is sort of chaotic around here. Your Aunt Leslie has come to live with us.

You have learned all kinds of things in the last two months: you are pulling toys, running very well, can say no, Bo, e(gg), an “n” sound for drink or eat, you’re pointing to what you want, can point to your head, eyes, nose, knees, belly, ear.

You love Bo and Sugar, a German Shepherd that we’ve adopted. You play and scream when both of them are playing in the house.

You will hand Mommy something you’re playing with if I ask for it.

Guess what? You’re sleeping all night now. Instead of going to you if you woke up, after bedtime, we’d let you cry. You only cried 6 minutes 1^st night, then about a minute a couple of times during the night. Then, you just started sleeping all night. If I nursed you and you didn’t go to sleep, you would only cry a minute.

Last 2 days, you’ve felt real bad. You threw up twice at 6:30 am, then slept until 8:00 am. Feverish, crying a little.

You learned to wink today. Aunt Leslie showed you how. You can also blow a kiss, and while you are blowing the kiss, you say “Bo.” Real cute.

You are very good company now. Much fun to be with. You can really climb well, too. You can even climb up in your high chair if the tray is off.

Born 5-2-83; stayed in the hospital 1 week. Was delivered by Caesarean. Had jaundice after 5 days. We brought you home on Mother’s Day! Granny stayed a week w/us. Aggie came for 3 days after you were 3 wks.

Crawled one  step or whatever.

Lots of changes in our lives all at once. Your Dad got a new job at McDonnell Douglas, we are moving a short distance away, 4310 Abbott Ave., the car is having lots of problems, the family room flooded again (in house on Edgewood), just to name a few things.

You are changing in your personality, a little rebellious at times. When I’m angry or grouchy, you’re worse. You react a lot like my brother Stanley, you respond best to praise. Of course, Lora, David, and your Dad are the same when it comes to responding best to praise, but you get more cantankerous when I’m grouchy.

7-86…Daddy was laid off

9-86…Mommy went to work for 3 mos. while Daddy stayed with you

12-86…We sold our house, bought a 2/BR mobile home and moved to Marshall, about 12 mi out of Ripley, WV, Jackson County. Just takes about 20 min. to get to Granny’s in Ravenswood.

1-87…Daddy started electronics school but soon was notified no funds to continue

3-87…Pappy, Daddy, Mommy and Erin went to visit Aunt Bid and Uncle Gene in Orlando, FL. Stayed 2 wks. Erin and Mom got real bad colds.

4-87…Erin developed pneumonia from her cold. I developed an allergy to the sulfa drugs prescribed by a doctor at Drs. Urgent Care in Cross Lanes. We had just gone there for them to check Erin’s ears and throat; that’s when the pneumonia was diagnosed. After 10 days, I developed the allergy, was hospitalized 4 days. Garry went back to FL and we stayed behind to sell trailer, etc.

5-1-87…Garry returned for us; we arrived in Orlando day before Erin’s 4^th birthday

8-15-87…Moved to Titusville, FL. Erin became increasingly sad over losing Bo Bo. It took her about 3 mos. of crying off and on over him.

9-15-87…Enrolled Erin in Titusville Christian School. After a few days, she became very upset at the thought of school. After 6 wks., I took her out of the school.

12-16-87…Pappy and Granny came to visit for 5 wks. Lots of juicy oranges on our tree.

2-88…Erin enrolled in First United Methodist Preschool.

4-88…Started resisting going after being off a lot in March due to illness. I think she was too bashful on the playground; but other factors, too. She’s growing up very fast.

5-7-88…We spent day at Ormond Beach, Pam, Kate, her cousin Annie, Richard, Aunt and Uncle, Garry and I. Kate started breaking out w/chicken pox. Badly sunburned.

5-19…Erin had a few chicken pox on her, then fully broke out next day. No fever. Very uncomfortable, but they did not cover her entire body.

6-88…We have been looking for a house for a couple or more months. Interest rates were at 9 ½; now at 10.58 and rising.

You somehow opened a bottle of vinegar and poured half of it out on kitchen carpet. Boy, it almost knocked me out. How you opened it, I don’t know.

Lora told us she and David were planning on moving back to live with their mother in Colorado. I know you’ll miss having a brother and sister here. I imagine it will be lonely for you, being the only child, but we’ll try to love you enough.

Haven’t written much for a few days. You are getting sweeter every day. Your personality is beginning to take shape. Just as the American Baby Magazine said, you are becoming more and more attached to your Dad. When he comes home at night, you say, “Da, da, da, da,” with your arms outstretched. You also cry to go with him when he puts his coat on. You even kiss him without being asked.

Your birthday is coming up next week. Can’t believe it.

You still do not like the car.