This is our family sitting in a field of Texas Bluebonnets. Erika is about 2 months old in this picture.

Erika at 3 months old. She loved to stand up already!

Here is a close-up of Erika's cleft. Her cleft is complete, from her gumline to her uvula. You can easily see her orthodontic appliance in this picture.

Erika's portrait at 4 months and 10 days before her first surgery. Look at her beautiful widesmile!! Mommy was sad to see it go!

The family portrait: Bryan, Charlotte, and Erika

Erika modeling her new (1st) swimsuit. She does not have on her Micropore tape for this shot, and her scar appears red. Look at her blonde hair coming in.

Erika on the 4th of July, 1997. She is almost 5 months old here and it was 3 weeks after surgery. What a ham!!! She's living it up at her grandparents' house.

Almost a month after surgery. Erika starts solid foods and loves it! She's come a long way in a month! She does excellent with her solids and has learned to swallow them even with her cleft palate.

Erika with Hunter and Trevor, her Cleft Talk buddies. Their mommies, Charlotte and Edyie, have become great friends thanks to Cleft Talk, the Wide Smiles e-mail support list.

This was at Erika's house on their first meeting. Erika is 6 months old, and Hunter and Trevor are 5 months old.