That’s right. We’re back into potty training. I thought I’d give it one last go before the weather got nice, and I couldn’t bear to be locked in the house for weeks on end. We started three weeks ago. I thought if I could get her trained in two weeks, before I left for Texas, we would be ready to go for summer.

The first two and a half days were pretty bad. Olivia didn’t seem to get exactly what she was supposed to do. Somewhere on the third day, she finally went “pee-pee in the potty.” (My potty language is pretty rudimentary these days) After that it was probably another week where she would go potty if I asked her to, but if she needed to go, and I didn’t happen to ask, she wouldn’t volunteer the information. We were about 50/50 in our success/failure.

Finally, a day or two before I left, she started going to the potty on her own. She still wouldn’t tell me, but she would disappear into the bathroom, and minutes later I would hear the chant victorious: “I DID IT MOMMY! I GET A TREAT!” — (I’ve been scrambling for treats. It seems what ever potty treat I buy for the girl, her daddy eats. He thinks he should get a treat for all the years he’s been going potty!)

Then yesterday, the biggest break through of all. In all this time, Olivia has never gone “pooh-pooh” in the potty. She only poops once a day usually, so if I didn’t catch her at just the right moment, and she had an accident, we’d have to wait until the next day. Without going into too much detail on the scheduling of my daughters bowel movements, let’s just say we have been pathetic in getting her poop and the potty together.

Then yesterday she had once again disappeared. I hear movement in the bathroom, but it’s been longer than previous visits. I go in, suspicious, and find that she’s pulled the toilet brush out from the cabinet. In the midst of my scolding, I look over to see a long brown poop sitting in beautiful contrast to her lime green toilet.

“HURRAY!” I shout, “You Did It!” I grab the phone. We call daddy. “Heaven must be smiling on us” he says, with a hint of relieved exhaustion in his voice. We look to find the best treat ever. There are none to be had. Daddy has eaten them all. We shout “Hurray!” some more and break out the fruit snacks.

I know we still have a ways to go. But it seems we’ve reached the summit.

The trip started a little rocky. The woman at the check in counter lost my drivers liscence. It was on her desk behind something or other — I never got the clear story. But we couldn’t find it after ten minutes of searching. Finally, in fear of missing my flight, the counter lady gave me a “pass” to get through security. When they finally did find it, they mailed it to Wyatt, who in turn overnighted it to me, so I could get on the plane coming home!

Once we were actually in Dallas things went much smoother. Andi and I didn’t do a whole lot. One day we went bridesmaid dress shopping, but didn’t find anything. The other days we just went on walks and cooked, and did art projects. We tried a new art form called “Batik”– it was cool. Andi’s turned out much better than mine, her fabric didn’t have such a tight weave. I also worked on my wood carving and photography.

On the flight home the airline lost my bag. It finally came in, and Delta delivered it to my home — at 3:00 am! They pounded on the door waking everyone including baby Cal. Ugh. But at least the bag came!

It was a fun little jaunt to Texas. It was fun to hang out with Andi and not HAVE TO do anything at all. Those are the most relaxing days to me.

Calvin in his “Johnny Jump Up” that Andi gave him.

Andi’s Window Sill

Lemonade and Art Projects on the Back Patio Andi working on a “Batik” T-Shirt.

I first noticed it on Wednesday evening. Olivia, who hadn’t had a nap all day, was saying one thing, and then repeating it over and over and over and over AND OVER again, until Wyatt or I acknowledged what she said . . . not just that she said something, but WHAT she said–a problem since I still only understand about 25% of what she says. “She must be tired,” I told Wyatt. I knew that wasn’t the reason. But insanity gave me hope.

Now, several days later, reality has conquered hope. It wasn’t a lack of sleep, or an overdose of sugar, or any other plethora of excuses I tried making to myself in the ensuing days. It’s a developmental stage. I’ve seen other kids go through it, wondering how other parents handle the constant chatter, the constant nagging for a response to any and every thought that pops into a two year old mind. And now, here I am. I still don’t know! Olivia eschews every thought and happenstance with great insistence and force.

I am afraid gone are the days of quiet moments and thoughtful introspect. Now it is – “no, Olivia, we can’t ride the horsies,” and “yes Olivia, the chicken is white,” and “I’m glad you think marshmallows make good treats for turkeys.” Even when she’s in bed, and I sit alone at the computer to write, her heartfelt babble echoes in my head. It makes for good company.

I got my camera in January, 2004. At the time, Wyatt had just finished his first semester in graduate school. We were trying to get through school sans student loans. I was making $9.50/hour, and Wyatt made $7.00/hour at a 10 hour/week gig on campus. We were living in, what we now call with a delirious affection, “the Meth Lab apartment,” because there was a meth lab directly across our 35 foot wide street from us (we woke up one morning to the whole street shut down and men in HASMAT bubble suits walking around like a scene from E.T.)–the apartment was small, old, dirty, and, as you can tell, in a “great” part of town. Our favorite day of the week was Tuesday because it was “fifty cent night” at the dollar movie theater. Financially life was -ahem- simple.
One night I came home and announced to Wyatt that I wanted to get a new camera, and that it would be released in January, and that it would cost $1000.00, almost a full months wages, and two months rent. Wyatt never batted an eye.

I had done significant research about “digital cameras” – a still relatively new era of technology. The camera I settled on, after almost a full year of research, would be top of the line. It had been announced at a photography trade show in October, to be released the following January. We had three months to save up.

The day the camera was released on the market, Wyatt and I climbed in the car and headed down to the local Best Buy. To my hearts distress, another woman came in wanting the same camera, at the same time as us. The store only had one in stock. The salesperson said which ever of us went without, could come back the next day. He would order one in from another store, and give it to us with a $70 discount. Wyatt talked me into waiting another 24 hours. I did not want to wait.

Now, four years later, my camera is almost antiquated in terms of technology. Luckily it still takes good pictures. I estimate (based on my camera’s counter system) that I have taken 36,889 pictures over the past four years of ownership. If I had taken those same pictures with a film camera, they would have cost $3,576.18* just in film alone. Then there is the additional cost of development–which I won’t calculate, because while printing film costs money, so does having a computer and photoshop to edit the digital files. I truley feel that my camera has been one of our greatest family investments, second only to the real estate we’ve purchased. Not only has it saved us money in the long run, but it also has enabled me to continue pursuing my talents and interests in photography AND, most importantly, capture the moments that have made up our lives for the past years.

Now, it has been four years since Wyatt and I climbed into the Jeep and made a purchase that made us both catch our breath. My camera is getting old. I have a couple dead pixels, and the flash doesn’t reload quite as quickly as it used to. It’s time retire it to “backup” position.

Yesterday I bought a Canon 5D, and a new 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM lens. It was another purchase that made me catch my breath. But Wyatt never batted an eye.

*Based on FujiFilm Superia 100 ISO 35mm film, listed on Amazon.com at $3.49/36 exposure roll.

Anyway, so I’ve been looking for one of those fabulous vintage cruisers–you know, one with a tank and a light on the fender. But they don’t exist in Utah. I know. I’ve looked.

In fact, they’re hard to find via the internet anywhere. In four or five years of looking, I’ve never found one with all of the features I wanted for less than – well, more than I was willing to pay. About a year ago I discovered that Schwinn actually makes cruiser replicas. But, go figure, there isn’t a single Schwinn dealer that carries them in Utah. So to get one I’d have to order it–pay shipping, etc. and then find out if I actually liked it. Hmm . . .

Every time Wyatt and I have traveled for the past several years, I’ve also looked on for bike shops at our destination. In California I found cruisers . . . but not classic Schwinn’s. In Oregon I found a Schwinn bike shop that had the replicas in stock-my first in person look at them. They didn’t quite have the feel of the old cruisers–like a vintage car vs. one of today. The older ones are heavier and just feel old.

Weston honking the horn Wyatt got for me. (The tank has a horn that works too, but this one just looks cool.

When we were in Arizona a couple weeks ago, I decided to look, yet again. I Googled “vintage Schwinn cruisers” and actually found a guy on Craigslist who was selling just such a bike at a price less than a replica!His name was Larry. He was leathery, had no teeth, chain smoked, and spoke real thick and slow. He was the nicest man. He had just the bike I was looking for. A late 1950′s SpitFire cruiser.

And that is how I found my bike.

When we got it back to Wynn and Heidi’s house, I took it for it’s maiden voyage. Trouble was . . . I actually forgot how to ride a bike. I went to make a turn, and couldn’t make it tight enough. I forgot how to brake (back pedal) and actually ran into the curb, going flying onto the sidewalk and neighbors yard. Road rash on elbows and knees. Fortunately the bike is old–heavy. It didn’t seem to worse the wear, and my elbows will heal. Unfortunately Wyatt caught the whole thing on video. After I crash, all you hear is Wyatt laughing.

Now all I need is streemers and really cool helmet, and I’ll be set!

He brought in a big book–like an oversized Atlas. But it wasn’t an Atlas. It was William Henry Jackson’s Rocky Mountain Railroad Album: Steam and Steel Across the Great Divide. A photographic book full of 16×20 prints of the American railroad landscape from the 1800′s.

Wyatt decided to look it up on the internet, finding copies anywhere from $500 – $1000. (It was a limited edition printing). Our copy is in really great shape–no bent pages, or fading. It doesn’t even look like it’s spine has been opened, and other than a lot of dust on the leather cover, it’s in great shape!

But alas, my general love for photography, books, history, AND old things, all will keep Wyatt from cashing in on his trove. It’s like the first edition Hemingway For Whom the Bell Tolls that I found in a thrift store several years ago, and bought for 50 cents . . . it’s just one of those things.

AND, while I was on the internet looking up this book, I also looked up Touchstones and Structure, two Tillman Crane limited edition books that I have dedicated copies of (Tillman is my photographic mentor)–those books are now both in the $500 range as well. Not that I would ever sell any of these books, but it’s kinda fun to know.

This article was originally published on January 30th, 2008.

Baby Cal turns six months old today . . . in fact, in about an hour! What a darling little boy he is too. He sure can turn my heart to mush.

He rolled over for the very first time today. I put him on his tummy, with the binki a few inches out of reach. And with great effort he threw himself from his tummy to his back in effort to get closer. Only trouble was, once he was on his back, he couldn’t see the binki anymore! Luckily mamma was close by to award him his prize. He performed his new trick 3 times. HURRAY!

He had his six month Dr. appointment today. That didn’t go as well as one might hope. He’s actually lost weight in the past two months. He weighed in less today than he did at his appt. two months ago. Dr. G was concerned and is having me feed him solids etc. over the next two weeks, at which point he must go in and be weighed again. He also gave the little guy an ant-acid which should help curb his constant regurgitation. That will be nice . . . to get through a day-or an hour, or whatever the case may be- without needing to change my clothes (let alone his!).

I think he’ll be okay though. What a dear little cubby. And of course he did get his shots. . . four today. What a brave and dear little cubby.

We called Wynn (Wyatt’s brother) before we left to be sure we could stay at his place. He said that would be fine . . . the next day when we pulled into Phoenix (we spent the night in Flagstaff), he said “I guess I’ll call Heidi and tell her now!”

So it was a total surprise to Heidi, who happened to have three tests that week. We tried to be a help rather than hindrance by watching the kids and helping out as much as possible. Once the tests were over with, it was nice to just hang out. Wynn & Wyatt took Weston and Calvin fishing while Heidi & I took Alea and Olivia to see Enchanted and get some cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory.

It was great to escape the winter weather, and apparently there was a huge storm in Salt Lake, so that just makes the nice weather we enjoyed seem extra nice.

Thanks Wynn and Heidi for letting us come play!