Growng pains

My week started with a delivery in the mail. Yes, my thoughtful husband knowing my desire to submit to the magical world of Harry Potter, bought me a copy of the latest and final Harry Potter book, The Deathly Hallows. I was completely lost in it's 759 pages for the next 5 days. Every free moment I found was sucked into the story. I am sad that it is over, but glad at the way it ended.

Tuesday, I went to the one and only playgroup our ward has had and has planned since I have been here. It was at a great park, equipped with a splash pad about a 1/4 the size of the one in New Haven. But in 100 plus degree weather it was perfect. There were lots of kids there, only three from our ward, but it was fun. Callie and I also ventured out to the Park Place mall on Friday. I was fortunate enough to meet my sister-in-law who gets a GAP employee discount and made a much needed purchase. Callie and I spent an hour playing at the indoor playground in the mall and then went to pick up Cameron. Cameron survived his first week of law school amazingly enough with out starting drugs. All he has to say about it is that it is all OK. He did mention he wanted to quit about 3 times, but says overall it has been a good experience. Friday night we went to the JRC law Society party for families. We had a great time. Callie was thrilled with all of the kids to play with. She charmed the older girls (4-6year olds) by naming them after different princesses. Her new friend Eliza was also in tote. I was happy to see one of my old friends Don Christensen. He is in his last year of medical residency, his wife who has two girls and one on the way in December, is a 2L at the U of A. Oh, in case you readers are wondering the locals call the university "the" U of A. We think it is funny, because we would never confuse it with "the" Yale, or "the" ASU.

Monday was the finale to our potty training for now. Warning reader, if you have a weak stomach do not continue to read. Callie had one minor accident in the kitchen, and I thought it would be a mild day. Then the Armageddon of incidents happened in our room. It started on the bed, while we were playing hide and seek. Callie peed on our bed. Yuck, I thought that was the worst that could happen. I set her on the floor, told her to stay put while I got cleaning supplies. Then unbeknownst to me she pooped in her undies. So while trying to change her, brown plops fell on to the floor. Yuck, another mess. So I put her in my bathroom and said stay there. I came in to find poop smeared on the the bathmat. Then after wiping her off and throwing the wipes in the toilet, Callie graciously offered to flush it for me. While I was busy putting the newly soiled laundry in the wash I did not notice that Callie was holding the handle down on the toilet. Soon, the toilet overflowed and it was quickly flooding the bathroom. Yuck, that was the worst. I had to disinfect the whole room. Callie happily swam in the bath for the next hour. After that we went back to diapers. We would not want the stress to result in Mommy doing drugs.

Funny Callie moment

When we first got here we decided it was time for Callie to graduate to a big girl bed. We took the side off of her crib and put the memory foam mattress at the foot of it. The first night I woke up to a small voice calling "Mama, help, help me! I stuck!" I rushed to her room and could not find her. She was not on the floor, in the closet or behind the bed. She had actually rolled under the bed. It was too dark for her to see a way out. I could not help laughing after she assured me, "I OK mama." She is now a pro at sleeping on the big girl bed, and has not fallen off in weeks. Now, I wish potty training was that easy.

Potty Animal

Last week my priority was getting the little one potty trained. Apparently, it is not her priority. We tried staying in underpants all day. What a mess that is. Then I bought "Potty Time with Elmo." We watched it all day and made Callie sit on the potty to watch it. The one successful moment we had was when I left the room to shower and she was sitting on the potty watching Elmo. I came in to check on her and she was saying how "Elmo got some juice on his leg." She had gone pee in the potty and I celebrated greatly, rewarding her with M&M's and stickers. Even with her protests "no mom, that's poo poo not pee pee," (she is a little confused about the difference) I was sure we had made a breakthrough. That was Weds. and today is Monday and we have had nothing but accidents. I am still determined but I just need to get her on the same page.
Cameron started orientation on Weds. His initiation into Wildcat territory had the outstanding message of "don't let the stress get to you, and don't do drugs." They had a panel of guest speakers who talked about how they were so stressed out from the first year in law school that they started drinking or doing drugs heavily. I think the highlight was their visit to the courthouse to watch several cases, and meet with the judges. One of the cases he saw was reported by none other than the famous Aaron LaDuke. Cameron and Aaron had lunch afterwards. That night we went to a dinner put on by the Women's Law Society. We met several people who are trying desperately not to let the stress get to them and not to do drugs or drink too heavily from the keg provided by the WLS.
Saturday, we went for a short walk around the neighborhood spotting two bunnies and several lizards. Then we swam in the pool until bed time. Sunday we had dinner with Aaron, Kristen and the girls. Callie revels in the girls attention. They have about a million Barbies and Callie has a name for each one. We found a dead baby Coral snake in their pool. I can't say that I am sorry this poisonous snake had drowned.
Today was Cameron's first day of school, he was nervous and stressed but he has yet triumphed and not resorted to the use of drugs. Thank you to everyone who responded to last week's announcement. It was great to hear from so many and feel your support. I have yet to reply to any emails, but will get on it between potty breaks this week.

The news you all have been waiting for

What could this great announcement be? Well, Callie is going to be a big sister. The due date is Feb. 23rd. Exactly 2 months after Callie's 3rd birthday. It has been hard for me to keep this secret. So, if you are like our friend Lia who thinks I have been pathetically lazy this summer, you now know my main excuse is that I have been really sick.

In other news. We have moved into a great apartment. Two bedrooms and two baths. We even have a fireplace (because it gets so cold in Tucson). We have a beautiful view of the foothills and the Catalina Mountains. Callie keeps asking, while pointing to the saguaro cactus "mama, what tree is that?" There is a lot of desert wild life here. We have lizards and cotton tail bunnies right out side our door. Courtney, Cameron's sister lives about a mile away and tells us of the Javelina (wild pigs), mountain lions, bob cats, bears and Gila monsters they have had in their yards. Yikes, I hope not too run into any of those. With the heavy monsoons this year the desert is so lush and pretty. Not the green of Connecticut but we are adjusting.

This past weekend we visited with all of Cameron's family. Alyssa just graduated from NAU with a Master's in Education, and it was reason to celebrate. Callie was happy to see all of her cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents. They swam and played for hours. What family function is not complete with out a smorgasbord of food. We all ate too much but enjoyed every bite. I forgot to mention, before we left for Phoenix, there was a very gusty monsoon. About five large trees and one four armed saguaro blew right over in our complex. On our route out of town we saw at least 30 more tress blown over, and Cameron witnessed an electric fire ball from power lines collapsing. What an exciting place! This week Callie started potty training. No success yet, but we are determined. Cameron starts orientation on Wednesday and I am getting my hair cut. I can't emphasize it enough "what an exciting place."

Copper State

We are back in the copper state! Though we love Arizona, it just doesn't feel like home yet. Maybe because we will have been homeless until today. Sunday we made the drive through CA, past Yosemite, and Death Valley. We stayed a night in LaQuinta (Palm Springs area), then headed straight to Rob and Betina's house. We have been here ever since. Just hanging out. We have gotten to meet Bella our newest niece born January 7th. Cameron brilliantly observed after we had been here a day "This the first time we have met Bella." Callie has enjoyed playing with "the boy," her cousin Gage. Gage has enjoyed playing with Callie's Polly Pockets. They have really gotten along well, considering Gage is 3 and Callie a little over 2 1/2. Last night Rob and Cameron heroically braved the 97 degree weather to unload our 16' P.O.D. and move it to a 17' Uhaul. Only three hours and a pool of sweat later they were done. So today is our journey to Tucson.