Do you see this pretty girl here? This big girl?

Well as you’ve probably already heard, she finally FINALLY went potty on the toilet yesterday! I had an art class from 11am-4pm (more about that later!) and Chris decided she was gonna spend the day commando in hopes of making some progress on that whole potty-training thing. And it worked. Mad props to him! But he wasn’t the one promised all the goodies when she finally went on the potty. His mistake. We now own Erin ballet lessons, enrollment in pre-school, and a Nintendo DS!

dayum. That girl was holding out for the big ticket items.

Last weekend I took a class on making photo transfers. very cool stuff. So of course I ran out and bought myself some gel medium, printed some photos, and spread out on the dining room table. Now when I’ve got my art supplies out, Chris will tell Erin not to touch Mommy’s stuff, to leave things alone, “Mommy’s crafting”. Well, every time I hear that – “Mommy’s crafting”, part of my brain wants to object – crafting? I’m not “crafting”, I’m making ART damn it! But the glue fumes leave me a bit apathetic and meh, whatever…

So, for this month’s Vox show (more an that later), Kyle was making a couple mixed media tiles while I worked on some transfers. Suddenly everyone was crafting and Erin was not going to be left out! She wanted to craft too! Believe me, everything with that girl is followed by an exclamation point. And because I’m not always the sharpest tool (I blame all that crafty glue sniffin’), I bought Erin a Crayola Color Wonders paint/marker/Sleeping Beauty set.

Now Erin is “crafting” too. And pretty damn obsessed with those paints. Time for bed? God speed. You’ll have to pry that paint brush from her G.I.Joe kung-fu grip. And lets hope you didn’t value your hearing much, cause you’re ears are now bleeding. That can’t be good. And her first words upon waking in the morning? “I craft?!”  “You help me craft?!” “I’m not hungry! I craft now!!”

So, yeah… she crafts. I’m wicked scared.

or – Why I’m demanding a DNA test.

Ah yes, I was going to tell you my theory on why I believe Erin was switched with another baby at the hospital. But the proof is in the pudding and a picture is worth a thousand words. Behold:

She did NOT get that from me! She was all “I cooking” for hours Christmas morning with the sound of those “dancing shoes” clicking on the tiles. I swear I broke out in a rash just watching her!

But maybe these things skip a generation. Because later Christmas evening there was this:

Oh yeah, that’s my girl.

Every year I include one of Kyle’s school pictures with the Christmas cards I send to distant friends and relatives. Of course, I’ve also had to print pics of Erin the last 2 years. As I started filling out the cards this year, I started looking through my one million and two photographs for a picture of Erin and Kyle. Turns out I have no recent photos of the two of them together. In fact, I don’t even have a good shot of Erin that I want to print. So last night I pulled out my camera in the hopes of getting a nice photo of Erin in front of the Christmas tree. It didn’t happen and I don’t want to talk about it.

This morning, while Erin was eating her breakfast, I noticed my camera on the table. Buoyed by a good night’s sleep and a fresh cup of coffee, I tried again. Hey, remember this baby? You could just tell she was gonna be trouble. Well, this morning I think she start throwing gang signs at me!

and when I continued to shoot pictures she started mad-doggin’ me something fierce!

I’m wicked scared…

This is Erin and Grandpa in the backyard in Santa Cruz. I took this video some time over the summer with my cell phone. I love that phone.

Now that the site I’ve been working on night and day is for the most part finished, I actually have some time to catch up on my photo editing. I’ve barely made a dent into the pictures I took over the summer, so I’m now working backwards. Yes, it does feel wrong. I starting going through the shots taken on our last visit to Santa Cruz over Labor Day weekend and found some photos of Erin that had me shaking my head.

My dad has said on more than one occasion that I was spoiled rotten. That might have been true when I was little, but I’m pretty sure that tap was shut off when I hit double digits. And I am always quick to point out that you can’t spoil yourself and he needs to turn that finger around and point it at the spoiler not the spoiled. Anyways, it seems it is time for the next generation to take the lead. Erin is my in-law’s (the ubers) only grandchild. And Chris certainly made them wait for her. So as you can image, they like her, a lot, and have years of pent-up grandparent spoiling to work through. (And please note that they are also great to Kyle, but he was 7 when Chris and I got together. They still manage to spoil him too, but a baby – that’s the stuff grandparents live for.)

When Kyle started school in August, Erin became obsessed with having a backpack like her big brother. Kyle gave her his old backpack, but it was way too big on her and made her look like a turtle. We mentioned that we needed to get Erin a toddler-sized backpack to grandma and off to Toys’R'Us we went. Erin not only got a backpack – she got TWO! Matching Barbie backpacks to make it even more wonderful.

Yeah, that baby knows how to work it.

And this is how she left Santa Cruz. Lions and tigers and tiaras oh my…

I know, I’ve gone quiet again. Sorry. And I hate to keep repeating myself, but I’ve been busy. Brain-busy. But don’t worry. My next programming class starts next week, and I’m sure I’ll have plenty to complain talk about then.

In the meantime, some updates:

Things I learned this morning – I need to have more phone conversations during the week. If not, one poor innocent caller will get all my pent-up ramblings thrown at her all at once. Especially if it is early in the morning and I’m over-caffeinated. So, for the greater good, you should call me. Often. And don’t forget to remind me to eat lunch.

Vox show is in 2 weeks and I’ve just finished cutting the mat boards so I can start framing the prints. Very exciting. I’m sure all you out-of-towners have already purchased your plane tickets to get the 2 wk advance discounts. You’re so smart.

Kyle started school last Thursday. I just found out he has already got his first detention! What am I going to do with that kid?! And while Chris was talking to the math teacher, I was on the phone with the band teacher. Oh I definitely got the better deal on that one. My conversation was about Kyle switching instruments. He will now be learning the tuba! And I’m all for it. Ya can’t march with an electric bass guitar. OOM-PA!

Erin is… nuts! I so need to get a video of her saying ‘Rock On’ in her demon voice (complete with goat horns hand gesture of course). And when her head is not spinning around, she is. Usually while wearing a pretty dress. She likes to dance around, spin her skirts, and she does a pretty mean arabesque. Thanks a lot Barbie videos. She’s also chatting up a storm and can now open the fridge. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – we’re doomed.

The majority of my time has been spent working on the HS Tourney site. I ended up stopping mid-build and starting from scratch using Drupal. All because of a random status update on Facebook by Scott of Lightroom Lab fame. 20 days ago I had never heard of Drupal –with its silly name and incredibly steep learning curve. Now, I am living and breathing Drupal. And as difficult as it has been, it was the right move. It is a very powerful web framework and I think the site will ultimately be better for using it. It’s just been a typical Dawn mind-bend. ‘Hey, I have a site to build, for a paying client no less, why not try something new. And if it’s extra difficult to learn, all the better!’

I have issues.

I think I just broke my toe!

Which makes perfect since as I’m trying to pack for Santa Cruz. And I think we have more than enough evidence to prove that ”life” doesn’t want me to go to Santa Cruz.

I’m not going to say anything more for fear of jinxing myself further…

Hey, right before I innocently went into the laundry room (of course it is a laundry related accident!), I stumbled upon (HA!) this bouncing blast from the past -  

Enjoy your weekend!

Hmm. I should probably explain that last post. But I’m busy trying to save this screwed up weekend by working on my website. I’ve almost got it done. I’m building the gallery pages now.  Once those are finished and properly linked up, I just need to write the About page. Joy. Almost as painful to do as an Artist Statement.

Almost as painful as the disappointment of this weekend. I should be on my way home from Santa Cruz right now. I should be basking in the glory of spending last Friday with Joe McNally and 699 other photographers! But no. None of that happened because Erin won’t sleep in a hotel room. Ugh. And the worst part is – you can’t be mad at a baby. Only sad, depressed, and punch-drunk tired.

So, to recap: birthday wasted packing for nothing, missed the Lighting Workshop that was my birthday present, no cake with the ubers, and the sad realization that there will be no vacations with Erin in the near future. Sorry folks who’ll be in Vegas next week,  we’re not coming. I can’t pull those all-nighters like I used to. Officially too old. Happy flippin’ birthday to me.