Earliest Memories

I think I might have an unusual number of early memories. Like, early-early. I think it's slightly unusual, but I'm not exactly sure -- because they are in my head and I'm not in yours -- so I can't exactly compare. I could be flattering myself. That would not be the first time (and certainly will not be the last time) that flattering myself has happened. Ben says it's unusual. I sort of think it's a family trait, though. Some kind of genetic pre-disposal to remember. My son KJ has a phenomenal catalog of memories, as well. I should probably turn him in for science, just in case. I won't, though.

I have three very early memories.
I am not exactly sure which one is first.
Two are from when I was about eighteen months old and my family lived in Hawaii. We are at a swimming pool. Even as a tiny person, I really, really loved to swim and was very fearless in the water. I remember I had little arm floaties and my family was in a hot-tub like circle with another family, and I was standing on the side, bouncing my knees up and down in an exaggerated motion. Then I would jump in to my Dad. He would catch me or I would jump into the middle and sink to the bottom and he would pull me back up. I remember the water was quite warm and bubbling over my head, and I didn't feel afraid at all as I sunk to the bottom or flailed my arms to get back to the top. I loved it. The water would spray off my face and I would rub my whole hands over my eyes to clear them. There was a bigger, colder round pool and I would jump into my Dad's waiting arms there as well. I would try to swim and he followed me around the circle. I clearly remember my young Mom and my brothers there and what they looked like, and I have a sense of the noise my brothers made, but my Dad is the center because he was catching me.
My other Hawaii memory is a volcano erupting. It was dark night and there were cars parked and people standing around watching it. My Dad was holding me and I didn't feel afraid at all, but liked the bright colors and the spray of the lava. On a recent drive home to Las Vegas KJ and Olivia were telling me about how Grandma told them of watching a volcano erupt in Hawaii, driving down the road and then pulling over to watch. I felt quite validated by my brain bank. Good job, brain bank.
My third very early memory took place at my Grandma's house down by the train tracks in Nephi, Utah. I was sitting on my Mom's lap in a chair in the kitchen, and we were up against a wall facing the hallway. My Aunt Jan was playing peek-a-boo with me. I was feeling very nervous and cuddled sideways into my Mom, because she wasn't very familiar to me, but Aunt Jan was working hard. I remember her leaning over and the big expressions on her face as she would cover and uncover it saying "peeeeek-a-booo! peeeeek-a-booo!" She looked really surprised each time she did it. I really wasn't feeling too impressed but knew that I was supposed to smile. I did a little, but really I just wanted to stay with my Mom, where I was safe and cozy.