2 HUGE MILESTONES!!!

So needless to say... potty training has not been easy. Guiliana is and has been completely potty trained at school for several months now. But at home, it was a whole different story. She would go pee in the potty but refuse to poop! Well, with Guiliana, you just have to be patient and wait for her to make the decision because fighting and forcing her to do something she is not ready to does not work. So, anytime she had to poop we would offer her the toilet but she would refuse and ask for a diaper. That sounds ridiculous to put a diaper on her just for her to poop but it was the only way. One time a few months ago we refused the diaper and she held it and was miserable the whole day! It wasn't worth it to us.
So, the Tuesday before Mother's day she decided that she wanted to finally poop in the toilet for us and home and has been ever since!! We are beyond thrilled! Having to keep diapers on hand just for her to poop was something we were ready to move on from. Here we are a few weeks later and we are FULLY POTTY TRAINED!!!


Another HUGE deal was the binky. Once again, she goes 8hrs a day at school without and has been like that since she turned ONE. But at home she always wanted it. We unfortunately got in the habit of the binky when she was just about 6 months old and had her of 8 ear infections. It soothed her. Well, it became an obsession!! Greg and I disposed the binky when she became old enough to talk with it in her mouth! She seemed to want her binky for security reasons. We can't tell you how many hours we have spent looking for it when she missed placed it or waking up in the middle of the night because she is crying for it! Well, over the past couple of months we have been trying to talk her out of it. We have been telling her that she is a big girl and that she was going to be going to preschool soon (the preschool thing was also a huge convincing factor for her pooping in the potty at home too)and that she just doesn't need it. So for the past few weeks, every morning when we came downstairs to leave for school/work she would throw it in the garbage saying "I don't need it. I am a big girl". Now the car was a place that she wanted her binky the most so making the drive to school without it was huge in itself. Of course I would take it out of the garbage and throw it into my bag because I knew when I picked her up and we drove home she would want it. So, the first day she threw it away and I picked her up from school she asked for it. I reminded her that she threw it away and she freaked out!!! So of course I gave in. This went on for a couple of weeks. So, 2 weeks ago she started changing her tune in the afternoon when I picked her up. She would ask me for it when we got in the car and laugh and say "I don't need it" and she would sit on it! But definitely still wanted it to sleep at night, Until Memorial Day Weekend. That Friday night we had come home from shopping and she lost her binky yet again! Greg and I are tearing apart the house looking for it. Guiliana then sits on the couch with her legs crossed and head cocked to the side and says "Hey guys, ya know... I really don't think I need my binky anymore. I am a big girl and I am going to preschool soon" Greg and I just about died! It was the cutest thing and her explanation went on for like 2 hours that night. We were certain that when it was time for bed she would ask for it.
So here we are One week later and.... STILL NO BINKY!!! She has never even asked for it once.
We are so proud of her for knowing what she wants and when she wants it. It can be very frustrating at times but also a good thing that she can handle her own.

Mother's Day 2011

Mother's day for me this year was a great one!! I was lucky enough to get a whole weekend!! It started that Friday afternoon with a party at Guiliana's school to celebrate Mother's day. We decorated cupcakes together and had a wonderful afternoon together. Then in the evening, a dozen roses from my husband. And Saturday morning another dozen!!! Later that morning Guiliana and I went to Shelby's 3rd Birthday party. While gone... Daddy cleaned the ENTIRE house for me!!! It was amazing to come home to and... he is a pretty great cleaner!! Then later that afternoon it was just me and my mother-in-law for some shopping and dinner. Sunday was a day full of taking care of mommy. I had breakfast made for me and relaxed for most of the day. I loved all of the appreciation and love I received from my family. Especially my new necklace!! Love you Greg, Guiliana, and Brooklyn (dog).
Pictures from the weekend: