My girl...potty trained

and it only took about two days! She turned three in June..so I decided it was time. To be honest..I wasn't in a big hurry, I think I wanted to hang on to that "babyhood" a bit longer. With my older girls, I was always in such a big hurry. They could point to all their body parts at 18 months, knew letters and numbers and were potty trained before they were two, could write their name at age three..they could recite every nursery rhyme and count to 100..and I'm a bit embarrassed to admit this..but, I actually had a book called "Teach Your Baby to Read". I made flash cards and grilled them every night before bed. I think a part of it was the teacher in me, but I also thought it made me a better mom to be able to say, "My baby can do blah, blah, blah..." I thought I walked around w/ a huge shinning star hovering above my head that announced to the world that I was the best mom on earth. I was wrong. I know that now. With my last two, I let things happen naturally, when they were ready. I might not have the glow of a star above my head..but I do know I am a good mom....even though Piper can't write her name.

Last week, I just decided to do it. The grandmothers were getting quite opinionated. I assured them that I had trained three other children and I had no doubt that I could successfully train another. We had a little talk about big girls using the potty and I told her if she potty trained that we would buy her some new big girl panties. She requested that they be princess and mermaids. That was it..she went the rest of the day without any accidents...

I was out at Target (for like the 10th time this week) addicted..yes! I bought her the panties. When I gave them to her she gasped.."Thank you mommy so much..they are beautiful..amazing..wonderful!" Yes, she likes using adjectives. She put them on..all seven pair...at once..and then had an accident..which meant all seven pair were wet..and she cried. She borrowed a pair of Sayler's which "not" surprisingly fit her(they almost wear the same size)and we washed hers.

She has done perfectly..and accident here and there..but for the most part..she's totally trained. We were sitting on the couch the other day, and she was telling me that she was a big girl..and I said yes..."my big girl, but always my baby girl" she has since referred to herself as "big girl, baby girl"

She loves to look at the book "Guess How Much I Love You?" and it is her bathroom reading material of choice..she always needs me to help her get on the potty, she gets her book and then says.."go away louder"..I have no clue what the "louder" part means..but she says it every single time..

I'm so proud of her, and at the same time, a little bit sad..one more milestone past on her way to growing up. I just love her so..that mess of curly blond hair, that little sprinkling of freckles across her nose, the way she jumps up and says "mommy I missed you" every time I get her out of bed..all of these things..I want to bottle..never to forget..

I love you big girl, baby girl..right up to the moon~ and back!