Potty Training = 0; Bella = 2

I have to write this post, so Bella and baby girl #2 will have encouragement one day when they potty train their own babies!

This past weekend, we decided to try and get serious about potty training. We set aside Saturday and Sunday, and we were prepared to sit around all day with a naked toddler, a potty, and a bag of M & M's.

Saturday went really well! Bella only had one accident where she peed all over herself. The rest of the day, though, she did very well sitting on the potty. She had no interest in pooping on the potty, but I had heard from multiple moms that it was normal, so no stress. We actually went to bed on Saturday thinking that she was on her way.

Sunday morning was a completely different story. I don't know if we accidentally trained her that she wasn't supposed to pee anywhere, but she started screaming anytime she had to go - it didn't matter if she was naked, wearing underwear, or wearing a diaper - when she had the urge to go, she freaked out. As soon as she starts to pee, she's completely calm, so at least that part is good; it seems to just be her thinking that she's not supposed to go.

We finally decided to put her back in diapers completely, and I've spent Monday and Tuesday potty training in reverse...if she starts to whimper, I calmly reassure her that it's absolutely fine to go potty in her diaper and encourage her that it won't hurt. (It's kind of funny!)

So potty training has once again taken a pause. We figure Bella will do it in her own time and we're not worried about it. It would have been nice if we had made some progress this week since it was just her and I at home, but we'll work on it again as she gets more interested.

Happy times! Bella and Daddy reading on Saturday morning,

Meeting Our Baby Girl

On Wednesday morning, Steve and I found out that we're having a baby girl! Since this blog is equal parts sharing and therapy for me, I have to be totally honest...I cried. I'm going to blame hormones on the fact that I wasn't able to greet the doctor because my face was in my hands. I'm chuckling as I write this, imagining what the doctor (and Steve!) must have been thinking.

Despite my hormonal breakdown in the doctor's office, I can honestly say that my disappointment over not having a little boy does not take away from my excitement over a little girl. I love having sisters, and I love that Bella will get to experience that same closeness with our new little one. Baby girls are so much fun to prepare for and dress up. (Don't plan on us dressing our girls in identical outfits; that's just not how we roll.)

On the ultrasound, we got to see her open and close her mouth and squirm all around. All of her little organs and bones are perfect and healthy! I'm always amazed that people could see a baby forming in the womb and not believe in an incredible God!

We've added a few names to our very short list: we like Josephine and Greyson. Nothing has completely clicked with us yet; at least not both of us at the same time. I'm more of an "instant decision" girl and Steve's a "mull things over" guy, so we're having an interesting time picking something both of us like. Luckily, we have 4 months!

Little Human #2...Baby Girl Wires!

At Least Santa's Happy!

This is our third year going to Chick-fil-A to visit Santa and I'm so glad we do! It's completely free, which is really nice when there's a strong possibility that your child is going to scream, and the Santa is so nice and relaxed! This year, we also got a coupon for a free cookie and milk! How can you beat that?!

We did our best to prepare Bella this year, and she was genuinely excited to go visit Santa! Once we got there, though, she became very shy and didn't want to sit on his lap. The CFA was packed so we didn't want to risk the traditional "screaming" picture. Bella and I stood next to Santa and he didn't mind at all! I'm hoping that next year, I won't have to be in the Santa picture.

Bella's 2011 Visit to Santa!

Christmas Preparations

Putting up the tree is always a favorite activity for us! I love reminiscing over each ornament, whether it's the house I painted for my mom in the 3rd grade, Bella's "1st Christmas" ornament, or Steve's many motorcycles!

Bella loved the tree and all of the ornaments! It's been an interesting Christmas season with Bella this year. She's old enough to understand a lot more, and it's been funny to teach her about Santa and Baby Jesus all at the same time. Thankfully, between preschool and Sunday School, she's hearing a lot more about Jesus than she is Santa!

We have a Storybook Bible for Bella, and every night in December, Steve has been reading to her the story of Jesus' birth and the shepherds. She's done so well with following along that we decided to keep reading to her from the beginning of the Bible once Christmas is over.

Our completed tree! I love how round and fat it is! And the smell!

Bella adding ornaments to the tree

Baking Christmas cookies with Aunt Mel

Our best attempt at the family picture! Not our final choice, but definitely the most fun!

Torturing Bella with double-kisses!

Oh, The Memories!

Bella's first preschool Christmas musical was Thursday morning! I was so excited, but I was also very nervous! Let's be honest...our child doesn't have the greatest track record for performing well in these situations. My biggest fear was that she would see me in the audience and scream like crazy when she wasn't allowed to actually come see me.

Whelp...that's pretty much exactly what happened. Her cute little class walked in and she was so excited to see me, but then her teachers made her stay in line and she wasn't very happy. [Note to self: Next year, don't sit in the front row; even if you want good pictures.]

Miss Betty, her wonderful teacher, got her calmed down and she was able to sit with her class during their songs. She sucked her thumb the entire time, like she was coping and trying to go to her "happy place." Right before the third song, she spotted me again and I got a really cute moment on the camera of her saying hi to me. But then she lost her mind again, and what you don't see on camera is the music teacher asking over the microphone if Bella's mother was present and could she please come get her from the stage.

Those are some memories to cherish right there! I was so proud that she made it through the first two songs, even if she didn't sing at all, and I'm only minorly offended that my child was requested to leave the stage. (Kidding! I'm not really offended! I don't think...)

Her pose during the first two songs.

Losing it when she wasn't allowed to come to me

We played with the camera while the 3's and 4's finished with their song. I've been trying to load my video, so hopefully that will load.

Stickers On My Belly

Bella has been more and more interested in my growing belly and the baby. We think she's pretty sure the baby is sprouting in my belly button, but it's fun to have her be involved. Last night, we were all playing on our bed and Bella was sticking stickers all over her face.

She decided that the baby needed stickers, too, so we got some cute pictures of Bella with her face covered in stickers and putting stickers all over my belly.

The little diva with apple and tree stickers all over her face!

Adding some special touches for the baby.

Decided that Daddy would nap much better with stickers on his nose.

Baby Happenings

I've been feeling the baby "nudge" for about a month now, but last night, Steve got to feel him for the first time! Those are always some of my favorite pregnancy moments - when Steve gets to be involved. The baby was spending most of his time sideways, but in the last week or so, he's been positioned up-and-down, so all of the nudges happen right on top of my bladder.

Thoughts on baby names...for a girl, we've been considering Penelope; and we'd call her "Pip." Is that too different? We're not sure...

(Full disclosure - we'd be stealing it from my cousin, but they live in New York, so I think we'd be okay.)

For middle names, we've been thinking about "Mae", "Jean", and "JoAnn" - all family names.

We can't wait to find out whether this baby is a boy or a girl, so we can know his/her name for sure!!! Our appointment is on the 14th...it's so hard to wait!