Such a Big Girl!

Yet another time of transitions at the Braman House...our Georgia Claire is officially POTTY TRAINED! Can I get a "hallelujah"?! After trying and stressing myself out & her out I decided to put away the M&M's, the big girl panties, and the sticker chart. She simply wasn't ready. Her OT reminded me (yet again) that although chronologically she was 3 she is somewhat delayed in her gross motor skills. Her SPD throws another kink in the plans, too. The sensation of having to go to the potty was something that she had to figure out, on her own, in her own time. So, as much as I wanted to only have one little girl in diapers, we had two, for the time being. It really made our days so much happier not worrying about it! That was about 2 months ago (right before her 3rd birthday). Fast forward to a little over 2 weeks ago...we had just arrived at Granby & Mimi's house when she announced, "I need to go potty!" So, I took her and SHE WAS RIGHT! That weekend she just took off! She even wanted Mimi to make her a sticker chart for their house! Since then she has had MAYBE 5 accidents! No pull-ups or diapers anymore...even when we go on a trip, to the store, or to bed! This child never ceases to AMAZE me! When she's ready to do something, SHE'S READY! 

When we got home we got out the sticker chart, panties, & M&M's. Here she is pointing to her stickers...

And here she is about a week later...SO PROUD OF ALL OF HER STICKERS!

The first time she went poo poo on the potty we HAD to make a trip to Target to get a special treat! She chose the baby with panties & a potty! She was SO EXCITED! (When we bought the doll we didn't realize how much hair the doll had...WHOA! Look at all that hair...it's CRAZY!)

Her attire most days?! Panties and a t-shirt! She LOVES it and I could care less when we are at home! Shelby & I keep telling her over and over how we are so very proud of her and her little face just GLOWS! I love this BIG GIRL of mine...

Package from Stacy

We got home from New Orleans and found a package on the door step. Stacy had sent Georgia a birthday package & she was SO EXCITED! She said, "Ivy Jane, Stacy sent me a package! You want to watch me open it?" 

What's inside?

Listening to the card...

Peter Rabbit bag full of goodies...

"Big Girl Panties!"

Silly putty, markers, Strawberry Shortcake coloring book, wiki sticks...WOW!

Ivy Jane was interested in the "Big Girl Panties!"

Thank you, Stacy, for loving Georgia the way you do! She knows you love her and she always will. We are so thankful she has so many special people in her life!

Nawlins

While we are living in Louisiana, Shelby & I decided we definitely needed to experience New Orleans, or "Nawlins", as people around here pronounce it! Neither one of us had ever been, and although we knew it wouldn't be the most kid-friendly place, we wanted to see the architecture, and the girls wanted to go swimming at the hotel...a nice little weekend get-a-way! Shelby had two free nights from all of his travels, so all we paid for was gas & food...and zoo tickets! The first night we got there we were excited to see that our room had a sliding glass door that opened straight out to the pool. The girls started squealing! We couldn't get our suits on fast enough! In true Georgia & Ivy Jane fashion...Ivy Jane got right in and Georgia waited...then she got her toes in the water...then she got her feet in the water...then she got her legs in the water...then she wanted to get in! By the time we were getting out, she was holding on to the edge of the pool saying, "No no, Momma, I do it myself! Don't hold my hand!" They were asking to swim at 6 AM the following two mornings! We had a great time, we didn't plan much or stress too much, and that was the key to a successful trip with our two girls! 

Ready to GO! They had books, babies, pillows & blankets! I should have taken a picture of MY bag...snacks, meds, wipes, diapers, sunglasses, bows, sippy cups, activity bags for restaurants, etc. etc!

 Lake Pontchartrain...crazy big! Such different country in Southern Louisiana!

Ivy Jane at the zoo looking at the flamingos! It was H-O-T & we only lasted a couple hours...plenty of time for us! The swimming pool & nap that followed were THE BEST!

 Ivy Jane on the carousel with her Daddy. Georgia didn't want to ride so we waited & waved!

We ate supper Saturday night at Deanie's...YUM!!! GREAT seafood, and right downtown. The girls did SOOOO WELL!!!! We had to wait about 45 minutes for a table and they were little troopers!!!

 I think this is Georgia's "I'm tired of waiting" face! Ha!

Sunday morning we ate beignets at Cafe Du Monde...and it was DEE-LISH! The girls were too overwhelmed with all the people, the balloon-making man, the man singing, etc. so, I MAY have eaten their beignets, too!!! WOW! Talk about yummy! By this time the girls were done, and were ready for normalcy...

 My new favorite place!

We wanted to get a picture of Shelby with the girls in front of the GORGEOUS St. Louis Cathedral, but Georgia refused to stand by him & Ivy Jane was holding onto my leg...does he look exasperated to you?!

 The architecture did not disappoint...SO unique, so French, so pretty!

Good little trip! Looking forward to our next family vacation...probably to a VERY kid-friendly location!