Big Girl!

On November 4th, the big 17 month milestone, Isla decided she was going to use the potty for the very first time!

We had been practicing for a while on her Elmo potty that her Aunt Heidi and Kamm cousins had given her as a gift. She loves to sit on it and pretend to potty so she can then flush and hear Elmo shout, "Hooray!"

I recently gave her a book about going on the potty too. She loves to hit the button on the book and hear the potty flush. Every time she hits the button and hears the flush she claps and cheers.

I was cooking dinner on Monday when Isla ran in the kitchen, shouted and signed, "potty!"

I didn't really think she was going to do anything because normally when she tells us she needs to potty, she has already gone, but we ran to the bathroom anyways.

When we got there, she hadn't done anything yet. I stripped her down and set her up on the potty. She sit there knocking her knees together and smiled at me. It had only been a minute when she reached back, flushed the potty and stood up.

I asked her if she was all done, thinking she didn't really need to go and then to my surprise... I saw the smallest little poo ever! I got so excited clapping, cheering and exclaiming what she had done. She was excited too... so excited she reached down and picked it up!!!

I knew at that moment, I couldn't freak out, so I kept on cheering and told her to put it back. I told her good job, but next time... let's not pick it up.

Since then she has gone three times. She mostly tells us when she needs to poo. She hasn't gone at school yet, but we're continuing to work with her and I think our Elmo potty at home is helping a lot, because she is crazy about Elmo.

We're looking forward to many more hilarious potty stories and hoping that this is the last time we have to ask her to put it back.

Letters to Isla Rae - 17 months

Dear Isla Rae,

You are 17 months today and wow - how you have changed - in just the last week! I can tell such a difference in your little, or big rather, personality since you moved up to the Toddler 2 class at school.

You are talking more. You pretty much repeat everything I say...especially the last word in my sentences. You are very happy. In fact, "happy" is your favorite word. You are super curious. You love to read books and you will even sit down and pretend to read on your own now. Its so cute to see you pointing to the pages and humming little words...especially when you are holding the book upside down! You are obsessed with your pink kitty pajamas. They have cats on the feet of them and you cry every time we change your diaper or have to take them off for any reason... I'm not sure if I would even call it a cry, you actually scream and have a total melt down. You absolutely LOVE those PJs. We're going to need to find a back-up pair!

You are super loving and love to hug (which I especially love!). You're starting to get more into girly things, even more than before. You love hair bows, sparkly shoes and clothes and to put dresses on. Your favorite food is pasta and cheese of course. Your still somewhat of a picky eater, but I believe it's only because you currently have 4 molars popping their way through on the top and bottom of your gums! They are actually cut through so I think it's safe to say you now have 12 teeth! Your favorite character is Elmo, but you still love Barney and you love to sing the Barney theme song. It's adorable to hear your little voice singing. You are playing on your own more and more and very content these days. You love to play with your little wooden dollhouse and dolls. It's cute to watch you put the baby to bed and pretend like the dolls are kissing one another. You have the sweetest heart and I can tell you are going to be a very loving girl.

You amaze me everyday and make me excited for each and every day. Can't wait to see what you will accomplish this month!

Love,
Mommy