Well, in case you don't know...we are taking a month break from potty training. I think I'm happier about this than she is. She's been showing more and more signs that she wants to do it, so I think it will be much easier when we try again (fingers crossed).

David has been in Guatemala this past week. It has actually gone by super fast because I've kept myself busy painting and setting up her new room. I'll post pictures as soon as it's fully finished. I've also made sure to plan lots of play dates for her, so we haven't been in the house much. It's been a fun week overall, but I'm usually exhausted by the time she's tucked in bed. We're excited for daddy to get home.

Baby #2 is doing great! I had an appointment yesterday and everything seemed to be going great. I'm beyond excited we've hit the 28 week mark. My appointments are now every two weeks instead of monthly, so expect more and more updates. I have a feeling the third trimester is going to go by quickly with everything we still have planned for the summer. Now that we are doing room switches, and making lists of things we need to get for the baby, I'm getting more and more excited. I'm even enjoying being pregnant...imagine that! We are still far from having a name, but I'm starting to feel the pressure of picking one. With how different this pregnancy seemed at the beginning, I was sure we were having a boy. Now I'm not so sure. Most people have "guessed" that I'm having a boy, but there have been a few to say girl too. I don't really have a preference. It would be great to have two girls close in age, especially since I already have season appropriate clothes, but I would LOVE to have a boy too. I don't think I'll be disappointed either way.

Potty training

I think the two hardest things I've had to deal with as a mother thus far are, 1. the beginning stages of nursing, and 2. potty training. We're on round two of trying to potty train, and I have to say, it's exhausting. I've heard that trying before two years old is too soon, but I wanted to give it a good go at it before the baby gets here. Plus, my niece Ariya is proof that it can be done. I'm pretty sure Gemma is perfectly capable of learning, I just don't know if I know what I'm doing well enough to teach her. Last Saturday was our first day, and it was pretty miserable. We both broke down in tears after Gemma peed on the floor and preceded to slip in it. We were a little more successful after her nap, which is what convinced me to even try it a second day. Day 2 and 3 seemed to go better, and then we hit day 4, which was basically a repeat of day 1. So frustrating! I decided to hold out and complete a whole week, and if I didn't see an improvement, I would just wait a few more months. Well, she got sick on day 5. Woke up running a fever and didn't want to do anything but be held or watch Dora. I still tried taking her to the potty when she woke up, and she went, but then refused her M&Ms for going. I decided to just give the poor girl a break and not worry about potty training for that day. Amazingly enough, she did fantastic. Even with her diaper on, she still told me when she had to go. Granted, she would tell me and then sit there watching Dora for 20 minutes, but she didn't have a single accident all day. The following day was just as great. Today (Friday) has been a little more challenging since she's feeling better and has lots of other things to distract her. All in all I think she's getting it. I'm not sure where she should be by now since I've never done this before, but I'm happy with the improvement. I'm so proud of her! We still haven't mastered going at home, so taking her to the bathroom when we are in public places is still not much of an option. Honestly I have no idea how to even begin doing that, but we'll continue to take it one day at a time. As long as she continues to improve, we're sticking with it. Keep us in your prayers :)

Doesn't she look like such a big girl?

Answers

From the last post, here is what she's actually trying to say:
beeza= zebra
diya= nana
biya= Dora
banna= banana
beja= Gemma
chewchews= fruit snacks
wing= swing
agua= water
bedgie= blankie
taytue= thank you...which has recently turned into sankyou

Of course she did it perfectly three times in a row and then decided she was distracted when the camera came out. I know for a fact she can count to ten in English and Spanish.

I think it's still too early to tell, but she's showing signs of being a lefty like her grandpa and auntie.

Showing off all her "tricks"

What is she saying?

So Gemma talks non stop all the time. Thankfully I usually understand 90% of it, unless of course she's just playing and talking to herself, then it's just babbling. But I got to thinking...If I wasn't actually with her to see what she was pointing at or what she was holding, would I actually know what she was saying. I've come to the conclusion that I would have no idea. So here is a test for you guys. A couple of these will be super easy for some of you ;)
Can you guess what she's actually saying?
beeza:
diya:
biya:
banna:
beja:
chewchews:
wing:
agua:
bedgie:
taytue:
She actually does better with sentences than she does with sigle words, which I find pretty funny. Her first 5 letter sentences has been "I know where it is". She's so grown up :(

Hahaha...first attempt at pigtails!