BP Grows Up...

Here are a few pictures showing The Barefoot Princess from Spetember to June. When I look at these pictures I see such a huge change in BP. She has grown so many ways since the becoming a big sister and turning two and a half. Physically she has stretched out and lost all her baby roundness. She is all legs now. Her hair has grown a lot. BP went from speaking one and two word phrases to full sentences and sometimes even full paragraphs before we are able to get a word in. She has become the ultimate negotiator and can debate the with the best of them. She rarely naps and is capable of putting in quite a long day. Sometimes we cannot even keep up with her.

Another big change for BP is saying good-bye to diapers and hello to big girl underpants. She has not worn a diaper in three weeks and has not had an accident in days! What's amazing to me is how she picked up on potty training so fast. I think she had been ready and we were holding her back because the diaper was the one thing that kept her dependant on us and kept her our baby for a little longer. The other day on the way to the grocery store she said to me...

"Mommy, you are so proud of me?"

I said "Yes, of course, I am."

She replied, "Because I go pee-pee on the potty, and I get to go to school next year and see the chickens."

I laughed and said, "Yes, you do BP!"

You see the incentive to potty training was that she gets to go to school when she can go pee-pee on the potty. 100% potty trained is a school rule and that is what we told her. The chicken thing needs some explanation... Her school has chickens and she is very excited to see them and collect the eggs. The staff uses visiting the chickens and collecting the eggs as an icebreaker for the new children. Especially for those who may miss their mommies and daddies in the beginning. So BP is over the moon about this. I think she will be distracted enough when we leave her with the chickens, but what about Daddy and I? We will be hiding our tears as we leave.

Sorry to get sidetracked with my little story. The point of my post is to say that our Barefoot Princess has become a little girl... a little lady. She is very good company and I can easily call her my friend...my little buddy, who I can count on her for pleasant conversation, a good laugh, help at home, and lots of fun. She is very sweet to her sister and has not shown any jealousy thus far. She loves her friends and talks about them all the time. She is very attached to her Daddy, her prince, as she often calls him. She is very spirited and has her not listening moments and occasional meltdowns, but can easily be distracted. She loves her babies, princess dresses, and shoes as well as tractors, trains, and working with Daddy. She is such a combination of girly girl and tom-boy it makes me laugh! Watching her grow and change has been the most amazing, fulfilling, and rewarding expereince of my life! So Thanks BP, because someday you will be able to read this and know how special you are, how loved you are, and how much joy you have brought to our lives!