Not A Princess, More Like A Queen

Briana's shirt reads, "I'm Not A Princess, My Needs Are More Like A Queen." And after this week, these words could not be more true. Briana has really tested me this week.

The week started out great. Doug and I met a high school friend of ours for lunch on Monday. We hadn't see Joy since our 10 year reunion, and it was great seeing her. Want to hear what a small world it is? Joy has another friend that adopted from China, so Joy enjoys reading China adoption blogs. She stumbled upon my blog before Bri's referral via another person's blog roll. Joy was stunned when she saw Doug's and my face! She followed our journey quietly for a long time, and then she started commenting here and there, but there was no link. Finally, Joy got in touch with Doug on e-mail and told him that all the Joy comments were hers! She is a big Briana fan! Joy works for a country radio station in Oregon and has met many famous country singers. She said she was more excited to meet Briana. Isn't that sweet? Here we are!

Ok, so Monday was a really good day. Then Tuesday came. Story time is on Tuesdays. Briana the last few weeks has been less than thrilled with story time. I asked her if she wanted to go the night before and she said yes. Tuesday morning in the car on the way to the library, I had a pep talk with Bri. I told her that if she didn't behave (including walking around the room and not paying attention), we would leave story time and go to the car. She said, "Ok, Mama". We arrived and headed into story time...

The minute Bri hit the door, she started to pout and huff. Then she started to circle the room. I warned my friend Amy that we would most likely be leaving. Bri kept looking at me as she misbehaved - kind of like, "What are you gonna do about it?" She did everything she promised me she wouldn't. So about a minute into story time, I dragged Briana out and headed for the parking lot. I think she was stunned. And then she got really ticked. She screamed and yelled across the parking lot and threw a tantrum as I put her in her car seat. I was actually surprised at her reaction because I kind of thought she wouldn't care since she doesn't like story time anyway. She was screaming so loud that I pulled into the adjoining store parking lot, stopped the car and got in the backseat with her. She was sobbing. I was pointing at her and firmly telling her that her actions got her pulled out of story time. She tried to talk but she was almost hyperventilating because she was crying so hard. At first, all I heard was "Hee, Ha, Hee, Ha". I managed to calm her down and she managed to say "I'm...I'm...Sorry...Mama" (between the Hee's and Ha's) over and over. She was very remorseful.

I debated about it and decided to still eat lunch with Amy & Mary and Angela & Laney after story time because Briana really needed to burn off some energy at the indoor playground (at Chick Fil A). I made Bri wait in the car with nothing to do for a half an hour until Angela and Amy got there. And then I told her apologize to Amy and Angela for her behavior. She ended up being an angel the rest of the day. After talking with Briana last night, she told me "I don't like story time." So, we won't be returning. I'm really sad about it, but I'm not going to make her go if she hates it. And that was Tuesday...

Then there was Wednesday. Wednesday during the day - Briana was great. We colored, read books, used sidewalk chalk outside and I took her to the playground. That evening, I asked her no less than 5 times to get out of the bathtub (she had been in there playing for a half an hour). She kept ignoring me. I told her we wouldn't read any books before bed if she didn't get out of the tub. She didn't get out. No stories. She was so ticked as I put her to bed and turned off the light. Crying. Yelling. You get the picture.

Thursday was a better day. We had gymnastics and went to the park with Angela and Laney. I can say Briana LOVES gymnastics. She listens to directions and participates with excitement. She has come such a long way since the first day we went to gymnastics last August when I didn't think I would be able to survive gymnastics! Bri was all over the place that first day!

Here are a few pics from Thursday...




The weather has been gorgeous lately. We are taking advantage of the nice weather now before it gets too hot.

This morning, Bri and I met Kathy and Chani over at a consignment sale. Bri acted up once again. As we waited in line, she didn't want to wear her monkey backpack I had on her. It was a must because if you have ever been to a consignment sale, you know how hectic and crowded they can be. The sale was in a church, but before we entered the church, there was a large tent set up that we had to enter through. It was dark. Bri didn't want to go in. She started yelling, "No, No Mama!!!" and ran the other way. Ugh. I had brought an empty laundry basket to put my finds in, so I put Bri in there and carried her into the church. She was fine once she got in the church, but I was really thinking I would have to leave. I swear - Briana can be fine one second and in a tizzy the next.

I am totally feeling the whole "terrible two's" thing right now. She can be so sweet and cuddly and then fiercely independent at the same time. On the bright side, she is saying more sentences now. She talks ALL the time. I was telling Kathy this morning that Briana talks all day when it is just the two of us, but when she gets in front of other people or in a big crowd, she clams up. I felt better when she said Chani does the same thing. I think Briana rather be running, laughing and playing than talking I guess.

It has been a tiring week. Two year olds are soooo much work. I think I'll have a drink tonight to celebrate another week down surviving with a two year old. ;)

To end this LONG post, I ran across this card today that I bought a long time ago (that I never ended up sending anyone). It makes me laugh every time I read it and I really needed the laugh today...


Have a good weekend everyone!