* She is becoming fiercely independent. When she is climbing something, she pushes my hands away from her now when I am trying to hold her up. On the carousel the other day, she was pushing my hands away because she wanted to hold on herself.
* I am hearing "no mama" much more now. I am also hearing "sorry mama" a lot more now too.
* I still don't understand why Briana wanders so much in story time at the library. The other kids are singing and paying attention (for the most part), but Bri is checking everybody out. So I bring some Cheerios to get her to sit on my lap. Works like a charm, but I wish I didn't have to do it.
* Briana surprisingly shares very well with other kids. Rarely does she try to take something away from someone. Usually she is the one handing something to someone else. Unfortunately, this gives other kids the ability to snatch things from her instead - usually followed by a "mine".
* Briana is not ready for potty training. I have tried a number of times to get her to sit on the potty (pantless) and she hates it. I've tried both the big and little potty. She says ouch when she is on the little potty. It really doesn't look too comfy. And yes - I have tried bribes to get her to go. No dice. And I am trying to get her (over and over) to tell me she has gone after the fact at least. She doesn't do that either. When I tell her that she needs to tell mommy she went potty, she says "sorry mama." So, I am not going to push right now and revisit it again soon. I have to remind myself that Briana has come so far in so many ways after what she has been through in her short life. She will be potty trained soon (I am shooting for between two and a half and three), just not now.
* The tippy toe walking is improving but it is still there. When she walks slow, she is on her whole foot. When she starts to run, she goes on her toes.
* I have the hardest time finding pants for this child. I have bought 18 month jeans that are just falling off of her. She has a tiny waist but it getting taller, so smaller size pants look like capris on her. Ugh!
* She still is crazy about her baby. Baby goes everywhere with us. I do manage now to get Briana to put baby in the diaper bag when we go places so "she can take a nap." Briana is cool with that. And I do have a backup baby. Looks exactly the same, but more plush. Baby has been washed so many times, her plushness is gone, so Briana knows back up baby is an imposter. Sigh.
* Briana is such a happy kid. Smiles and laughs most of the time. And she is funny too. Always being silly. I love it.
* Bri does have a temper though. When she hurts herself, she starts to scream. Not really because it hurt that bad, but because it happened period. That makes her angry. She has also started the crossing her arms and huffing at me when she is displeased. I really didn't think I would see that at two years old.
* She is getting really good at (age appropriate) puzzles.
* She could watch "Calliou" 24/7 if I let her.
* Doug put some Halloween semi-scary decorations up outside and she calls them "monsters." She keeps wanting to visit them. When we leave the house, she waves and says goodbye to the monsters. And she loves all the "punkys" around the house - pumpkins, of course.
* Miss Thing is sleeping in today for some reason. I better wake her up now or she won't nap today. Mama needs Briana to take her nap.
This is what my baby girl is wearing on Halloween night this year. What a difference a year makes!
And we carved three - yes three - pumpkins this year. Briana is a little too young to carve, but she was a great cheering section! Our pumpkins are known as "Daddy Pumpkin", "Mama Pumpkin" and "Bri-nana Pumpkin". All named by Miss Briana.
Daddy, Mama and Bri-Nana Pumpkins
It isn't actually Halloween yet? Good grief! I feel like I have been celebrating Halloween for days!! Yesterday Bri and I went to library story time and met Angela and Laney, Amy and Mary and Kara and Annabelle. The librarian asked all the kids to wear Halloween costumes. It was so cute! Right after story time, they had a little parade around the library.
There was a lot of cuteness going on at my house last night! Look at all these adorable costumes! We had our local adopters Halloween potluck and it was so fun! The kids had a blast - especially when we went outside for a photo shoot. Squeals of laughter and delight. The kids didn't even realize that it was pretty chilly outside. I wasn't sure if we could get the kids to cooperate for a photo, but I think they did a really great job!
Of course we had to have one huff during the night... 
Here are all the beautiful kiddies that were in attendance.
Pics from play date #2. 
Of course, we went to gymnastics class today, where I chased Briana all around the gymnasium for close to an hour. I try to make sure that she doesn't hurt herself. Well, that doesn't always work if you remember the throwing up incident from two weeks ago.
* She is becoming fiercely independent. When she is climbing something, she pushes my hands away from her now when I am trying to hold her up. On the carousel the other day, she was pushing my hands away because she wanted to hold on herself.
Briana had sooo much fun at Miss Maisie's 3rd birthday party! Since Briana goes to gymnastics class too, she felt very comfortable at Maisie's gym. And thanks to Maisie's hand me down leotard, Briana looked the part too! I think Briana's favorite part was hanging from the rings and then dropping into the foam pit. I am pretty sure she could have done it a thousand times. There was a "medal" ceremony at the end of the party and it was too stinkin' cute! Maisie is so good at gymnastics - I think Lisa may have an Olympian on her hands! I think Briana is good too, except for the whole following directions thing and "waiting our turn" part. Once we get that down, we are golden! ;)
Why do I feel like I am flashing back to 1983? Maybe because of this outfit...
*My mom and grandmother came over yesterday to visit me and Bri. We had a great afternoon. The day was so beautiful, and we spent most of the time on my back screened-in porches. When we sit on the porch, Briana always begs someone to sit in her little house with her. My mom got that priviledge yesterday. (It is not easy to get in and out of, believe me.)
* I got the honor of sitting in Briana's house tonight after dinner. She kept taking a beach ball and shoving through the little window on the side of the house over and over. I finally asked her, "Briana, what is the point of you pushing that ball through that window?" She looked at me and said, "Nothing Mama." Doug and I started cracking up. I thought it was a fluke, so I asked her again. She said the same thing. This girl is a hoot!!! Yep, there was absolutely no (nothing) point in doing it at all. 
* I am nervous about taking Briana to gymnastics class tomorrow. I mean, she did yak on me last week. Fingers crossed that it won't happen again. The only thing to salvage my Friday last week was having dinner with Angela, Jay and Laney and Amy, Kevin, Garrett and Mary. It was a great evening -and luckily Briana was feeling fine. How can you go wrong with delicious Japanese food and great company? Here are some pics of Laney, Mary, Garrett and Briana.
* And lastly, I want to say a big "Happy Birthday" to Miss Maisie who turns 3 tomorrow and Miss Laney who turns 2 on Saturday! Wow!
I cannot begin to thank you for the beautiful comments I received on my last post. So many of you shared your personal stories with me, and I am amazed by all the people who have similar stories as mine. You are all so strong and courageous, and I am humbled and inspired by you all. There was a comfort in knowing that all of those candles were glowing last night. When I was going through my infertility struggle, there were times I felt so alone. It is so nice to know that I was not alone. Like I said, I cannot thank you enough.
