we have been slowly trying to potty train dahlia. at about 15 months she seemed very excited about going potty. so we bought her a potty chair and thought she could have fun sitting on it sometimes and getting used to it. but she never really wanted to actually go potty in it. the past few months we have been talking more about it and talking to her about it when we need to go and see if she will sit there next to us. she loves to sit there and pretend she is going potty or just wants to leave her diaper on and go in it while sitting on her chair. the only way she poops is around the corner away from everyone. she will run away and then come back and say "POOPI" and many times bring you a diaper and some wipes, it is adorable. so tonight i was in justins office and saw her heading to the bathroom. she rarely goes in there unless we go with her. but she opened the door and sat down. i asked her if she needed to go potty and she said she did. so i took off her diaper and told her i would be back in a few minutes. so a couple minutes later she comes out naked saying "pee pee pee" of course i was so excited and she had the biggest smile. she actually went pee in her potty chair! hooray!  everything i have read about potty training said not to rush them, and until recently i havent even really cared either way. i actually thought it would be easier this summer if she wasnt potty trained because we will be at the park and out doing stuff a lot and taking her to public restrooms seems like such a hassle. but diapers are expensive and we are doing our share of filling those landfills, so for that we need to get her off of them. i think if i buy her some cutesie underwears she would be very excited to figure this thing out. the only problem is i dont think they make girls panties with cookie monster on them (= that is her favorite cartoon character right now. she does like elmo and grover too. maybe i could find some in the boys section.... that ought to get a rise out of some of you (= i am sure she will like anything i give her if i tell her they are big girl underwear. 

one of dahlias favorite books right now is her Bible that my parents got her. it is geared for toddler aged kids. we have to read it twice every night and then a book called Thank You God for my Family. we didnt even push these on her at all, but it is neat how both her favorites are about God and prayer. we used to just pray for her but lately she prays some nights and then wants me to pray afterwards, it is adorable. especially since she cant really say the words right. she kneels down in front of the couch and folds her hands and this is what she says,

"jeeja be good gur an nigh nigh, amie" ok i will translate.

"jesus, be good girl and go night night, amen.

 as you will see in part of this video clip is that dahlia does not wear barretts. well she does soemtimes for a short while but usually rips them out and then her hair looks goofy. i didnt want to cut her hair to have bangs but i ended up doing that tonight. the front part of her hair is always falling in her face and i had no choice)= but it actually looks cute now. i just was a bit nervous to cut it off. she actually lets me cut her hair now and does not even flinch. she used to freak out and i had to sneak it while i was supposedly drying her hair, but she caught on to my devious ways and then would walk around with a half cut hair do for a day or so. it is all finally one length too, it has taken forever to get that way. i was hoping for pig tails at age one, boy was i way off. valen has already had his first hair cut and he isnt even one years old!