Update

I thought I might fill you all in on how the potty training is going. I have mixed reviews. On one hand Brooklyn definitely knows what's going on. She can "hold it" for hours, including during her nap. She likes wearing underwear but isn't against wearing her pull-up at night. But on the other hand, she is off and on. One day she had barely any accidents and the next she never made it to the potty the whole day. She only goes on the potty when I make her sit or if it is right next to her when she feels the urge. Plus, she is starting to resist sitting on the potty especially for long periods of time. This morning I tried Lisa's trick. She gives her little one's silly putty that they only get when sitting on the potty. I gave Brooklyn some play dough, but she finally put it down without peeing so she could go play with other stuff.

So now I am trying not to force her to sit on the potty. She is a VERY independent child. I can tell she doesn't like it when I ask her if she needs to go or even if I am looking to see if she's wet. She does like the "celebration" when she uses the potty, but it doesn't motivate her to do it. Not even chocolate is motivation.

I am determined to not give up. However, that being said, I have spent a little of each day contemplating giving up and trying again in a few months. The thing that keeps me going is knowing that she can do it and that stopping and starting again will set us back. I guess I am mostly venting my frustration right now.

The other thing on my mind now is that Dakotah has suddenly broken out in excema all over her body, including her face. I feel so bad for her. At first I thought it must be I'm eating too much sugar and sweets. So I decided to give them up for a couple weeks to see, but as I have watched her develop some congestion and get more cranky, I fear she may have some allergies. After all, they do run in Dayne's family. So I have decided to take myself off milk, cheese, and most dairy for a couple weeks also to see if it helps her. Meanwhile, I should at least lose some weight, right? Especially since my diet consists of 50% dairy products. I'm on my fourth day of no milk. That's the longest I've ever gone, I think. Dayne has said that he will do it too just to support me, but he has yet to go a day without cheese or a cookie. I teased him, "I bet you can't do it," thinking it would bring out his competative spirit, but he saw right through me.
Ok, Brooklyn just told me she had poopoo, so I sat her on the potty and gave her the play dough. Maybe there is hope. We'll see.