Today Gracie and I went and had her ears pierced. I had thought a couple of times over the last year that I might have them done but just figured she was too young. Yesterday we were at the mall and we walked by a Clarie's and she saw two little girls sitting in the window on big stools. She asked what they were doing and I said they were having their ears pierced. She said "ooooohhhhhhh, I like to have earrings too! I like to do that!" We watched for another couple of minutes and then continued walking but we spent most of the rest of the day talking about pierced ears. When we got home I sat her down and explained what happens. They put you on the big stool and then they clean your ears really well. Then they take a pen and make a mark on each of your ears so they know where to put the earrings. Then they take a tool and put in on your ear and they press down and it makes a hard pinch on your ears. I thought that would scare her off but she said "oh, a pinch doesn't hurt right mom?" I said that it would sting for a minute but then it would go away. I asked if she still wanted to do it and she said yes. This morning she woke up and asked me when she could have her ears pierced. I said how about when you are five? she said "oh no mom, I think today!" I mulled it over for a couple of hours. I know there is no age for when you should do it but I always imagined I would be one of those moms who said wait until your 11 or 12 because I had a mom who made me wait until I was 12. In the end, I figured we'd give a shot and if we got there and she wanted to run we could do that. We went to the counter to ask about having her ears pierced and they directed us to the stools. She walked right over and said "Mom, you have to lift me up." I put her on the stool and while we waited she looked at her earring choices. She was immediately drawn to the Hello Kitty One's so that's what we ended up with. Then the sales person came over and I had to show my license and sign my name and initial in about 30 places. I think there is probably less signing for an organ transplant than there was for this ear piercing. She explained all the aftercare, asked what earrings we picked out and then asked if I wanted both ears done at the same time and I said yes. She started to clean off her ear and Grace said "oh yes, my mom telled me you going to wash my ear." Then she put the mark on her ear and called the other salesperson over. They counted to three and then they each pierced an ear. She had a momentary look of surprise on her face and then said "can I see my Hello Kitty earrings please?" No crying, no remorse, just a big happy smile.
In other news, the potty training is going really well. She is only in diapers for napping and sleeping. She has had one small accident in the last 10 days so I'm thrilled. No success with number 2 on the potty but we'll get there. She also refuses to use her princess potty seat "because I am a big and tall girl and big and tall girls use the big potty." I can't really argue with that.
