Potty Princess

She did it! On May 16th, 2010 we declared Ella Rae officially potty trained!! We started on Friday, May 14th and 3 days later....she did it!! I highly recommend Toilet Training in Less Than a Day. It was originally written in 1974 and therefore offers some methods that by today’s standards may seem a bit harsh. I loved the method and it worked for us. I liked the way it strongly encouraged independence (which helped develop her confidence) and rewarded for her being dry and not just pee-pee in the potty. So throughout the day we checked for dry big girl panties and would get a reward if they were dry! I kept a little diary of the first 3 days and here’s what it looked like:
Day 1:
8 am: Big Girl Panties! Having lots of new fruit drinks to increase opportunities for going Pee-Pee! Checking for dry big girl panties - a yummy treat for being dry!!
9am: Pee Pee in Potty - Big treat for that!
9:45: 1st accident (Puts her soiled panties in laundry basket herself and got new ones herself!) We kept them in a little basket (still do) next to her dresser so she can get them all by herself. And yes - I would have her walk all the way upstairs to do this bc the training took place downstairs (no carpet).
11am: Still dry - enjoying another yummy treat for being dry!
11:30: 2nd accident
12: 3rd accident (ok..I’m beginning to get scared - lets take a lunch break!)
12:30: Started to do #2 in pants BUT finished in potty! Yea!! Treat!
1pm: Nap - put on “just in case pants” (pull-up). Explained that this is just in case you have an accident while sleeping but don’t go pee pee in them. Still tell Mommy when you need to go pee pee in potty. (to this day she wakes up dry and asking to go potty right away!)
3pm: Up from nap - Big Girl Panties back on. Pee Pee in Potty
4:30: 4th accident
5pm: Still dry - treat!!
5:30: Pee pee in potty - treat!
6pm: Dinner - Telling daddy all about our day!
7pm: Just in case pants and bedtime! Great Day 1!
Day 2:
Had about 6 accidents from 7:45 am - 4. I was nervous.... but went pee pee in potty just as many times and between 4pm and bedtime she had no accidents and went 3 more times in potty! Maybe she’s got it now!
Day 3:

8am - Big Girl Panties
9am - Pee Pee and other on Potty - Yea!! (no more treats really - just lots of clapping!)
NO MORE ACCIDENTS ALL DAY!!! She did it!! Potty Trained!!

When Ella Rae is sitting on the potty, sometimes she'll say, "privacy please!" Such a goofy girl!

Ella Rae you did great! Mommy and daddy are so proud of you!