The time has come...

...for potty training!

I'm going to be completely honest- it has been a total rollercoaster of emotions for both of us. Isabella has always caught onto most things quite quickly, so I think part of me kind of expected her to just get it. There have been times (like when she actually goes!) when I am so proud of her my heart bursts, and other times when I have to keep reminding myself that she is only two and that we are both doing our very best. It is a scary thing for her after all.

The first time I sat her on the potty, she, or I should say, we, sat there for about 35 minutes before she went. She tried tricking me:"I did it!". She tried starting conversation: "What doing Monny?" (Yes, she calls me Monny, not Mommy!) She asked me what I was doing so many times that I started saying things like: "Writing the next great American novel, Izzie." or "Painting the Mona Lisa, Izzie."She also tried distraction: "Pray, Monny." But once she actually did it, we were both so excited! I would go as far as to say that it was one of my proudest mommy moments. We danced, we sang, and she earned her beautiful Hello Kitty bracelet. I am totally not against bribing! She has earned stickers, a princess wand, and a Little Mermaid book. But she will also go without being bribed, which is even better.

Here she is looking fondly at her prize bracelet:

Sometimes she will go right away, sometimes she will take a while- like 35 minutes, and sometimes, she won't even go sit on the potty. This is part of where the rollercoaster comes in. My adult mind thinks that she knows what to do and has done it already, so whats the big deal? But it IS a big deal and at least she does know what I want her to do now. I've heard of the 3 day no pants method, but am a little, or a lot,wary of her peeing in my house! Any thoughts or suggestions on this subject are welcome!