Potty

I honestly truly can't believe I'm typing this I never in a million years thought I would but my 18 month old has decided she wants to go potty! I really should have seen it coming as she's loved sitting on the potty since she was one! I'd sit her on the potty while her bath was filling but she'd never do anything just sit there all proud of herself, and on occasion when we saw the pooping signs while she was sitting in the tub we'd pull her out real fast and she'd poop in the potty, but I really thought nothing of it until last week. Elizabeth opened the laundry room door then the powder room door I followed her in and she pointed to the the potty, so I told her that's the potty where big girls pee-pee and poop, and then I thought what the hey I'll put her on the potty, so I did and she just sat there as she always did before, but then I took her back a while later and to my total surprise and disbelief she peed! I clapped and jumped for joy and we had mini party in the powder room! She had a the biggest grin on her face! She flushed and washed and I gave her a cracker(that's the best thing I could find) That's when it dawned on me my 18 month old is ready to potty train. Now I've worked with at least a hundred 2 year olds at the daycare and potty trained most of them, but I didn't have the faintest clue what to do with my one and a half year old!! She couldn't even say potty! So I started by teaching her the sign for potty; and today she used it! Then I went on the internet for advice as I knew I wasn't the only one to ever have an early potty trainer, and got alot of good information. That first day she went pee in the potty 4 times!! I only had to change her diaper twice once after naptime and once after she pooped, so that night we went and bought pull ups a 2nd potty seat(one for upstairs and one for downstairs) 2 step stools, and most importantly potty treats in my research they advised to get a treat that either they've never had or don't get often...well Elizabeth has never really got fruit snacks so that's what we got. The next day I only had to change her diaper(well pull-up, which is really just a fancy diaper that goes up and down) once after naptime as she even pooped in the potty, the next day she kept a dry diaper through naptime but then pooped in her diaper. And the fourth day was bad. And not just potty wise she had a very bad morning it was pretty much one long meltdown, and after naptime her diaper was as full as it had ever been that week, but she did do much better after her nap. Then on Friday was the real test I needed to go to the mall to look for a birthday present for a certain wonderful husband, and I thought for sure she was just going to go in her diaper so much so that I didn't even bring any treats(that and I just plum forgot) well of course she went in the potty...twice while we were there! Luckily they had a candy barrel shop that sold quarter candies, they were super reward candies as going in the potty while out and about is a real accomplishment! Then there was Saturday and I really debated on just having Tony put her in a regular diaper, but then I told myself no I have to stay consistent no need to ruin a good thing now. But once again really didn't think she'd do so well cause I wasn't sure we'd be able to get her to the potty in time, and we didn't get her to a potty for a long while! But yet again surprisingly her diaper was dry and she went in the potty at the restaurant! Of course I once again forgot potty treats, so I praised her up and down and like crazy and let her flush the toilet like three times(this is a reward to her she LOVES to flush!) and I even let her splash a little while washing her hands, then she went again at Target where I picked up some fruit snacks to keep in the diaper bag so we had to do something we hate to do and that's open something we haven't yet paid for but we had to give her a potty treat she'd done so well and still had a dry diaper! In fact she had a dry diaper that entire day!!(except after naptime which I don't really count right now) And on Sunday she showed off her potty skills at the Nester's while we were there for a fantastic Eater breakfast, and visit. She peed AND pooped in the potty while we were there!! And again pretty much kept her diaper dry that entire day, it was a little wet when we took it off that night but just barely. So in the last week we went from using 4 to 5 diapers a day to 2 pull ups a day! And like I mentioned before, today she even signed potty so now I just have to instill upon her the proper usage for that sign and we'll be buying panties and pinning the heck out of them! (hopefully in the next month or two)
I find my little independent girl so funny...you see she took herself off bottles at 7 months old...took herself off the binky(during the day at least) just a few months ago, and is now fully taking herself out of diapers. I still am in shock with it...I really can't believe my little baby is going potty! Don't get me wrong I'm so very very proud of her! Out of diapers before two! It's a very lucky position, and Tony and I realized we'll even get a break from diapers before the next one comes which unfortunately won't be for while as we're still trusting in the Lord's timing. But not alot of parents get that break! We're so proud of our big girl!! I'd post a picture but I don't have on eof her on the potty so I guess I'll have to get on that.