Potty Training 101

I had decided when Ainsley turned 2 that I would try to potty train after Christmas, so Ainsley and I started potty training Friday. Everything I read said this should take 3 days to get her started on this new lifestyle, but I took off Friday, so I could have 4 days (I'm a banker, so I get MLK Day on Monday). Ainsley has been very interested in going to the bathroom with me and anyone else who will let her go with them, so I had high hopes. She tells me when she needs to get a dry pull up, so I really thought it would not be so bad. After 10 pairs of wet little girl panties Friday I thought this was hopeless. I kept wondering if I was wasting my time. Should I quit now? Should I keep trying? Maybe she's not as ready as I thought she was. Maybe I am the one who is ready, not her. As you can see I had a lot of doubt. But I stuck it out all day Friday and she did manage to use the potty twice. I was happy when it was bedtime though, so I could put her in a diaper. I was worn out and stressed out! But guess what... Saturday got here very quickly, so we started again. I was still very unsure that I was doing the right thing. Maybe I was pushing her to use the potty too early. But to my surprise she did use the potty first thing Saturday morning, but after that she seemed to decide not to use the bathroom at all. I got her to go again right before nap time. I felt like I was trying to pump any kind of liquid into her that she wanted just to fill up her bladder. I don't know what happened to her after nap time, but something finally clicked and she started telling me she had to use the potty. She went on her own 3 times before it was time to go to bed again! I was so happy I/we stuck with it. I really wanted to throw in the towel multiple times. I was not having fun and just wanted to get out of the house. I think Ainsley wanted to leave the house just as badly as I did. Not only were we potty training, but Ainsley decided she would like to get a cold and little fever, but we kept plugging away as if nothing was wrong. Sunday she still remembered she had to use the potty b/c she is wearing big girl panties instead of the diaper. We even ventured out to run some errands Sunday afternoon. She wore a pull up then, but at the first stop she told me she had to use the potty and we made it to the bathroom for her to make her pit stop. After that we were able to finish all our errands and made it home with a dry pull up!! I know this is an on-going project, but as of now I would say our potty training is a SUCCESS!