It's official...

I am so proud of my big girl.  She has been accident free for EIGHT days.  I think we can finally say she is officially potty trained!  This is HUGE.

I am probably jinxing myself as I type, but I just had to document this and brag on her a little bit.  I also have to admit, potty training intimidated me.  This was by far the biggest challenge we have come across yet.  But she did it.  WE did it!  I am so proud of her.

Just a few tips that worked for us:

• We started out in Pull-Ups for school in the beginning.  Pull ups are expensive!  We were going through them like diapers.  Ellie really didn't ever realize the purpose of them and I got tired of buying them so we went straight to big girl undies and haven't looked back.
• Praise, Praise Praise!  Positive reinforcement!  
• M&M's or some sort of treat.  Sometimes it was fruit snacks, other times it was a Popsicle.  Just make sure you reinforce the reasoning behind them getting the treat.  
• I never made E sit on the potty until she went.  That would become a chore and a negative activity in her little stubborn mind.  I do still have to MAKE her go sometimes, especially when we leave the house, but she tells me 98% of the time now.  (I can also tell by her actions when she needs to go, too!)
• DO NOT STRESS.  I got frustrated quite a bit.  I am impatient by nature and motherhood is still teaching me the value of patience.  The minute I let her take control and decide she was ready, it all came together.  I remember thinking on a Thursday that she would never go #2 in the potty and we'd be buying pull-ups for years.  Then that Saturday she woke up asking to potty and we have been golden ever since.  
• Be prepared to visit every public restroom in existence.  Public restrooms gross me out.  I try to avoid them at all cost.  You can't do that with a potty training toddler.  Every store, restaurant and gas station will be visited.  I promise.  We visited 3 different gas stations between Brownsville and Greenfield last week.  That is not fun when you are alone with your 2 year old and afraid of being mugged.  Always find a safe place to stop!  
• Don't forget, when they gotta go, THEY GOTTA GO!  
• Be prepared to be humbled.  Motherhood in itself is humbling, but potty training takes that to a whole new level.  Ellie loves to announce her potty activities to a crowd.  (Maybe we've made it almost TOO big of a deal!).  Also be prepared for messes and helping do things you never dreamed you would do.  Isn't motherhood glamorous?
• She LOVES her night time milk cup, so we still put her in a diaper for bed, for now.  She has woken up dry every morning though, so I think this will end when I run out of diapers!  She has to go potty every morning first thing.  I am just so proud!!

I also don't think I've ever really mentioned E's tummy problems on here.  She has always needed a little "assistance" in the potty department.  I think using the potty instead of being scared to go in a diaper is helping that situation...at least I hope.  

Sorry for all of the TMI, but I need this for my memories and to remember that this CAN be done:)

Wasn't this my baby, just yesterday??