Strong willed

I really cannot believe Madeline is potty trained....but she is, as of about a week ago. You probably didn't even know what a crazy hard time she was having with it either....but that's because I'm such a positive, happiness exuding person, even when things are difficult...I'm working on that.

She really did have a tough time though. The convenience of cloth diapers hanging everywhere didn't help. There were so many potty training steps involved. I started by leaving underwear on her during the day and then she would ask for a diaper when needed...I tried not giving it to her, but then she would hold herself the entire day, I'm talking 8am-7pm, without "going". That lasted for a couple months, then I said she needed to be in the bathroom when "doing her business". So, that started a whole, "Mommy, I have to do my business" phase where she would tell me, I'd put a diaper on and she would retire to the bathroom. Now, mind you, she was wearing underwear the whole day, asking for a diaper then having it removed, just as if she were going on the potty....never having not one accident, even during nap time. This lasted another couple months.
We added in a "potty fairy" that had these wonderful gifts she dropped off...a Mator and Ring Around the Rosey doll that she really wanted, but only if she used the potty.
The cloth diapers became such a crutch that one day I said they would no longer fit her...that was quite devastating. I bought pull-ups and said that those were the only thing that would fit and if she wanted to do her business on [insert awesome character here], then she would have to go on the pull-up. It weighed heavily on her conscience, but [insert super cool character here] would just have to take one for the team. Ok, this lasted a while too. Seriously, Madeline is the type of kid that WILL NOT BUDGE when it comes to what she believes in. So, Mommy made a lot of compromises. Not only did we still have those "potty fairy" gifts, but I also had this amazing potty chart too, which she sat on the potty a good 50 times to get ice cream out of me....yeah, just for sitting, she would get ice cream, THAT is how opposed she was to the potty. Alright, so now we are going in pull-ups, in the bathroom and sitting on the potty for a sticker to earn ice cream (stamp SUCKER on my forehead anytime now, ok?, but seriously, you have NO idea how stubborn this girl is).....
I changed the bathroom rule to she had to sit on the potty, with a pull-up and "do her business". This lasted a few weeks. Still in underwear, asking for a pull-up when it came time.
Then I had a clever idea to pull the pull-up to the side, just so she could hear the 'tinkle'....yes, my three year old was SO damn stubborn she never even peed and heard the 'tinkle', so I thought that would be exciting....and IT WAS! Oh, it was. She was amazed at how wonderful it was to hear that magical sound it made, as it hit the potty, but she was totally not ready to let go of her comfort....so a week of pulling it to the side. Then, we had one leg on, one leg off.....DAMN, I  am creative!! We would even talk about it and she would question my pull-up applying skills, "Mommy, this doesn't feel like it's on all the way.", "No, Madeline, I had to just do one leg because you are getting so big that the pull-up hardly fits"..."Ok, Mommy".
Then, one miraculous day, she said, "Mommy, this pull-up is hardly even on." and ripped it off, through it aside and never looked back. I'm talking dry naps....dry night time. I'm truly amazed.
WOW. WHAT A JOURNEY IT HAS BEEN. Hell, I don't know, maybe it's always like this....Joshua was trained before two, so I have no idea if it is just this hard with some kids or what?!
All I know is that this girl is strong willed like her mama ... don't give up in what you believe in without a fight, baby!!!!


Madeline had my phone and wanted to take pictures today, so in honor of her FINALLY being potty trained, I will post her pictures.....
I think it's beautiful.
Through a little girls eyes....