She's a big girl now!

You know your child is ready to potty train when she refuses to lie down for diaper changes and wants you to strap the diaper on her standing up. Oh, and then you find her strapping the diaper on herself standing up. . .

In the beginning of February, we started to try to motivate Arianna by rewarding her with a Little People animal every time she successfully went on the potty. (I found a whole lot of Little People on Craig's list for a great price, so I have a box full in the garage to give for this sort of thing and for Birthday gifts, etc.) She really wanted those animals! (about 30 of which lined the top of the refrigerator for her to have constantly in her view) Arianna has a thing for animals. She LOVES them. She really wanted to earn them and went on the potty a couple of times when we first introduced them and then lost interest for a few days. Then she became interested again, probably from a string of successes when she realized she could really grow her animal collection if she tried. But, even with all the motivation, until she was ready there was no forcing her. About 3 weeks ago now, Arianna decided she wanted to give all her diapers to Grant. She was finally ready to potty train!! The first day went pretty well. About 36 hours after her decision, I think she regretted it. She had 8 'accidents' in one day!! (I think she thought, "Forget this!!! Who wants to get up and go to the bathroom all the time!! And washing your hands every time!! Far too much trouble for me!! I want to just keep on playing!!") But, everytime she had an accident, we took away an animal. She did not like that one bit! So, she eventually earned them back and then we moved on to sticker charts. If she filled the chart she could get a big toy. She earned the Little People Zoo and the Barn. She was overjoyed! When she had accidents, we took stickers away. She was not happy about that at all! So, she learned to stay dry. We are now 9 stickers away from filling up her last chart (60 stickers total) where she will earn her final prize. We are trying to play it up so she knows after this she is a big girl just like Emma who knows how to go on the potty and doesn't need rewards for it anymore.
What has amazed me most about Arianna is how easy night time training has been. She decided that after she gave Grant her diapers that that also meant she did not need a diaper at night time. Of course, I am thinking, "Yeah right, child!!! You have never woken up dry from a nap or night in your entire life!" But she was adamant. She kicked and screamed and would not let me put a diaper on her. So, I decided not to fight. I put one on after she was asleep right over her panties. Luckily she is a heavy sleeper! She did not even wake up. What amazed me though, was that she said she was going to stay dry and she did!!! She did have a couple of nights after that that she did wet, but for the most part she has stayed dry all night. After a couple of nights she would be upset in the morning when she found out I put a diaper on her. So I made a deal with her that if she went three nights in a row without wetting, that I wouldn't put a diaper on her again. And she did it! What a champ!
We are so proud of her. It was about time. She is over three for heavens sake! I am happy to say that after 18 months of double diaper duty I am back to just one in diapers!!! Hippeeee!!!!!!