Potty Training....oh my

Well my daughter (now 3 yrs old) has begun officially and successfully potty training. I have to say the experience is definitely not one I fully enjoy. It a round the clock reminder, "Irelyn come on let's try and go potty", and it seems that men don't seem to be as consistent with it as women. It may be a mother thing, but I am always thinking about what she is drinking, when and when she went potty last. However the icing on the cake is that she uses as it excuse to get out of bed after bedtime. "Mommy! Mommy! I have to go potty" and then she is all giggly and excited when she gets into the bathroom like she is thinking "Ha ha fooled you again! Score!" It has become a normal conversation around my house to discuss peeing and pooping. I never get the privacy to use the potty alone because Irelyn wants to see and learn. However, she tries it with Daddy and to try and explain to a three year old that Daddy has different parts is just not happening. Therefore, we distinguish boys and girls and only girls can go together (I am sure this will stick with her threw life due to the fact that females go in groups to the bathroom). Then when she goes, we have to put on a song and dance of excitement to encourage her. I sometimes have to look at my husband and remind him, "Babe look thrilled and praise her please". Crazy enough the most frustrating part is toilet paper and flushing the toilet. She always wants to use copious amounts of toilet paper simply for fun and flush the toilet a million times. I am sure my water bill will reflect my daughter's excited for flushing.

At first I was against the pull up since it was like a diaper, but since my daughter goes to my parents three days a week, they didn't feel like cleaning up messes. I do think the pull up feels a lot like a diaper, however she can pull it on and off when using the potty. I am hoping on my weekends with her to try and use underpants and get my carpet cleaner ready. I find myself saying to my co-workers (who are all men), I have to go potty, be right back. Thankfully most of them have kids and they don't pick up on it always. I had purchased the Elmo Potty DVD awhile ago in hopes potty training would begin sooner,  however it is hard to watch. I mean imagine a 45 minute movie talking about all the different words for bowl movements and discussing how they come out. Oh the beauties of being a mother!