i'm so proud of you!

Minnie is a parrot.
I will explain...
When we started potty training we didn't really use any incentives (except for flushing the toilet and washing hands...which were two of Min's very favorite things for quite some time. I mean, can it get any better??)
But when those two things started to lose their appeal the girl kind of lost interest in going potty and would have accidents more frequently.
From the get go I would get really excited when she went potty, especially #2, and I would always say, "I'm so proud of you!" and give her a big hug.
Well these hugs and shouts of acclamation just got even bigger once rewards were nowhere to be found, and I had no idea how much they meant to Minnie until a week or so into the whole potty training business.

In our household we often have an open (bathroom) door policy.
TMI? I apologize.
However you need to know this for the story to make sense.
I was getting Minnie ready for bed one night and Robert was going #1 in the bathroom (sorry babe).
I started to jokingly chant "Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" as he went because this is often what we did for Minnie when she was trying to go.
Min chimed in with me and we sat there together, chanting and I'm sure making Robert terribly uncomfortable.
It may not have been my proudest moment, but it was pretty darn hilarious.
So sue me.
Anyhow, when Bob stepped out of the bathroom Minnie sprang up, ran to his side and wrapped her tiny little arms around his leg and with her eyes closed tight as she squeezed she exclaimed "I'm so proud of you, Daddy!!"
I about fell over.
Daddy needed a little cheering on and so he deserved a "I'm so proud of you" too.
Cutest little bug!

Then yesterday Minnie was going on her training toilet and I quickly used the "big potty" across from her, and since I finished before she did she sprang up, pants down, and waddled over to me to give me a big hug and an "I'm so proud of you, Mommy!"
If I get that every time I go to the bathroom I'm going to count myself a very lucky woman.
It's plenty of incentive for me.
Oh man, how I love that little rascal.
She makes me so tired but man, she makes me laugh.