Let's Talk About Potty Training, Shall We?

I know yesterday was kind of a heavier post, and I really want to say thank you for all your kind comments and messages. Marlowe and I are seriously, seriously doing great. I keep saying to myself: "My life has gotten 200% better since we are on our own again. That's a pretty big increase". Yep. 

Thank you again. Let's keep the good times going and talk about: poop ;)

As far of this motherhood thing is concerned, I'd say I've been pretty comfortable. I mean, I look back at old photos now, and I can see the fear in my eyes, haha, but whatever. I may or may not have mentioned, I never really held a baby until Marlowe. Maybe my little brother? Maybe not? I don't even remember. Actually, looking back, there was this one time that my friends shoved their daughter into my arms, but she was probably about a year old, so she could hold her own a bit more than a newborn. I went into this whole thing thinking: I've got this. It's common sense and trial and error, right? Sure. I figured out teething, sickness, breast-feeding, introducing new food, healthy eating, and much much more, with little to no help. It all kind of just came naturally. Now, there's potty training. Well, soon? Or now? I'm not sure. Soon, let's go with soon.
I have a few basic idea of how it's going to work. I know it's going to be messier than not. It will also probably bring a few laughs.... sad, sad, laughs. And knowing Marlowe, it's either going to be incredibly easy (as easy as it can be) or be incredibly challenging, but not somewhere in between. (But maybe easier since she seems to be progressing in anything more physical/motor and leaving everything else for later). Part of me wishes I had practiced EC (elimination communication) with her when she was a bit younger, but on top of everything else that needs to happen around here, it just seemed like something that would take up even more time that I don't have.
I've decided, I'm going to kind of, um, do what I always do: wing it. (Fake it 'til you make it? Party-hardy?) I'm going to practice my own mild (late) version of EC and watch her like a hawk... every time she begins that poop face, or slightly squats: it's off to the toilet we go! It's been going pretty well so far, I mean, it's difficult because I'm not here with her for the beginning/middle part of the day and she's not here all of Tuesday, but otherwise: so far so good, I guess. We've (slowly) lazily at it for maybe two weeks now. We've had one successful (large) poop (baby pictured above, poop not, unless you want to see the poop, because I obviously took a picture of that too), one decent pee, a few tinkles, and another very successful poop and pee yesterday morning. (As I'm typing I'm realizing the intense #momlife going on here as I tell you about each successful poop my daughter had. errr). I'd say that's not too bad, right? Maybe... she is only 17 months old or so?
I mean, when do people begin potty training anyway? I really have no idea. I'm content starting now, and working slowly to the big girl status goal. In the morning's we sit together and wait a few minutes-- when she wants. We've also got a few potty books next to her toilet for her reading pleasure. Also, when we take off the diaper she looks at it and says "byebye!"... thats good, right? Sure, I think so, and if not, then its at least pretty darn adorable.
So tell me: when did you begin potty training your little ones? Or when do you plan on starting? Do you practice EC? Did you use candy bribes? Fun charts? Clapping? Songs? Were their butts diaper free? Was it messy? Was it easy or a disaster? What are the best tips you've heard? What do you plan on doing? I want to know! Let's talk about poop.