I know, I know - I'm behind on blogging.  Here is the story of our recent Potty Training Experience.

I blocked out the week before 4th of July to potty train my youngest.  The Sunday before, I dusted off my copy of  Toilet Training in Less than a Day  with it's yellowed pages that had been passed down to me years ago.  The first thing I read:  Choose a day when the only people in the house are mother and child.  Ummm, that was going to be a problem.  Next thing I read:  Required Item - doll that wets.  I went through my girls toy chest full of all sorts of dolls, but apparently the last move I must have weeded out any dolls that wet.  I had two choices - I could abandon training(but when would I ever have another week with nothing scheduled? Looking at the calendar, not till around January - since my calendar only goes to December:)  or I could press on and just see what happens. 

Day 1:  The next morning, I pulled out our potty chair (and after some cleaning) and put it in the kitchen - the floorplan of our house isn't conducive to fast runs to the bathroom and the kitchen floor is also easier to clean should their be any "accidents".  I explained to the other 3 kids what I had planned to do for the week.  They were overjoyed - especially when I said that we wouldn't be doing any schoolwork for the week.  

So I take my little potty trainee, show him his new Lightning McQueen "big boy pants" and he can't wait to put them on.  One problem for which I intend to write a letter to the underwear people - You can't actually SEE McQueen because they put the designs on the BACK!!!!!!!  My trainee insists on wearing them backwards so that he can see them. 

I pull out a boy Cabbage Patch Kid that was named "Buddy."  I put some Thomas the Tank Engine underwear on "Buddy" and demonstrate how when "Buddy" has to go, he pulls down his pants, sits on the potty, and since Cabbage Patch Kids can't really go potty, I poured a little water from a measuring cup into the pot.  We cheered for "Buddy" and his reward was a marshmallow.  My trainee was thrilled to eat the marshmallow for "Buddy".  I asked my trainee if he wanted to try to go potty and get a marshmallow.  He said yes.  He pulled down his pants, sat on the pot, pointed to the measuring cup and said "Pour it in, Mommy."  Ok - so there's something to be said for following the directions exactly the way they are in the book. 

So we spent the rest of this morning, training the doll and giving my trainee marshmallows for staying dry.  Boy7 was watching with some interest all of the marshmallows Boy2 was getting.  He finally asked if he could show Boy2 how to go and then he could have a marshmallow.  At that point, we hadn't had any success and I figured it couldn't hurt.  So Boy7 pulls down his pants and stands in front of the potty chair with our trainee watching to see how this works.  Well, I don't know if it was the pressure of trying to get it in the little potty chair, or the pressure of his younger brother watching him, or the pressure of knowing that if he didn't go he wouldn't get a marshmallow, but HE COULDN'T GO!!!  He froze up!  I told him never mind, that he couldn try again later.  He zipped up and looked quite dejected.  My trainee was very confused.  A few minutes later, Boy7 said "Ok, mom, I can do it now."  So we wait and watch and....NOTHING.  This wasn't quite working the way I hoped.  Boy7 zipped up, I gave him a marshmallow for trying and sent him off to play his video game. 

After doing lots of dry checks, we finally had successs!  He didn't quite know how to "control it" so it sprayed everywhere - great reason to disinfect my kitchen - but we were all so excited!  By the end of the morning, he had a couple more successes and a couple more accidents.  With the excption of a pull up during naptime, he wore "big boy pants" all day long.  That night we put him to bed in a pull up, glad for a day well done.

Day 2:  This morning, he was playing in the backyard (yes, in just his big boy pants - glad most of my neighbors work all day) and ran into the kitchen to the potty chair without being told or reminded!  I was very excited!  He figured out that he had to lean forward a bit to keep it in the pot.  Had 2 accidents, both BM's.  I went back to my trusty book.  I read:  BM's aren't really an issue because they always follow urination.  Sorry, doctors, but you're wrong.  They do follow urination, but rarely immediately after - you have to wait for it and my little guy wasn't really interested in waiting very long. 

Day 3:  We had a BM success and a couple more accidents, but were making progress.  Today he decided to transition to the "big boy potty".  I had a seat cover, but he was not interested.  He wanted to be a "big boy".  This requires him to completely strip down and then maneuver himself up onto the toilet, but he seems to have the system down.  His pull-up stayed dry this night!

Day 4:  We are all feeling totally cooped up and looking forward to going out for the 4th of July the next day.  Doesn't help that it has heated up.  Only one BM accident today.  Whew!  Think we may be successful in this experiment!

Day 5:  We went to the 4th of July parade (in a pull-up)  but stayed dry. 

Day 6:  Drove 2 hours down to my parents'  house in a pull-up and stayed dry! 

We are now pretty much done.  I do still go with him just to make sure he doesn't fall into the toilet, but he does know how to put his own pants on - sometimes backwards, sometimes forwards, but if I don't have to change a diaper does it really matter? 

So, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 8.5 YEARS, WE HAVE NO DIAPERS IN OUR HOME!!!!!!!  I think it's a pretty big milestone in my life.  One that I may miss in the future, but doubt it:)

Blessings!

-J