Our Adventures in Potty Training: Part 1

After months of "backing off", we've decided to start the potty training process over again. Let me start from the beginning. Since the Love Bug was about 18 months old, we have had a little potty in our bathroom, she is always in there when I go (actually, I don't think I've had a 'private moment' since she was born), and she hears constantly about the big girl potty.

When she turned 2 yr.s old, we decided it was time to go full force. So, one day, she went with just undies and we sat every 15 minutes on the potty. She went both #1 and #2, once. Then it all went down hill. It became the battle of Avery vs. Momma, and in this case, she won. There was nothing else I could do. My carpets were full of Avery 'goings' - so I spent the time we weren't on the potty cleaning up, and she was doing everything in her will not to even sit on the potty. So, we backed off, until this weekend.

Her and I went on Amazon last week, and ordered a brand new princess potty that she picked out. I also ordered a Princess Potty book, and we patiently waited for both to arrive two days later. I made a big deal out of it - so much so, that when the potty arrived via the UPS man, she and I danced in the living room as we removed it from the box. To my pure happiness, she actually sat on it - without protest - a huge step for my Love Bug (once she doesn't want to do something, it is pretty hard to change her mind, and I wasn't going to make this experience any more traumatic then it already was for her, but forcing the issue). So we 'practiced' and 'practiced' and 'practiced'.

That is where we are now, still 'practicing'. She sits on it in the morning, before nap, after nap and before bed. All just 'practice' in her mind. We have read the Princess Potty book a million times already (only while on the potty), and she gets a sticker each time she 'practices'. Though we still haven't gone in it, I think it is coming soon - at least I hope.

This weekend also marked the first time that she has told us right after she went #1. Before, she could care less. She would bask in a dirty diaper, not caring one little bit. But on Saturday, she walked up to Daddy right after she went, and said, "Daddy, I pee peed." We just said, "Next time, Avery, let us know before you do it next time, but thank you so much for letting us know." She has yet to do that, but I think we are making strides.

I still am feeling a little discouraged this morning though. As I have said before, I am not a patient person, so to have to wait and wait, with a smile on my face and not be discouraging at all, I can't help but have a slightly defeated feeling. What I wouldn't give to have someone else train her. Really, I would pay for that! It's the first time that I have wished she was in day care so someone else can train eight hours during the day, and I only get two or three. I know, not the greatest parenting confession, but the truth, nonetheless. Though, I think that this time around, I too have made strides, in that I am still smiling and not letting her know that my patience is not fully charged when it comes to this step of parenting. The last thing I want is to discourage her again.

I guess, I will end by saying, stay tuned. I will update you all regularly as we make strides in this milestone. I am confortrable in taking it as slow as necessary, so they may be few and far between, but I will update regardless.

The new princess potty and book...

Lots of love!
Emily