P0tty Training Update

Shortly after my post regarding public restr00ms, I took HC to the bathroom and as usual JB was with us. We were p0tty training at home but if we went out I put a diaper on JB. So about a week after my post we were running errands and HC had to go p0tty. HC goes and as she was getting herself ready to exit the restroom, JB announces "I have to go p0tty!". I decided we would most definitely let him try. He had been so fearful, in the past, of the toilet flushing that I knew this was a huge deal!

We put JB in position for his turn and then he was done. Having not p0ttied I wasn't let down! I knew JB was over his fear of normal size p0tty's now!! Yippeeee!!! This was a huge development. This meant we could go full speed ahead and get rid of the diapers!!!! (Can you hear the angels singing??)

As of today, all is going well! We have had our share of accidents but last night really made me laugh. We went to see a Walk Through Live Nativity and as we left the house I told JB he needed to go p0tty. He told me he didn't need to go and against my better judgment I took his word for it. We were about 2 miles down the road when we hear "I have to go tee tee!!! I HAVE to go TEE TEE!!!" Inconvenient timing for sure!! We wanted to get to our destination before a line formed so I did a bad thing. I climbed to the back of the van and unbuckled JB (we were at a red light). We put on a pull-up and told him he could go in his pull-up this time. He began to cry "I CAN'T go Tee tee in my pull-up!!! I need go tee tee IN THE P0TTY!!" (Um.. Houston - we have lift off!!) We told him to hold it and we stopped at a restaurant to pick up a snack for the kids. While hubby and HC waited in the drive-thru I took JB potty!! His bladder was full I tell you! I didn't think he would ever stop going! ha ha

After the chaos of all of that I thought - Wow, my baby is p0tty trained!! He gets it finally!! We've had a few struggles with JB just going in his unders without any concern and here we are with him crying because he was asked to use a pull-up! I love it!! I felt like we crossed a huge milestone!! All we have left is to get him out of diapers at night! I am content with our progress though. I am glad we have a full p0tty trained 2.5 year old for now. The night time training will come. I actually think that won't be long either!! He really doesn't wet much at night!!

I thought I would follow up with our progress, since I shared my woes with you. With HC the act of tee teeing in her panties a few times was enough motivation to stop and go in the p0tty. JB could care less if he tee teed in his unders or on the floor or in the p0tty. So I think the method I found and used with him worked wonders for him!! If you want to know what we did, read this book! I will tell you the method recommends focusing on staying clean and dry RATHER than going in the p0tty!! It was really what JB needed!

Waiting for Santa

We were off to take our Santa picture last week and this was my first time taking the kids alone. When it was just HC, she and I saw Santa without any help but once JB joined us we needed Dad to help distract JB. HC has always been fine with Santa. No tears! No fretting! Just smiled without reservation. My sweet JB was less than thrilled with the Santa factor on his first two meetings and I was so glad that Dad came along.

This year I decided to try the Santa factor alone. My husband is super busy at work and it would really be difficult for him to get away. So we were off. We hustled into the mall hoping the line had dwindled down from the morning line and that our wait would be minimal. HC was under strict orders to NOT mention where we were headed, in case the news sent JB into fits of unwanted resistance. We arrived at the mall and we saw Santa set up in a new area. The line was short and HC had just hit her head on a rear view mirror, while we were walking through the parking lot, so she lost her zeal to walk fast. I was rushing to get in the line before a preschool arrived or worse, they closed down for Santa to have lunch. I get there to find that Santa had breakfast with the special needs kids and he was only taking pictures with those children for now.
We decided to have lunch and ran into friends. After eating lunch, and two runs to the potty, we waited in line for Santa's appearance. We were 1st in line! WooHoo!!! Only problem is we now have an hour to spend in line. The kids were full and playful. We could make it! Plus there was NO way I could get HC to leave without a meltdown. So we waited. A few others joined us in line and the wait became a little more fun! About 10 minutes till Santa's arrival I notice the undeniable signs of a newly potty trained toddler having the urge to go!! I thought 'NO WAY am I getting out of line to go potty!' So I said aloud (to myself) "I'll just get a diaper for you buddy." Ok, sure it SOUNDED like I was talking to JB but I wasn't. So, I reach into the diaper bag and turn to get JB ready for his diaper and I found him with his pants AND underwear around his ankles waiting for me. OH MY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I quickly open the stubborn diaper and try to hide him in the process, but anyone in line was bound to have seen my son in all his glory that day!! Thank you for listening to me the first time this time JB!! If he only listened the first time when I really need him to!!

Santa arrived and I held my breath waiting for JB to respond. At the 10 minutes from arrival point, I began telling JB that he would see Santa soon! I told JB that he would take a picture with Santa and sit on his lap. JB said "I not sit on Santa's lap." I said "OK, you can sit on Mommy's lap and sit beside Santa." He agreed. Santa arrived, finally! HC and JB jumped, screamed and rejoiced with all of the other waiting children! I was elated!! My son was NOT in tears and Santa even gave JB a high five when he passed us!!

We had fun and we created memories for sure this Christmas! Here - see for yourself!

After waiting 50 minutes, the enthusiasm and the will to entertain themselves had passed.

The entry to Santa's world.Posing for Mommy, while we waited, because bloggy Mommies require this!Peeking at Santa with the strangers in line. Don't know the Mom or boy in the photo. This was the best I could take when Santa arrived. I missed catching my babies but you can sort of see the joy. Every picture I took had this sweet boy blocking one or both of my babies! Oh well. Trust me to say they were thrilled!! They were so busy jumping and spinning that most pictures were like this - pieces of them!The end result!! Our first picture JB took with Santa without tears!!! If you look carefully, you can see my sweatshirt behind JB's head and my jeans beneath him. Santa only had his arm around my little guy! :)

The end result was great!! JB took a precious photo and HC was elated!!! Santa asked HC what she wanted for Christmas and HC said "I want a purple baby with a purple pacifier." Santa turned to JB and asked the same. JB clung to me for dear life and said "NO! No, I don't want Santa." So I stood up and let Santa ask him from afar. JB did not answer Santa, so this wise man asked "Do you want toys for Christmas JB?" JB smiled and said "Yes, toys." We had a successful event! HC was upset that we left without her purple baby. That took a little explaining! :) I felt like I had been through a marathon, but it ended well!

(I won't even complain that the workers arrived at the very same moment Santa arrived and took another 15 minutes before we were able to see Santa officially. I won't even mention how dumb that was! Aren't I nice?? If I wait 1 hour with 2 little ones, another 15 minutes IS a big deal! That's it! I'm done! Merry Christmas to all, even to the "elves" who made us wait.)

MorningSong

P*tty training problem

How do you p*tty train a child who is scared of public t*ilets?? My son covers his ears when we bring my daughter to go p*tty and has ever since one of those automatic t*ilets went off when he least expected it. My daughter was frightened when that happened too but she realized I had her and that everything was ok. My son panics when I put him on the big p*tty at home and when I asked him to try to go while we were out running errands yesterday, the fear in his voice concerned me. Has anyone out there dealt with this??

I personally love the automatic flush of the public t*ilets but they have brought fear to my son. We use a tot-sized p*tty at home but what about when we are out?? Any ideas??

You should never (**updated**)

You should never come home, after a few hours to yourself and expect things to go right on schedule. Because your kids will wake up from their naps hungry (they chose not to eat before they took the nap) and fussy.

You should never let your son decide to p*tty train, on an off afternoon, when his sister is unusually fussy. If she is whiny and wanting to be held at every moment, p*tty training can be tricky. (I am more than thrilled to begin this milestone, we have been waiting anxiously to begin the process. I am glad JB felt like trying and did great!! One accident in 4 hours time. He went to the potty a total of 4 times, once he began using the p*tty. I actually ALMOST offered him a diaper because I was so not in the mood to do this now! But I fought the urge and we ended the night with a win. We are eager and ready to start the process again today.)

You should never expect to sit down while p*tty training a 2.5 year old and dragging a 4 year old behind you. Your son (2.5 year old) will need constant supervision to make sure he remains dry in between trips to the p*tty. Your daughter (4 year old) will just drive you crazy at some point while this event is under way. You will want ear plugs - but not have them. You will want water proof undies (without the irritating plastic pants) but you will need to chase the toddler around like a shadow in hopes he stays dry.

You should never try to figure out how to fix a few email/blog kinks while trying to feed your kids and get them settled for bed. The phone will ring, your son will need to try to go p*tty and your daughter will cry that she isn't hungry. Once the meal is over your daughter will then cry because "she is even MORE hungry". You will be forced to demand her to put on her PJ's and get ready for bed, when you really want to comfort her. You will then realize your daughter MAY need to see the Pediatrician since you cannot figure out what all the whining is about.

You should never think this will not happen to you, because..... it might! :) All this happening while your hubby is at a meeting. LIFE happens when you least expect it, but that is what makes it fun! Right??

UPDATE

You should never think that was the end of the story. I posted this last night for today and the story did not end there. HC has had an on again off again fever all week - so yes - pediatrician appt today. She had a virus Saturday - Sunday for 24 hours. Now, back to last night!

You should never think you are out of the clear because the kids are asleep. JB woke vomiting twice. Can you believe he tried to p*tty train feeling sick??? I am amazed. So, since we are going to the pediatrician already... JB will be seen too! It is the worst not feeding your kids when they are hungry but you are not sure if their tummy is ready or not!

On our way away from diapers!!!!

(This was our re-enactment.)

YIPPEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOOOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT IS TIME TO CELEBRATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My 2.5 year old son has had NO interest in potty training AT. ALL!! Until about 2 weeks ago. JB revealed to me that he felt he would fall into the big potty so we finally went to the storage unit and dug out the little potty AGAIN! We had tried potty training about 6 months ago and he did ok but was clueless really.

So once we brought the potty home, he sat on it for about 15 minutes without getting up once. He was thrilled we had it. That was the end of potty time. He could care less again. This morning he told my husband that he wanted to p*op on the potty and so he sat for awhile. HC sat on a stool near him for encouragement and advise. Nothing happened.

(This was taken immediately after he p*oped. Notice the thrilled expression.)
So just a few minutes ago, I smelled p*op and began to change his diaper. I realized that I caught it at the beginning stage and that he wasn't finished. I cleaned him up and let him sit on the potty with his truck. A few minutes later WE HAD P*OP IN THE POTTY AND A PROUD LITTLE MAN!!!!!!! What a big day! I hope this is the beginning of our breakthrough and I hope he keeps going in the potty and doesn't lose his focus. We are beyond ready for him to be done with diapers. His diapers are beginning to make scratch marks on his legs. He is really too big. So today we celebrate!! HOORAY HOORAY!! (Oh, and he called his p*op a turtle! haha)

Contests Won and Potty Talk

Last Monday was my daughter's 4th birthday and look at the cool surprise that was in the mail for me!! I won this over at Pinks and Blues Girls, for the Dog Days of Summer Giveaway. There blog is one of my favorites!! They are always up to fun stuff and they have good advice too!



Isn't this Donna Karan bag great?!




Now, in true Pinks and Blues fashion they didn't just send me the bag I won. They also added this great little prize too! Watermelon scented Face Cream/Sunscreen by Korres. It smells yummy!!!! Thanks Pinks and Blues! I was thrilled to find my goodie bag and boy is it bigger than I expected!










The Pinks and Blues Girls are hosting another contest. This one is about the dreaded bathroom experiences us girls must suffer through! Sharon asked us to share a bathroom story! So here goes... My story is from teaching my daughter to go potty. During the process of potty training, we must give praise to our kids. We want to encourage them and keep the deposits going into the potty and not the diaper. As a result, when I took my daughter to potty we would make a big deal of her success. Then one day, my daughter decided I deserved a little praise. It was Christmas time and the malls were full and so were the bathrooms. We finally have our turn and HC made it without an accident! (I was worried she wouldn't make it after we had to wait so long.) She tee teed, I quietly praised her and then I decided I better go too! I pottied and then my HC shouts, from the top of her voice, 'YEAAAA Mommy went tee tee on the potty!! HOORAY Mommy, you did a great job! I'm so proud of you. Now, wipe your butt Mommy.' Needless to say, we received many understanding looks and a lot of giggles! Such a fun and humbling experience! If you want to share your potty story, or if you want to read other potty talk, then head on over to Pinks and Blues and see what is up for grabs! I tell you that it is a worthy reward!

I go Tee Tee in the Potty!

Ok all you moms of boys. How is this done? Yesterday was our first real effort to teach JB to go tee tee on the potty. We tried earlier this year and he had a stomach bug so we stopped. I put the big boy underwear on JB and he was proud. Every time he had to tee tee, he did. He tee teed in 6 pair of underwear. :) Is this step normal with boys? When I ask him, where do you go tee tee? He says, "I go tee tee in the potty Mommy."

At one point he was outside playing and when we came in he was wet. I said "JB did you tee tee in your underwear?" He said, "No, I tee tee in the grass." I looked at my husband with shock, thinking my husband let him tee tee outside. He quickly said "I didn't do it". I wouldn't mind JB tee teeing outside but we don't have a fence, and you know my husband would have to show him how this works. So, anyway that is why I was concerned with that! haha

I didn't have this issue with HC. If her panties were wet she was upset. JB could wear wet underwear with no qualm!! Any ideas on what I should do next? I've heard that once you start with the underwear - don't turn back. Any advice Moms??