DIP BACK TO MY BAG OF TRICKS...

it feels like i was just doing this,

but i guess it has been almost two years.

every kid is different and gets things in their own time.

and every parent is different and does things in their own way too.

which is why potty training is one of those topics i typically steer clear

from bringing it up in my general mom conversations.

it's right up there with what do you think is the best form of schooling?

tell me your thoughts on diapers, sleep schedules, bedtimes, etc?

how do you feel about nursing, formula, juice, soda, organics, fast food?

but when i stumble upon something another mom took the time to share, 

i am thankful for a glimpse of what works for others. 

it helps me to see different ideas in action and apply them to our situation as it fits.

so here's my two cents on potty training lessons at our house.

last week graham and i went into lock down mode,
rolled up my sleeves, rolled up every rug in the house, and went for it.
we got rid of all diapers cold turkey and introduced the potty for the first time.

i used this 3-day potty training guide again (as i did with adelaide).

you can order the guide from the website above and it outlines EVERYTHING you will need to know.

i highly recommend this e-book (completely my opinion, she has no clue who i am).

i READ IT ALL and stuck with it as closely as possible.

it includes such important details i wouldn't have thought of on my own.
a few of the things that are quite hard to do for three days straight, but i think make the most difference are:
don't talk on your phone
don't to let the trainee out of your sight for a second
stay at home

my potty training survival kit was filled with:

kool-aid for mom and kid alike

m&m's, wipes, and stickers handy in the bathroom

sticker chart hanging in the bathroom

a potty checklist hanging near potty

 

family members ready to answer the phone and cheer

during quick success calls from the trainee

a hidden stash of "big" prizes for #2 success

underwear, and lots of it

plenty of laundry detergent

some new books, puzzles, stickers, or games to play together

cheat sheet of approved phrases to ask the trainee

a fridge full of groceries that are easy to make

for breakfasts, lunches, and dinners (or better yet delivery).

DAY ONE:
he attempted to go about 40 times.
was successful for T- 9 times, P- 1 time.
4 accidents while playing, 4 accidents at naptime, 3 accidents in the restroom. went through 12 pairs of underwear and 6 shirts.

didn't want to eat much but drank almost an entire pitcher of strawberry kool-aid. i couldn't tell if he was tiptoeing and spinning around from all that sugar or need to potty. will definitely dilute it tomorrow!

naptime was definitely the worst time of the day. 
he slept 20 minutes. woke up screaming saying needed to potty (but was already soaking wet), took him to go, didn't go, repeated cycle 3 more times, before i gave up on putting him back in his bed to pee in it anymore/i ran out of clean sheets. i texted evan around 2pm and said i might quit (thankful now i didn't).

at bedtime he cried quite a bit again about having to go potty, but eventually fell asleep, woke up wet at 4:30am. insisted he needed to potty more and tried until 5am when i gave up waiting and put him back into bed. only cried a few minutes back to sleep. woke up at 9:30am dry!

DAY TWO:

he attempted to go 15 times.

was successful for T- 5 times, P- 1 time.

went through 2 pairs of underwear.

spent a lot of the day in the backyard playing and "washing" his toy cars.

he successfully  went right before nap, but still cried a bit before going to sleep saying he needed to go. fell asleep shortly then i heard him whimpering in sleep after 45 minutes, took him to try (pretty much in his sleep but he didn't go). laid him back down and slept three more hours. poor kid, potty training is exhausting.

played some games and read some books. didn't  have another accident the rest of the day and kept telling us when he needed to go. woo-hoo!

went to bed hesitantly (and after getting up to potty four times) but fell asleep quickly. took him to try again around midnight .

DAY THREE:

woke up dry and it seemed like it really clicked.

i continued to remind him countless times to tell me when he needed to go, and he continued to do so most of the time.  we played with sidewalk chalk and cars in between requested potty breaks. that night we ventured out of the house for the first time to get ice cream to celebrate, and the trip was without an accident.

DAY FOUR AND FIVE AND BEYOND:

we stayed home most of the day saturday, then went to church on sunday and he successfully went potty there and at lunch afterward. it's definitely still a work in progress, accidents happen here and there, but i'd say he is well on his way to being fully potty trained during the day and night. WAY TO GO KIDDO.

(*pooping took several months and a load of patience to completely conquer, but the boot camp of training definitely worked for getting the basics in place)

MY FAVORITE GRAHAM QUOTES FROM THE WEEK:

I'm doing great! I'm just right.

Sorry mom. I just got a WITTLE grape POOL-aid on my arm. My cup slipped.

Let's make another HOOGE strawberry POOL-aid and another HOOGE grape POOL-aid!

Dear God, take it out, take it out, take it out.

It's working, it's working! My teetee is working!

I'm just right! I'm not pooping on Thomas. I'm just right!

I not poop on Mike Wozawski. I'm doing better and better.

ADELAIDE'S FAVORITE MOMENTS OF THE WEEK:

When she was home she cheered Graham on,

but thanks to awesome friends and family she got invited to go swimming twice,

taken and picked up from preschool, and went to an Astros game

while potty training took over our house for a bit.