Life has been a bit crazy lately. On top of daily chores and the busyness of life with two little girls, over the last month we have (or should I say Stephen has) dug out our doorway to create an entryway and front yard, gutted and partially remodeled our main bathroom, refinanced our home and last but not least...
Sunday morning Pear woke up wearing diapers. Sunday afternoon we changed that. I had been planning on potty training a few weeks ago but something always came up. Actually, I tried potty training 2 months ago, when Pear just turned two but after 2 days of peeing on the floor and not the slightest acknowledgement from her that she knew what she was doing or expressing any excitement to wear panties or go on the potty (she was actually very stubborn and demanded that I put a diaper back on her), I threw in the towel and decided to wait a month or so. Well it had been a month or so and things weren't getting any less busy so I put Pear and Jovie in the new minivan (yes, we got a minivan much to my dismay but I LOVE IT!) and we headed over to TOYS R US to get some big girl panties and a little potty of Pear's very own. Pear was very excited to use her potty, and even more to wear her princess panties!
I decided to go cold turkey. No training pants, no turning back, this is it. Some people say this is the three day method, it took me more than three days so I'll just stick with cold turkey. So, Pear was sporting her panties and telling and showing everyone (sorry Doug and Wyatt) in our house. We sat, and sat, and sat on the potty. We read book after book. Played with toys yet, as soon as we got up or I turned my back, I'd find a puddle on the floor. You may think "oh, she just wasn't paying attention," not so. Stephen will attest to this. I have spent EVERY minute possible with her.
For my reference, I'm going to break this up a little.
Day 1: Sunday, April 26, 2009Learning to relax on the potty and let "peeps and poops" go in the potty. How? Being with her every minute to catch her when she begins to pee and set her on the potty. I followed her everywhere, carrying her potty from room to room.
Success:
NONE!
Peeps on potty=0
Poops on potty=1
Peeps on floor=3
Day 2: Monday, April 27, 2009Still learning to relax on the potty and let "peeps and poops" go in the potty. Continuing to be with her every minute and following from room to room with potty.
Success:
Feels like NONE!
Peeps on potty=1
Poops on potty=3
Peeps on floor=5
Day 3: Tuesday, April 28, 2009Learning to recognize the feeling before "peeps" comes. Still with her EVERY waking minute and following from room to room with potty. Now we just have to make it to the potty.
Success:
We've got the "poops" thing down. We're able to relax on the potty a little. If I catch her midstream, she'll finish the job on the potty. Granted, it's hard to put her on the potty midstream without making a disastrous mess on the floor. I am very frustrated at this point, in tears and feeling like it shouldn't be this hard.
Peeps on potty=2
Poops on potty=1
Peeps on floor=4
Day 4: Wednesday, April 29, 2009We're able to relax on the potty, now we need to recognize the feeling and make it to the potty and learn to tell mommy that " I have to go potty".
Success:
She might be catching on, yet the next time I feel like she has no clue! I am very tired of spending every waking minute next to a little potty and not getting any housework done.
Peeps on potty=2
Poops on potty=1
Peeps on floor=3
Day 5: Thursday, April 30, 2009She still hasn't told me when she has to go. I am still following her closely trying to catch her before she goes so that she makes it to the potty. Basically, we're are getting closer but not there yet.
Success:
We finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel! She told me once before she had to go. She made it on the potty without peeing on the floor almost every time!
Peeps on potty=4
Poops on potty=2
Peeps on floor=1
Day 6: Friday, May 1, 2009So far, she has told me every time she has had to go (twice) and we've made it to the potty without any accidents. The potty is now staying in the same place (no longer following her around with it) and we are able to make it. I think we're potty trained!
Ahhhh. These were the hardest 5 days I have ever spent (next to the sleepless nights when Jovie was first born)! I have spent time crying, praying, venting to my mom, venting to Stephen, counting to ten in order to react in a positive way when we didn't make it to the potty again. HOURS have been spent cleaning floors and doing laundry, and DAYS, yes, literally probably 40 hours have been spent sitting next to a sweet little girl patiently waiting and trying to be a big girl.
The feelings I felt while going through this:
I don't want any more kids!
I hate this!
Why is this so darn hard?
The feelings I now feel that we're pretty much over it?
What relief!
We did it!
I can do this again.
I still want more kids.
I picked up this pool for Pear and Jovie and it was well worth the few dollars it cost! Pear has spent hours going in circles up and down the slide and Jovie would spend hours in there if I'd let her.
These are pictures from Tumwater Historical Park. It is such a great park. Perfect for big kids and little kids as they have two great playgrounds. There is a huge lawn to run around on and of course the ducks are always fun to watch!
