There was no time like the present and we had put it off long enough- she was ready even though we were dreading it...it was time to tackle potty training this last weekend! It was a good time to do it because I would have 4 full days at home with Ruthie for training, day 5 (today) we're calling in help from Grandma and keeping her home from daycare and I'll be home tomorrow for day 6. Then she's off to the real world Wednesday at daycare.
I've read my fair share about different methods and we went for the full immersion no turning back reward system...and it worked! I am ecstatic at how well she did and though it was a very long and tiring process (still is) I think we can call it a total success! First off we got suuuper excited about going to the store to pick out panties (Disney princesses, hello kitty and princess Sophia were her picks) then we picked out special treats (m&m's, skittles, and teddy grahams) and talked a lot about going potty, potty, potty.
Thursday morning we said bye-bye to the diaper and pulled on her new undies. Every 30 mins we tried to go and when there was success (even a little) we had a dance party, sang a song, got to flush the potty (her favorite part), washed hands, got a treat and sticker for her sticker chart above. When she got enough stickers for going potty we talked about going and getting ice cream with Mommy and Daddy- really building this up as a major goal to accomplish and work towards- she bought was I was selling (thank God) because let's be honest it could have gone completely the other way and been a disaster knowing her feisty little self. But what I've realized is that her attitude is 80% what mine is so I was faking it til we were making it. She peed probably 20 times the first day (thanks to pushing 'special' drinks of watered down chocolate milk, flavored waters, etc.) which gave us a plethora of opportunities for success. She even half pooped on the potty because luckily we were right next to it when she needed to go right then and I shoved her on it. She only had one major pee accident and then rest were just 'uh oh I have to go' realizations when a little would start to come out and then we'd run to the potty to finish. Then we repeated for the next 3 days. We're at the point now where that isn't even happening anymore and she's telling us when she needs to go and running in there. Poop is another story- we're still working on that due to lack of opportunity (I hope she's not holding it?) - and we are still doing a diaper at nap time and bed time. I've been very surprised that since we've started there has hardly been anything in the diaper after nap or bed and she's going a lot right away after waking- that has been a pleasant surprise!
As for me, I'm exhausted but so proud of her and myself- I really think I set her up for success by having a plan and hanging in there. I honestly couldn't wait for nap time and bed time to come so I could get a break, it really was constant work to monitor her and keep her (us) happy throughout the process. But like most things
*I am mostly saying 'I' because while Mike has helped a little with the process- the majority has fallen on my shoulders and he'll admit that, too. He can make up for it next weekend when I leave him for a day and half on his own :)
day 1: showing off our panties!
sending success selfies to daddy and the grandmas!
waiting, waiting, there it is!
first sticker chart complete = ice cream treat!
