Pumpkin Patch -- it's that time again

It's already the end of October and this month flew by with us almost missing the pumpkin patch. With our ongoing potty training efforts we had about an hour to play. I was not about to introduce Eli to a port-a-potty.

ENJOY!

Who's Training Who?

So we have completed day 4 of potty training. Eli is making progress and things are coming along. So far we have experienced:

1. I hope I'm not creating a Pavlov's dog scenario. What I mean by that is I have been using my cell phone timer to go off every 30 minutes. It goes off, we head to the potty. I hope as an adult he doesn't feel the need to use the restroom every time the microwave goes off.

2. I don't think he's quite ready to tell me when he's ready to go on his own. We have had a few successes where he has told me before but mainly it's been an accident followed by uh-oh then finishing on the potty. So I've been asking the first time after 30 minutes, letting him say, no, that's always his response, then taking him after another 15 minutes.

3. He is boy through-and-through. We tried a reward system with stickers first, then marshmallows (until we found out about the egg allergy), then fruit snacks. He could care less about any of those.

His biggest motivator, the ability to pee on things. I found a wasp in the house and went to flush it. His first question was, can I tee-tee on it. Since then he has tee-tee'd on fruit loops, cheerios, toilet paper, and he loves to go outside to tee-tee on the grass like the dogs. Whatever.

Over the last two days we've been averaging only 2 accidents per day. I think it's good but it's also me keeping him on a schedule. He has no problem going on the potty so I don't think there's any turning back.

He has also stayed dry through his naps two days in a row. That was something that was not happening before this week.

I've been stir crazy staying at home so we made a 1 hour outing to Target today with success. Whew. We will try another outing tomorrow.

This will probably be my last potty-talk post. So pictures and funny stories next time!

Day 1

Day 1 Casualties:

6 undies

1 pair yoga pants

1 tank top

Overall I would consider today a success. We did have several accidents but mainly progress. 30 minutes can really fly. Most accidents were because I didn't take him to the potty within the allotted time. When the accidents did happen he would stop himself, say tee-tee, then we'd run to the potty. I'm very satisfied with today. There are several funny things that I have to share.

One: According to Eli, "He's too big" for his potty seat. So it makes for fun times. I would say we used it 25% of the time. The other 75% of the time was pure mommy arm muscles. I guess a trip to Home Depot for the dual-potty seat will be in store.

Two: Eli is a boy. He has different apparatus that I have to watch out for, hence the yoga pants and tank top causality.

Three: This might be TMI but I crack up every time. Eli told me he "Poo-poo'd a wildebeest." I love his imagination!

We also had a photo shoot this evening. I don't know what got into him but he wanted pictures taken. These were all his choice of poses.

With Big Bear.

My sweet pea. Doesn't he look like a real boy here? Sniff-sniff, tear.

One with his buddies Woody and Buzz.

And showing off how he is a little kid.

I love this kid so much it's ridiculous!

First half-day of PT

Today is a big day. Eli has shown many signs that he is ready to make the transition from diaper to potty. Today was our first day. I actually wasn't going to start until Tuesday but some things happened and it started today after church.

We made a family trip to BuyBuy Baby to buy our "supplies" and Eli was really excited to put on his "little kid undies" and use his new potty seat. Brent and I stared at each other and thought, why not?

Hand-picked by Mr. Eli.

So . . . . Day 1:

Potty training started at about 2:00p.m. We escorted him to the bathroom every 20 - 30 minutes with no questions asked. It was more of "Okay. Time to potty" or as Eli says, "Make yellow tee-tee."

He produced some amount of tee-tee everytime he sat on the potty and was very pleased with himself. He only had 2 accidents in which both times happened in Brent's lap at the end of a 30 minute stretch. During both accidents he stopped himself, yelled, "Tee-tee" and finished in the potty.

Now, I know this has only been about 6 hours of training but at this point I'm feeling hopeful. I will post tomorrow and let you know if I feel the same!

In his little kid undies! Doesn't he look excited?

I also can't stop giving him love spanks on his tiny-hiney. It is so dang cute!

Naps Are Overrated

OR NOT!!!