Pee Pee in the potty....

Isabelle is now 19 months old and we are entering uncharted waters as we begin to think about.... the dreaded potty training.  If I had my druthers we'd be forever finished with diapers.  Not only are they costly drains but Jarrett and I both agree, the smells and odors are horrible (especially with the #2s).

So for the last couple of months I've been brainstorming how this whole potty training business is going to go.  I was nervous about getting rid of the whole pacifier and that went as easy as a cool fall breeze.  And then I was nervous about how getting rid of the bottle was going to go, and that was even easier than I expected.  So that leads me to going to the potty on a big girl potty.

My aunt gave Isabelle this beautiful wooden potty chair that has a book shelf and its own toilet paper dispenser.  Seriously it is so nice, we are afraid to use it for its actual purpose.  Instead it is Isabelle's chair for her favorite stuffed animals.  Realizing that we couldn't come to terms with using something so nice as a potty chair we went and got a cheap chair that we hope will serve its function (and we won't worry about ruining it). 

 

Although I'm ready to get rid of diapers, I'm definitely not in a rush.  I think I'm going to just take things as they go and follow Isabelle's lead (of course while offering an encouraging push along the way).  I started a few weeks ago talking to her about the potty and taking her along with me while I go.  Although its been years since I've had privacy when I go to the bathroom (okay that's probably TMI) but it just seems that when ever I have to go pee, the boys have an URGENT, must be answered now question that requires speaking to me while I go.  And I won't even bring up the fun that is taking all three children to the bathroom with me when I'm out in public or at a park, and since we are all there, we might as well all go.  I'm sure other moms can relate right?

So back to my point.... I've been talking to Isabelle about going potty, allowing her to play with her potty, to take it apart, to assemble it, to step into it, what ever she wants to do to get acquainted, I'm okay.  It hasn't been "used" yet so might as well enjoy the unit in its most clean element.  Usually when we have "potty time" I'll take her, sit her on her potty, I'll sit on mine and I'll say, "Okay Isabelle let's go potty."  Usually its all for not, but at least she's starting to get the point of what its used for (not a place to put her toothbrush, which I think for a few days she thought it was a good holder). 

This past Friday night after dinner, I followed our normal routine and undressed her, sat her on her potty, I went pee, said my usual, "Let's go potty" cheer and then drew her bath water.  As I went over to her, still sitting on her chair, I told her she could stand up and as she did I saw it!

  I started screaming, which of course scared her because I was screaming for Jarrett to come from the other room.  I then then turned to her, smiled a HUGE smile, clapped my hands and cheered, "Isabelle you went pee pee in the potty!"  (Seriously we celebrate huge victories in our house).  Upon seeing me cheer, clap and celebrate she smiled from ear to ear, started clapping and jumping up and down.  I yelled again for dad to bring the M&M's which of course, signaled Gabriel and Michael that they too should respond immediately.  Moments later, all 5 of us were in our bathroom celebrating Isabelle's latest accomplishment.  We gave her two M&M's which she thought was AWESOME, followed by more clapping, smiling and bouncing up and down.  This was then followed by Michael's complaint that he wished he got M&M's for every time he went pee too. 

It was a wonderful moment.  I've never been more excited to see pee in my whole life.  I was so happy to see that Isabelle understood what her potty was for and that she was able to do it.  Even if it doesn't happen again for another 6, 9, even 12 months (let's hope not that long), I'm just happy for the moment it did happen. 

Who knows how this whole potty training thing will go.  I'm doing my best to follow the approach of letting things happen as they do.  And I figure we've got a lot of time.  I remember my mom telling me she was afraid I was going to wear diapers to Kindergarten.  I guess I didn't have any interest in using a potty.  And if I'm using that timeline as a guide, I've got loads of time.

Until next time,
Angie

PS:  Oh and to add to my excitement, the next morning Isabelle went pee again in the toilet.  Talk about hitting the jackpot.  What an exciting weekend!  (We lead a pretty exciting life right?)