Potty training part deux

Potty training Part one was not a success.

I gave birth to a male chauvinist 2.5 years ago. He was showing signs of it before he knew the difference between girls and boys.

You see back in November, when his dad was finished with him at the end of the 10 days he painstakingly spent training the little fella, Nathan would go to the bathroom for daddy, no problem. But as soon as daddy went back to work, it was nothing but turmoil between mother and son.

It was back in March I decided that my relationship with him was more important than him being potty trained at 2 years, 5 months. Here's what I wrote then...
"I have officially taken a potty-training sabbatical and will revisit it when he actually shows an interest. I've lowered my standards enough to be okay with Kindergarten peer-pressure finally being the attention-grabber he's been needing."

So, let's try it again...
-6 months later
-he's more mature
-I'm more strict
-And I'm a mother tired of wiping man-size/adult-smelling poops off a squirmy hiney 5 times bigger than his brother's when I know he's PERFECTLY CAPABLE of going on the potty if he WANTED TO!

So, today was T minus zero days and sister was here to eagerly help him pick out which pair of underwear he wanted.

Good luck to us all.

Nathan update

It's been so long since blogging, and I officially spent 2 hours tonight uploading pictures, doing some minor editing and writing out a list of 13 topics I could easily write about. If only I had a whole day to devote to it...

One of them was too hard to pass up for tonight, even with the clock as far as along as it is, and my sleeping still a major priority. The big news is: Nathan has officially moved to a Big Boy Bed!

Since we are in the process of preparing a nursery, there is a place for the crib to go and he was ready to transition. "Two and a half? That a little early, Kel?" you might say. But I say, oh contraire! It was only Tuesday night of this week the little mini Houdini escaped from his crib 10 TIMES!

Daddy knew it was serious when about 3pm the next day, he received an email stating:
"We need to talk about this tonight!"
With the following picture attached to a Walmart link for purchase:

So, displaying the Solomon-esque wisdom he usually shows during the times I'm ready to "cage my problems away", Jim calmly replied he'd work with him that night, for me not to worry, he'd take care of Nathan until he got to sleep.

Whoo! (wiping the perspiration from my brow) I know we as parents aren't supposed to compare children, because I do recall some hard times with "her" also...

a month before Nathan was born

But the "boy" seems to be a little more stubborn, hard-headed, strong-willed, etc. than I recall from "her". Although, I'm sure having 2 of them running in circles around my rotund figure has absolutely NOTHING to do with my level of patience.

I digress... Daddy took the lead for bed time on Wednesday, laid down the law, and I got to be the back-rubber/sweet-talker/comforter for the come-to-Jesus meeting between the men that night.

So far, knock on wood, it's been smooth sailing staying in the big boy bed. Even in the morning, he stays there until I dismiss him. I know, it's only been two nights and I'm jumping the gun, but I'm pretty proud of that little stinker. It's crazy how children respond to different parenting styles. Thankfully, God had all this figured out before the universe was formed. I'm so glad someone knows how to handle all this.

Tonight's bedtime was worthy of picture taking. The little booger was doing this (see below) in his crib months ago and periodically still does. It was the major reason I attempted potty-training soon after he turned 2. The diaper comes off and nature calls. Sometimes I was lucky enough to catch it before it caused the assembly of a midnight cleanup brigade, like I did tonight. But unfortunately there were days when nature called fairly quickly and I had either a clean-up or a MAJOR clean-up to deal with. And might I just add: poop smeared on the sheets, blankets, bumper pad, toys, body, pajamas and in between the crib's spindles takes a good 2 full days to recover from. It only took four MAJOR cleaning episodes for me to figure out the "jet" setting on the outside hose is the most efficient pre-cleaning method available. That would also be the reason I was rummaging around the side shed looking for painters tape one night about 11pm so I could tape his diaper on so he couldn't get it off. Hence my temporary loss of sanity here lately.

Luckily, tonight was one of those nights I caught it in time.
Notice the wardrobe pieces on the floor? And yes, that is a clipart monster truck covering him.

I have officially taken a potty-training sabbatical and will revisit it when he actually shows an interest. I've lowered my standards enough to be okay with Kindergarten peer-pressure finally being the attention-grabber he's been needing.

In the meantime, I hope, but mostly pray, he'll continue to be the big boy his new bed demands, potty-training can wait and loving the little twirp to pieces needs to be my main goal.

How could I not? Just yesterday as he was standing on my bed, he gently rubbed the sides of my cheeks with both his hands and said, "Mama, you so pwetty."

Potty-training: Part deux

We're quickly approaching another major milestone in our family: it's Nathan's turn to learn how to use the potty.

Disclaimer: Son, I know one day when you're looking through the book of all these posts and you find this one, you will be thoroughly disgusted with me. Pictures of you in your underwear, riding a Disney Princess scooter, in the front yard are not the ideal images you'd like portrayed of your budding man-ness. But know this, you've given me enough strife over this potty-training thing that I consider it only fair. I love you dearly now and forever, but that doesn't mean I won't pull out some naked baby pictures of you on your first date if I need to. I am THE KEEPER OF THE PHOTOS in this house and I take my job seriously. Hugs and kisses. Mama :)

I knew I was in for a tad bit of trouble when months ago if I mentioned anything about the potty, his reaction would be a resounding, "NO!"

I would entice him to look in the direction of the potty seat by driving a monster truck around the Dora-decorated rim, and he would shout, "NO Mama! I no sit on the potty!"

I would have incentives (lollipops and brand new dinosaur cards) to get him half-way interested in what goes in and around the potty. No such luck.
So when Daddy announced that he had the whole week of Thanksgiving off, I knew just what to do.

Jim's new nickname: Boy Potty-Training Expert

You see, if daddy mentioned trying out the potty, Nathan would follow him like a little puppy and willingly sit. Maybe for only 4 seconds, but at least he'd try for daddy.

So, unlike many other Thanksgiving holidays most men spent, my gracious husband spent his tied to the house and his little leaking shadow. Jim was successful in getting Nathan to sit, be still, pay attention to internal cues and we're down to about one accident per day.
"Nathan's Pee-Pee Monster Truck Chart" wasn't as big a hit as "Katherine's Pee-Pee Star Chart". He got the concept: every time he went #1 or #2, he got to color in a monster truck and 5 colored monster trucks meant he got to pick out a new coveted book. She thrived on coloring each star after success. Nathan was more interested in coloring the whole page and my fingers covering the rest of the other monster trucks were just in the way.

We're enjoying the new fashion styles running around the house. Tiny hineys not in diapers = major cuteness. We've transitioned from Princesses and Dora to Buzz Lightyear, Lightning McQueen and Diego.
Daddy was so good, that when Katherine and I returned from her dance lessons that first evening, him and Nathan had prepared supper and also our first official "Poo-poo cake." There was #2 success while we were gone and he decided to celebrate by baking a cake. Is he proud or what?