Potty Training

We're in the midst of our first try at potty training. I say 'first try' because I'm not so sure yet that we won't quit and have to give it a second, third, or fourth try. I knew potty training would be hard, but I didn't really realize how exhausting it would be. I feel like I've spent an eternity in our bathroom and that I've stared at my child looking for any sign of 'needing to go' for every second of every day.

Anyway, we started Saturday morning by throwing a potty party. Now, we didn't do it all out like the potty training pro recommends by decorating the whole house, wrapping up a potty present, having potty games, etc., but we did put up some balloons, a sticker chart, and pull out some birthday party hats. I'll have to take a pic of the sticker chart I made. I was pretty proud of it - it's a train because Daniel loves trains and because then we can call it the "potty train." Get it??

We've had some ups and downs. On Saturday he was shocked each time he peed and didn't really know what to do. Now he will wave his hands up and down and say, "Daniel doesn't need to pee!" which is, logically, code for "Daniel does need to pee!" I think that's progress....right?

He's had quite a few accidents (try 5 pairs of underwear in 1 1/2 hours), but he's also had 3 of 5 days that were completely accident-free (well, except nap and bedtime - pull-ups come out for those times).

And I've stooped to new lows that I didn't know were possible to try and get the child to sit on the potty for an extended period of time. Our bathroom literally looks like a playroom, covered in balloons, bubble wands, books, his new piano, stickers, trains, his mobigo, and mirrors. At one point, I had built a tent with blankets and cushions around the frog potty, was playing Daniel's favorite CD, and blowing bubbles at him to try and make him sit still.

The only major issue we've had is the poop - or lack thereof. He hasn't gone since Monday morning, and he's actually never gone in the potty. He has to go so ridiculously bad, but he's holding it in. So that's fun for everyone. I rented Elmo's Potty Time DVD from the library and have let him watch it twice, thinking he would be happy to poop once he saw everyone else doing it......Nothing! Then we even tried to imitate Thomas the Train on the phone, posing as the train who really wanted Daniel to poop, but.......No such luck. Prunes for dinner, anyone?