Potty Time!

At about 18 months MJ went through a very short stage where he seemed interested in potty training.  We bought him a little potty, he went on it a couple times, and then the phase was over with.  Since then, he's shown no interest.  We've bought a few books to read to him and talk about it every so often trying to hype it up, but he didn't seem to exhibit most of the signs that they say a toddler will show when they're ready for this stage.  Definitely wasn't staying dry, or anywhere close it it, at night time, didn't seem to mind being in a dirty diaper, want to be changed, etc.  When we'd mention going potty he'd usually say "no!" and even threw the potty chair down the steps once.  Nice!  It really didn't seem like he was ready, so we didn't force it. 

In an ideal world, I was hoping he'd be potty trained before the baby arrived, but I wasn't overly optimistic and as her birth is getting closer and closer, I was realizing it was a very slim chance.  We recently started feeling like maybe he was ready to give it a shot, but we weren't sure if it was wise to start it right before the baby came along.  It seems like research shows that many toddlers will regress once a new baby comes home, and in all honesty as I was nearing the end of pregnancy I wasn't sure I had the energy it took.  Just when we were kind of debating what to do, MJ made his move!  Last weekend he came to me and wanted to be changed immediately after he'd had a wet diaper.  I tried putting him on the potty, we read a couple books, and he went!!  I was so excited, and made sure he knew just how proud I was with lots of love and praise.  We called Daddy to tell him the news and took pictures and Daddy even brought him home a small present (a new car, of course)!  He went potty a couple times that day, even a #2, and so off we went to buy underwear.  He picked out some Cars and Thomas the Train big boy underwear and we grabbed a bag of Pull-Ups for nap time/night time.  The next couple days were filled with some successes, but he really wanted nothing to do with wearing underwear.  Looking back, we probably should have forced it, but even getting him to wear the Pull-Ups seemed like quite a battle.  I've always heard it's best just to make the switch and go from diapers straight to underwear or the cloth training pants, but I knew he was not ready for those during sleep time, and maybe I hesitated too much.  Who knows, but then it seems like things have just digressed the last few days. He started feeling bad again, so I'm sure that hasn't helped, and he's been solely in diapers for the last few days.  He still wants to be changed right away when he's dirty, so I guess that continues to be a good sign, although he now knows how to take his pants down, take his diaper off himself, and bring it to you.  Lovely!  ;) 

Less than a week away from delivery now, and with him quite sick right now, I doubt we'll force the issue too much from here.  I figure that with winter setting in and having a new baby, we're going to be at home A LOT, so it might be the perfect time to put a greater focus on it then.  We'll need to get dedicated and set a timer and put him on the potty at regular intervals and really try to work on it.  I think he's on the brink of it, so hopefully with a little dedication on our part, it will all click soon.  Until then, a few cute pictures to share of our potty training adventure last weekend.  His pride and excitement was adorable!....

 Yay, MJ!  He went pee pee on the potty for the first time since 18 mos. 

 Waiting in line with his new underwear

Reading his books and being patient waiting for the magic to happen! 

Oh, and on a side note, I bought him the book Everyone Poops, and I must say it's quickly become his favorite book at the moment and of course the first one he's memorized.  Go figure! It's so funny and cute to listen to him read it aloud over and over and over.