Life After I "Dew"

The day I no longer have to buy diapers I might throw a party. I've never seen a Potty Party on Pinterest but I'm sure such a thing exists, right?

I kid, I kid.

But you guys {TMI alert}, I swear James poops more than any other kid on the planet. I am so over changing diapers.  In fact, Jimmy and I now play rock, paper, scissors to see who is going to change him.  Yes we do.  It's gotten that bad.  So, even if it's just Jimmy and I celebrating with some craft beers on the back  deck, I will be toasting to the day we say 'goodbye' to diapers.

I think the worst part about diapers is when they leak. Can I get an "AMEN!"? As James has gotten older, and since we started using Huggies exclusively, the leaks have gotten better but I can remember mornings when he would wake up drenched. I can't even comprehend how uncomfortable that has to be, sleeping in wet clothes. It never seemed to bother him, seeing as he's slept through the night since he was three months old, but the daily baths {and laundry} got old really quick.

I tried the expensive night time diapers, I always made sure he went to bed with a completely fresh diaper, I limited his liquids in the evenings but, no matter what, he always seemed to wake up totally soaked. Finally I just turned to Huggies Little Movers and was pleasantly surprised. Even though they aren't technically a night time diaper they held up all night and James was waking up with dry clothes {finally} every morning. Hallelujah, amen! No more early morning baths. No more early morning laundry. Dry baby = happy mommy {and baby}.

I tend to buy the smallest pack of things whenever I try something new, "just in case", and I vividly remember sending Jimmy to the store for more and saying, "make sure its HUGGIES LITTLE MOVERS, the ones with Mickey Mouse on them" as he was heading out the door and then again texting it to him once I knew he was at the store.  I'm pretty sure he then called me, with the box in hand, making sure he was holding the right ones because he knew how important this decision was {I am laughing as I type that}.

This post is part of a compensated campaign with Acorn Influence and Sam's Club but all my opinions are my own.

Let's talk about potty training for a second, shall we?

How the heck do you potty train a boy?

I know James is in no way, shape, or form ready.  He's completely clueless.  When I ask him, "James, did you poop?"  when he clearly has, he says, "nope!".  He poops five times a day {5!!!} so most of the time the answer should be "yes!!!".  He just learned all his body parts and how to count to 15 so I think we still have a while to go on the potty training.  And, honestly, I'm OK with that.

Potty training Kendall was a breeze.  We stayed home for three days during the training period.  I had two potty seats {one stayed in the living room, one in the playroom} available so that when the urge came we could act on it!  We also have three bathrooms so there was really no reason to have all the extra potty seats but, whatever, I wanted  her to have a potty available right!now! I stocked up on princess panties because she said if she had them she would use the potty.  Ok, whatever works.  We praised, rewarded, and celebrated every time she went {which she loved}.  But that was really all it took, three hardcore days at home and she was pretty much potty trained.

Of course going out in public those first few times are nerve-wracking and a constant, "do you have to go potty?!" on repeat.  I remember the first time we went out was at a restaurant and I took her straight to the potty.  I showed her how it looks different from the ones at home and made it an exciting thing.  I can vividly remember the first week after being potty trained we were driving on the freeway when she said, "mommy I hafta go pee".  She was in a Pull-Up but I didn't want to derail all the progress we had made so I pulled off on the first exit we came to and ran, as fast as I could, into Fazoli's to use their bathroom.  She had held it and waited till we got there and it was so awesome, I was so proud of her!

Now James is going to be a different story, I just know it.  I hear boys are harder anyway and I don't doubt that for one second.  I feel like I need to go to Sam's Club and stock up on Charmin Ultra Soft {now with 1000 more sheets, the perfect accessory}, baby wipes, Pull-Ups, Bounty paper towels {which handles big clean-ups and is 2X more absorbent so the roll, and your Sam’s Club pack, can last longer} and wine {for me, of course}.  It's going to be messy, I'm not excited about it.  Did I mention James poops no less than five {5!!!} times a day?  Yeah, I'll be happy when I don't have to change that every day.

So boy moms, help me out here!  I need your advice.  Do you teach them to sit or stand at first?  I'm thinking sitting sounds easier {and way less messy} but what do I know?  If you teach them to stand how do you avoid a giant mess everywhere?  What "tools" do I need {besides the ones listed above}? What type of undies to boys wear?  I personally think the boxer briefs look adorable!  Please share!

But first, Sam's Club and Charmin want to offer up $50 to Sam's Club to stock up on all your potty training accessories!  Enter below, good luck!


$50 Sam's Club Gift Card Giveaway for Charmin

I think it's safe to say Kendall is potty trained. Yep, after just one week of hardcore training. That's all it took.  Hopefully anyway.  That's not to say that we won't have accidents still, I know we will. But?  Girlfriend is smart and she is ready.

We started this journey last Wednesday/Thursday.  She had told me that if she had princess panties she would go on the potty and Wednesday we set out to get them.  When she woke up from her nap she insisted on wearing them even though I had no intention of starting until the next day.  But, OK, we went with it.  I gave her the rundown..."If you wear these you cannot go pee-pee in them, you HAVE to go on the potty.  If you pee-pee in them you will make Princess Rapunzel cry {whatever works, right?}".  And so she agreed.  But it wasn't that easy.

The next two days were filled with pee but we were committed.  I tried not to make a big deal over the outfit changes, instead used it as teaching moments.  I could tell she didn't like the feeling, especially when it was soaking her socks {ew!} and she was getting it.  There was lots of "do you have to pee?", "are you sure you don't need to go potty?", "let's try" moments and I was sick of hearing it so I'm sure she was too.  Did I mention we have spent the past week in nightgowns?  Best decision ever.  So easy and sometimes, if you're lucky, they won't even get wet if there is an accident.  Sorry boy moms.  There were also lots of potties, three to be exact, one in each bathroom.  We took "the little potty" to any room we were in.  Want to have a tea party?  Sure, how bout a Princess Tea "Potty"?  Even better.  I wanted to make it as easy and accessible to her as possible and to avoid accidents as much as possible.

By Friday we thought we were brave enough to try a public outing.  Mama needed out of this house after pee-fest 2013.  So we went for dinner in Pull-Ups.  The first thing I did when we got there was take her to the bathroom.  I showed her the potty and how it looks different than the ones she's used to but this is where we go when we are not home...blah, blah, blah.  The entire night was spent, "mommy I need go potty!" and me excitedly running her to the bathroom only to have her fool me, each time.  She never went once while we were out that night.

We decided that maybe public wasn't a good idea so soon in our potty journey so we spent Saturday at home, practicing some more and really getting used to the idea.  By Saturday she was telling US when she had to go.  This was huge!  By Sunday afternoon I felt confident that we could leave the house, again, so we ventured to some friends and this time we took her potty with us.  I highly recommend that in any situation that it's possible.  I do not recommend doing it at a restaurant, at your table, while people are eating.

Monday we had to leave the house for a doctors appointment and again we did so in Pull-Ups.  She went to the bathroom before we left and I had asked her when we left the doctor's office and she said she didn't need to go.  So we left.  About 15 minutes into the drive I hear, "mommy I need go pee-pee!".  Shit!  What do I do?  I'm driving, about to get on the freeway.  Shit! Shit! Shit!  So I asked her if she could hold it, so I could find a place to pull over and her response was "I a big girlie!  I need go pee-pee!".  That was it.  I flew into the Fazoli's parking lot and ran her inside, certain that she had probably peed by the time we actually got to the potty.  But?  She didn't!  She sat there for a couple minutes and then she went!  If I could have gotten on the loud speaker and said, "Excuse me Fazoli's guests, I know you want more delicious, hot, bread sticks but my kid just told me she had to pee, held it, and went on the potty!".  I was so proud.  I couldn't wait to get home and tell Jimmy, my mom, Jimmy's mom, anyone who would listen.

The next day, same thing, we left the house, she told me while we were out and we pulled over and she went.  Two accident-free days in a row.  I was on cloud nine.

She was so proud and likes her new big girl panties so much that she cries when I put a diaper on at nap and bedtime.  She hates them.  She doesn't even really like the Pull-Ups but since they go on the same way as her panties I think she's a little more tolerable of them.  The past few nights she's even been waking up in the middle of the night and I hear "Mommy, I need go pee-pee" over the monitor a couple of times a night.  Annoying? Sure.  Progress?  Definitely.  Thankfully she goes RIGHT back to sleep after that and then she wakes up in the morning dry!

Could this be the end of diapers for Kendall?

We've been rewarding her every way possible.  The first day it was M&M's, stickers, singing, cheering, high-fives, "We did it!" songs, you name it, we did it.  Positive reinforcement, say what?!  Now we're at the point where we give a "Yay!  Great job!  You rock!" along with one M&M and she's happy.  In fact,  told her she could have two M&M's when she went #2 and she said, "No, I just need one.".  Good girl.

So, today she's officially in panties except for night time.  She tells us when she has to go and more times than not she goes.  She fakes us out every once in a while but I think it's when she's just looking for attention.  We're still rocking nightgowns when we're at home because they're easier and she loves them.  Whatever works.

My take-away tips?  1.  Stock up on undies because the first two-three days are pee filled.  There will be lots of accidents, it's OK, but be prepared with lots of back up.  We have 14 pairs of panties and I kind of want to go get another 7-pack {I hate laundry}.  2.  Have options.  Like I said, we have 3 different "potties" and she's taken to each one differently.  We had a generic, $11 Bright Starts potty seat to start, then we got the cushioned ring that goes on a big potty, and my MIL bought a Princess Potty.  She was terrified of the "ring" at first but now that's all she wants to go on.  She hasn't cared for the Princess Potty and the generic one was our gold mine for the very beginning.  3.  Reward, reward, reward!  Not only were we singing and dancing and passing out M&M's and stickers but when major things would happen {she told US, she went #2, she woke up dry from a nap} we let her call her grandparents and tell them the good news and THEY praised her too.  Talk about an ego boost!  4.  Wait till they're ready.  Just because you see other kids the same age as your child, perhaps even older, getting potty trained that doesn't mean your kid is behind or that you have to do it now!  If we would have tried this a month or so ago, it would have been a big fat fail.  She wasn't ready.  And even though her cousin, who is 7 weeks younger, was potty trained, I knew it wasn't her time.  Waiting for her to call the shots made it SO much easier on us all.

Whew!  Who knew a post could be this long talking about toddler pee?  I'm so happy, proud, thankful, overjoyed, excited, thrilled, etc that we won't have two in diapers come August with our girl and how well she's done.  It's probably silly to say, but, I think this experience has brought us closer together and really been, dare I say, fun!

Today is FAB Friday with Laura and I have a few things I'm excited about today.  The cold weather is not one of them.  Is anyone else having bipolar weather?  It was 60 Tuesday and Wednesday and now there is snow on the ground!  WTF?  That, most definitely, is NOT fab.  Just sayin'.  Also what's not fab?  My internet service.  I've seen  a lot of people complaining about their internet lately so maybe it's the universe telling us we all need to shut it down but quite frankly I'll be surprised if I even get this post written, it's been that bad.  Oh, wait, we are supposed to be talking about things that ARE fab...my bad.  Anyway...on to the good!

My first fab thing is potty training.  I know, I know, potty training is so not fab, in fact it's torture.  I had to keep reminding myself why I decided to start doing this when I can't drink.  I'm fairly certain wine+potty training go hand in hand.  Except it hasn't been that bad.  Kendall had told me that she'd go pee pee on the potty if she had princess panties.  You got it kid, off to Target we went.  When she woke up from her nap on Tuesday she demanded to wear them, so we went with it.  We had a one accident that evening and then Wednesday we had 3 successes and 3 accidents.  Yesterday was a different story.  She rocked it!  No accidents!  Well, she pooped when she went down for her nap but she had a diaper on so I don't really count that.  I know we are just starting this journey and all but I am so proud of her, she's pretty proud too.

We started the bedroom makeover this past weekend and to say I'm obsessed would be an understatement.  I love being in our bedroom now, love it.  I have been letting Kendall watch her night time show in our bed and I love just snuggling with her.  Even Jimmy has said how stoked he is to have it be so nice in there.  I've been busy trying to decorate this week and I think I've finally settled on the wall decor.  Here's a sneak peek.
Note, we still desperately need curtains {that's next}, the bed is not made {as usual}, there is a dog in that pile of blankets, but all in all I am loving what we've done so far.  It's a vast improvement from what we had before {you can see some of it here}.  I can't wait for the full reveal.  I think I'm going to never leave, ever.

Lastly, back to Kendall.  She has beautiful hair.  It's such a pretty blonde, natural highlights galore, and the loose waves are what most of us would kill to have.  I am envious of her hair daily.  But the one thing is she will not let me do anything with it.  No ponytail, no pigtails, no braids, only a clip to keep her bans out of her eyes, or a princess crown.  This week she randomly told me she wanted a braid.  I almost fell over, no really.  I hoped off the couch so quick you would have thought there was a sale on cinnamon crunch bagels.  She loved it, for that day.  The next day we were back to hating braids and everything else.

So...it's Tuesday, obviously.  Congratulations on making it through Monday and living to tell about it. Mondays are always the hardest.  Monday for us meant Monday Meltdowns. Like the most epic one to date. I blame The Terrible Twos. It was a beautiful fall{ish} day.  Just when I had decided it would be fine to just stay home and play in the yard I thought, "Nah!  Let's get out!  That'll be fun!" Mistake #1, we should have just stayed home, or at least stayed in our PJs. You see, I'm not sure if it's because Kendall is used to wearing less-restricting shorts and tanks or if it was just her mood yesterday but girlfriend downright refused to get dressed. I'm talking snot-flying, foaming at the mouth, kicking one leg out just as I got the other leg in, tantrum.  It was one for the books.  It was so bad that after we finally got her dressed she put herself in time-out.  That bad. But, being the brave soldier I am, I decided we were still going to get out of the house and enjoy the nice, beautiful, fall-like morning.  I would say Mistake #2 but, really, it was just that.  I loaded my non-makeup wearing, hat dotting self and my slippers for shoes wearing toddler up and off we went.
We stopped at Tim Horton's {coffee for me, obviously, TimBit for the toddler} and honestly it was smooth sailing from there.  She was an angel throughout all of our stops and she even managed to snag a pack of Dora big girl panties.  Which brings me to "T" #4. Sunday night when I was giving Kendall her bath she said, with certainty, "I poop mommy!  I poop!".  I'm no dummy and she's pooped in the tub more times than I have fingers so I plucked her right out and sat her on her potty.  No dice.  Back in the tub to finish washing and some play time and the next thing I know Kendall is crouched down, about to let it go.  Again, I plucked her out of the tub faster than my box pours wine.  This time, it was the money shot, so to speak.   I was so proud of her.  I screamed, I hugged, I praised, I clapped, I did a little jig, I gave her stickers, and I'm pretty sure Kendall was thinking, "umm...mom?"  Her response to the situation?  "It look {like} a monkey!"...umm...   So yeah.  The adventures in potty-training shall continue at a later date though.  We came home with the Dora panties, I was certain that would be the potty-training ticket but, she put them on on proudly sported them for a whole 30 minutes before soiling them.  You know how they say, "oh they won't pee in their pants because they don't like the wet feeling!"?  Well they are liars.  Kendall did not care one iota that she was wearing pee-pee panties, not one.  Truth be told, had I not seen it coming Sunday night she would have never gone in the potty the first time. She's not ready.  It's ok.  I have never been the one to push anything with her and potty-training will be no different.  She'll let me know when she's ready. And when that day comes I'll be ready with my book full of stickers, potty-dance, and iPhone ready for an embarrassing photo op.  

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In other "T" news, THANK YOU to Jenn at Munchkin Land Designs for my new blog makeover.  Isn't it the cutest?  I mean, really? Isn't it? Jenn was so easy to work with and truly brought my vision to life!