Day 5 through 9 and Triumphant Day 10

Again... This is for my records. Shaun just told me this is TMI! :)

Potty training... Wow! I have a whole new respect for the trails of potty training. Because Isaac trained in one day and was soooo easy, I never got why moms dreaded this time and thought it was so hard. Well, I'm finally getting it now. This has been a rough week. Besides the fact that I have spent more time in the bathroom then any other room of my house, I have also been sick, had little sleep at night due to Blake getting his first tooth, and Isaac has been acting out! Shaun has been my support and does a lot when he's home but, he does still have to work. My absolute favorite texts from him are "on my way home!"

Poor Parker has been amazing through this growing up time. There were times that I was so beyond done and just wanted to throw a diaper back on him. Many times I doubted if he was really ready and thought it was my fault for pushing him to early. However, Shaun assured me that it was time and it was just something we had to work through. Honestly, I think it was just all the other added issues (being sick, no sleep, two other kids) that magnified it.

Parker wanted so badly to figure it out that it ended up making him scared and he began to hold everything inside... literally! He is a very "regular" kid and has a bowel movement at least once a day but, somehow he was able to hold it in for two and a half days. He also didn't urinate from Saturday night til Sunday afternoon around two. Talk about bladder control! He would release a little every once in a while but, Shaun finally had to squeeze his tummy and force it out of him. His belly was so big that we couldn't even button his pants. He would tell us he had to go but, fear wouldn't let him relax and push it out. He would sit on the potty and just cry because it hurt. I did have some messes to clean up but, not many. The two main accidents happened when I was putting Blake down for a nap. We finally figured out that the underlining problem was that he struggled to keep his pee pee down, which caused the pee to shoot out. If he even saw a little drop of pee he would freak out and want to be all done! He wanted to watch what he was doing but, he needed to lean forward and just listen for success. His belly is way too big to be able to see anything bellow it! He never wanted to look in the potty and was quick to flush it every time (he loves flushing)! He knew exactly when he needed to go, even though it was a battle getting him to go, and never once went when we prompted him! Two times he woke up at night crying because he felt himself go and thought he wet the bed. He wanted me to wipe his sheets... He was in a pull up so there was no mess to wipe! He even treats pull ups like undies and won't go in those.

Parker continued his Star Wars obsession right through potty training. The only reward that seemed to work was telling him that he could go get a Darth Maul if he went poop without crying! My understanding is that it's easier for most kids to pee in the potty, not poop. Well, not for Parker. He was working with the force. He quickly figured out how to happily poop so he could go shopping. On a few occasions I had to get his CD player and let him listen to Star Wars music and many times big Anakin Skywalker had to watch him! He was also very good at changing the subject or trying to distract me from talking to him about what he needed to do. I would get so frustrated with him but would end up laughing! One time as I was trying to tell him to push his pee pee down and lean forward, he pointed out how "pitty" my nails were and asked if I was going to work. He would chatter about anything and everything!!!

Today was the first day that he didn't fear the potty and finally mastered how to sit on the potty! It's pointless to ask him to go 'cause he lets us know. I'm not worried about him having an accident because his control is so good. He seems to have the timing down. When he has to go he doesn't rush... He makes his announcement, has time to grab a light saber, and then heads to the bathroom!

Even as I type, after 9 o'clock at night, this kid has figured out how to stay up longer. Just tell mommy and daddy you have to pee and they'll let you get out of bed. It's quickly looking like the potty will be his new best friend.

Two boys potty trained, one to go!

Choosing their rewards

We decided Isaac deserved something because he had to suffer through this stage too. Not sure he had many shining moments but, he survived!

I love this picture for so many reasons. 1. Target and Toys R Us were out of Darth Mauls so Parker talked his daddy into getting him Darth Maul's double light saber! 2. I am always the one buying the boys stuff so I promised Shaun that I wouldn't buy them anything the whole month of March. Man has that been hard! However, it's made Shaun give in a little! 3. Parker's proud smile... He was so giddy! 4. Shaun's frown... A true look of defeat!