Potty Training

We recently (at the beginning of July) began the journey to potty training (learning? what is the politically correct phrase now?). Luke is doing spectacularly with it, but it was a difficult start. However, I love the method we used (3 day potty training), but with the next kid I'm going to use it right! The first 7-10 days were really hard. But it was so worth it! I think if I had not messed up the first three days and then had to go back and start over (not to mention any "bad" habits I taught him in those first three failed, frustrating days!) it would have been much smoother. I decided on day three to buy the e-book for this method and it was a life saver. Or at least a sanity saver. :)

Here is his first finished chart (charts and stickers worked REALLY well for this kid!)

He was so proud of himself! I must admit, I was pretty proud, too. We went through four charts with 12-16 spaces for stickers and then I went to one with about 60, hoping he would lose interest after that cause I didn't want to be handing out smilies for the rest of his life! He did stop caring about a week and a half ago. He got one big sticker for his hand and a little sticker for his chart after every time he used the potty. Plus he started getting mini M&M's about a week or two into it and that helped, too.

Every time he filled up a chart he got a little toy. Here are the stamps he got for his first chart. He had a lot of fun with them. He also received a little matchbox motorcycle, and some Cars underwear. He was excited.

He's doing great and still gets a sucker for successful "number 2" completions. I suppose I shall start weaning him off of those someday soon. Or not. :) Anyway, that's part of what is going on in the Mackay household these days.

Potty Time!

Here's a shot of our happy camper on his potty. He gets a kick out of sitting there and also out of making Mommy "run run run" to the potty with him fifty times a day. (Although, when he says it, it sounds a lot more like "wuh wuh wuh.") :) He's been sitting on the big potty occasionally just to get him used to it but then last week he was super interested, so I just went out and bought him a little potty. Monday of last week, he started peeing in the potty. It's been interesting, to say the least. He's gone at least once a day since then. He's 18 months and I totally wasn't prepared for him to do this well this early, and think it will still be a while until we're super serious about it. But he's doing so well. And today was a big accomplishment. He pooped in the potty! We're so proud. When he was done he looked at it for a while trying to decide what had happened. He then ran to tell Daddy. I don't know what he thought about it, and at some point it hit me that I had to clean it up! Gross! ("gwoh Mumma!") He has picked up "gross" from the time he stuck his hand in the bowl after he peed... Who knew how much you can talk about poop and pee? We called GrammaMack and nGogo (and mKhulu too) in celebration. I'm sure that's just what Andrew wanted for Canadian Thanksgiving! I love the fact that right now he is so happy to be able to use the phone, that it has become his reward for using the potty. He loves to call nGogo or 'Mack and hear them be excited for him. Who needs M&M's anyway? :)



You can't potty without a good snack and a drink. Don't forget that. :)

And now, after that appetizing read, I'm off to work on a meal for our Thanksgiving! I think everyone should get two Thanksgivings, don't you?