Five Days

Although I consider Tali potty trained, it seems we cannot get past the five day mark without an accident. It's usually a "number two" (won't go into details) and she's always very upset by it. I know she isn't doing it on purpose, but it's very frustrating for both of us. I've been told that's the hardest part for them to learn to control and it just takes time. But she'll go four days without any sort of accident and then once day five rolls around, she just cannot hold it.  I try not to get upset in front of her but it's hard. It's even harder because I need to comfort her and clean up the mess. Yuck.

So the sign on our bathroom door is back to zero tonight. This time I drew a sad face inside.

Potty Training

Inspired by the (never updated) signs in the NYC subway, I have created a new sign that is now posted on the door to our downstairs bath. Too bad Tali can't read yet. But she is a rock star in her new "someglasses."

Potty Training By Accident

On Friday morning, I began potty training Tali. This happened by total accident as I didn't really think she was ready yet. But, she'd developed a terrible diaper rash and I needed to keep her diaper free for a few hours. So I figured if she was already going to be diaperless, I might as well take out the potty and try.

I'm happy to report that we had success right away! Although Tali's been peeing on the potty after her bath each evening, I haven't done more than that. But on Friday, she used the potty consistently throughout the day. There were no accidents on Friday or Saturday (I put a diaper on her when we went out of the house and for nap/bed time) and we had our first, and so far only, accident this morning.

Initially, Tali wasn't even excited that she went on the potty. Now she gets it and is a bit more excited as she's figured out it's a good thing. So far it's been pretty easy but that's all going to change on Tuesday when she goes to nursery school. I think I will attempt to send her without a diaper (and extra pants!) and see what happens. But, who knows, by then I might change my mind.


P.S. I took a great picture of her reading on the potty last night. But in order to save on future therapy bills, I am not going to post it. Use your imagination. =)

Potty Update

Since Friday night, she has asked to go pee pee in her potty each evening at the end of her bath. She's actually peed in the potty two out of those three times. On Sunday evening, she didn't pee. But she was determined to sit there until she did. I explained to her (over and over again) that it's okay if she doesn't pee in the potty. After about 10 minutes, I finally got her off. Tonight I saw her face light up as she was peeing. She definitely knows what she's doing and she's very proud of herself. H and I are still cheering for her each time she does it. (Guess we'll have to stop that sometime before she goes to college.)

I know this process will take time and I do not want to push her into it, but this is a good first step. Hopefully the actual training won't be too messy. I've heard horror stories.

First Pee Pee in the Potty

When: Last night, after her bath

Where: In her potty

Details: Tali's had her own potty (technically a small seat I put on the real potty) for about two months now. During the first month, I put her on the potty every evening when I ran her bath, hoping that the running water would encourage her to pee. It never did. After about a month, she didn't want to sit on the potty anymore so I didn't force her. I figured she'd want to go back when she was ready. Last night at the end of her bath, Tali said to me "poop, potty" so I took her out of the tub, put her on the potty and wrapped her towel around her so she wouldn't freeze. Then she sat, and sat and sat.

After about five minutes, nothing had come out so I asked her if she wanted to get off the potty. She didn't. And then few minutes later, I heard it - she peed! I immediately started cheering for her and telling her what a good job she did. As soon as I stopped, H came in and started cheering for her. Then Jackson came upstairs to see what all the commotion was about. Tali was so excited and proud of herself. She was cheering as well. Now I think she gets it. I know we're nowhere close to being potty trained, but it's a step.

Hooray for Tali!