Potty Training

In my continued efforts to update our blog, I'm hoping to get a few posts done today. First up is Josh's potty training. We started at the end of January, and to be honest, it has been MUCH easier than I was expecting. We came home from church one Sunday and got out Josh's Thomas the Tank Engine underwear that he got for Christmas and got out the little potty seat and sat it in front of the TV. Josh LOVED to look at his new underwear in the package, but he didn't want to actually WEAR it. We set the timer and had him sit on his potty every so often. There were a couple frustrating times that afternoon when the timer would go off and we would discover he has just wet himself. But eventually he did go on the potty and we celebrated and gave him mini M&Ms for rewards. After a day or so he recognized when he needed to go and would run to his potty. After a few days we moved the potty into the bathroom so he would learn to run to the bathroom when he needed to go. After a few more days, we put the little potty away and he started using the regular toilet. He was so proud of himself, and I think it has given him confidence to try new things. I was so glad it was finally working. This was our third attempt at potty training, and I'm just happy he was finally ready. Over the next few weeks, he knew when he had to go and he would just go to the bathroom and do his business. Sometimes he would tell me he had to go, but mostly he would just go on his own. He's had a couple accidents here and there these past few months, but thankfully it hasn't been the constant mess of accidents that I was so afraid of when we started.






Of course we have to include some embarrassing
pictures :)






The past few weeks have been a little difficult for some reason. Usually, he would just go when he needed to go, or if we noticed he had to go we would encourage him to go potty and he would happily go to the bathroom. But these past few weeks have been different. We would notice that he had to go, he would be holding himself and dancing around, and when we tell him to go potty, he breaks down into a screaming and crying fit and almost has to be dragged to the bathroom. I don't know if he's trying to hold it as long as he can, or if he wants complete control over this area of his life and doesn't like us telling him to go potty anymore, or what is going on, but it's been frustrating. I'm open to any advice or suggestions. I'm sure we'll get through it, eventually. I am so proud of Josh for accomplishing this major milestone in his life! My little boy is growing up.