Potty Success

Finally, finally, finally we are really making headway on the potty!  And by making headway, I mean specifically with regards to pooping :)  When we started potty training back in January, Micah picked up the pee part within 3 days.  And we've had very few accidents.  The pooping, on the other hand, has taken some time.  I think he had one instance where he got scared or it hurt a little while pushing early on, and he just shut down in that department.  I still put pull-ups on him for naps and night, so some days he would just wait for that time.  Other days, he would say he had to go, but then sit for 2 seconds.  It has been a trying couple of months.

My parents got a taste of it when we visited them in February while Christian was in Australia.  My mom even made up a song in order to try and encourage Micah and give him something to relate to.  It goes a little like this:  "Poo-poos on the potty is g-o-o-d.  But poo-poos in the pull-ups is b-a-d.  And poo-poos in the big boys is b-a-d.  But poo-poos on the potty is g-o-o-d." Micah knows it well, as we've sang it often to try and get this thing going to no avail.

Prior to us coming down, my mom had picked up a birthday card for me.  After seeing what I was going through, she discovered she couldn't hold out until July.  Take a look, and you'll see why:

 

I have literally been at my wits end trying to get the pooping thing to happen, and a month or so ago basically gave up.  Clearly he's not going to be in a diaper in kindergarten, so I just let it go.  He's not even 3 yet, and at least he's pee trained, right?  I had started a rewards chart for staying clean and dry at nap/bed times as well as a poop chart to try and help bring incentives for Micah with "mini-prizes' and "big prizes" at the very end.  It didn't really seem to matter, and we went 2 months with 0 stars on the poop chart, and only a handful of stamps on the clean and dry chart.  

Until 2 1/2 weeks ago.  Something changed and suddenly started clicking with Micah.  The first 2-3 poops he whimpered and essentially had a freak-out on the potty, with me encouraging him, door closed and finger under the door so he knew I was still there, every 2-4 seconds saying "You got this Micah."  "Let the poo-poos go to his home." "The poo-poos will be so happy in his home." "Don't get off the potty Micah!  Relax and let it come."  And on and on.  No joke.  For at least 5 minutes.

After those first 2-3 sessions though, we were done, and I am finally experiencing the freedom of having a potty trained child.  It's not 100% through naps/night time yet, but it's getting there.  He's getting almost too good at waking up in the middle of the night to go potty.  I have to remind myself on some mornings that I did want a potty trained boy, right? :)  Seeing my sleep being compromised again after Reid has been on track for 4-5 months is not awesome, but I am so proud of my big boy and what he's done.  He's now raking in mini-prizes, stars and stamps left and right. 

 

Almost at that "Big Prize!"

 

And not too far away here, either. 

Let's just hope he continues to pee and poop once the charts are gone, lol.