Potty Training

I still can't believe we dove into this head over heels, but we did! What were we thinking?!? Claire has been going to the potty on and off for some time now, but only if we happen to time it right and we never really thought she was ready for full on potty training. We would always have her brag to her teachers when she went hoping the encouragement would help. Last week I decided to ask daycare what we needed for them to start working with her at school. Since we were nearing the end of our package of diapers I figured they would say send her in Pull-Ups and we'll take her to the potty frequently. I was shocked when they said just put her in panties and send lots of changes of clothes.

Dan and I discussed it and decided to put her in panties starting Saturday morning just to see what would happen. By 9:30 AM she had two accidents and I was getting frustrated, but we stuck it out. She seemed upset when she had an accident and would immediately tell us she hurt Dora, or hurt Minnie (the characters on her panties), as if I couldn't see the puddle on the floor. We made progress Saturday afternoon and didn't have any more accidents. Sunday she did better and even went to the grocery store with Dan (and a diaper) but stayed dry and peed as soon as she got home. She was rewarded by being allowed to nap with her panties on. She was so excited! We finished the weekend with two accidents Sunday but we pushed forward Monday sending her to daycare in big girl panties (with a HUGE bag of extra clothes and panties). She started the day going on the potty before leaving for daycare and only had two accidents at daycare! Tuesday she had an accident before leaving the house but only had one little accident at daycare - she stopped and ran to the potty. Yesterday we took our first real venture out of the house for 2 hrs and she did awesome. She peed before we left and again as soon as we got home. We had to fight her to put on a diaper last night and she stayed dry all night and peed in the potty this morning. We are so proud of her!

I can't believe we are really into this whole potty training business - but Claire seems to be doing well and Dan and I are getting our exercise jumping for her everytime she is successful on the potty. However, Paul, Andrea, and our neighber who came over for dinner Monday probably did not enjoy the breaks in dinner while Claire begged anyone and everyone to come watch pee pee on the potty :-) Sorry!