~Potty Training Mr. Alec~

Some may have noticed my absence from the blogging world the last few weeks. Now I'm going to overload on you. I blame my time away entirely on potty training. See, this little guy is a big kid now, and he's proud of it! (I'm pretty proud of him too.)Alec was the one to decide that we were going to jump into this potty training business now. He found his big boy underwear in the drawer and decided he no longer wanted to wear diapers (In fact, he doesn't even want to wear pull-ups but for bedtime and nap time I usually make him). All this completely through me off guard, and being the overly dramatic person that I naturally am, I was spinning for three days straight. I wasn't prepared to do this yet. I hadn't read the books, talked to other mom's to get ideas, or prepared myself emotionally for the ups and downs of potty training. For two days I spent my entire day within 12 feet of Alec, watching for the signs and constantly asking him if he needed to go potty. I sat next to him on the floor, read him stories, sang songs, brought snacks and the like all in an effort to let him figure out how to use the restroom. Poor little Lyssa caused more trouble in those first three days than ever before, which I partly blame on her age, but mostly blame on the fact that she was desperate for attention. Around day 3 I got an idea from a friend to just fill your kids up with liquids (anything they'll drink) and take them to the potty regularly until they figure it out.
I also found Alec's currency... Oreos! Every time he went potty he got and mini oreo, and every time he went number two there was a 'Cars' vehicle waiting for him. I think that $40 bucks may have been some of the best money I've spent all month. It worked wonders, and though Alec doesn't get a car anymore he hasn't had a nasty accident yet. We do have the occasional little accident here or there when he's just too distracted, but he's gone on two camping trips with only big boy underwear and done great! I still ask him if he needs to go every so often, and will even take him myself if he hasn't used the restroom in the last hour (or before outings), but he has also started to tell us when he needs to go. So I guess you could say we're getting there... and I'm finally starting to chill out.

We're so proud of our Big Boy.

Way to go, Alec!

We love you more than all the Chick Hicks and Lightening McQueen Cars in the whole wide world!