~Potty Training Elyssa~

One evening a few months ago Nick and Elyssa conspired against me and decided it was time for me to start potty training our little princess.  I was not prepared, but Nick put her in underwear and got the ball rolling and I couldn't go back.  I'm sure she was ready... in fact I'm pretty sure she's been ready for months.  I just wasn't ready.  But ready or not it was time.  The little lady did really well for a few weeks.  Then she had some struggles that left me literally cleaning crap off her floor more than once.  It was nothing short of disgusting.  It seemed like the little lady's motivation ran out of steam and praise for her accomplishments just wasn't cutting it anymore.  That's where Alice came into play.   

 

I've actually had Alice up in the closet since we moved here.  My parents gave her to me for Christmas my Junior year of high school.  I've been saving her ever since for when I had my own little girl.  Not long ago Elyssa came to me one day asking about the doll in the box up on the highest shelf in the closet.   I told her it was her ultimate potty training reward, and boy was it a motivation for her!  We made a sticker chart for the fridge and every time Lyssa went to the bathroom without an accident she got a sticker. We put Alice up on the top of the fridge so Lyssa could keep her eye on the prize.  She had to get 50 stickers, which is A LOT of stickers for one little girl, but she was up for the challenge.  It took her a few weeks but on the evening of December 18th Elyssa's beautiful Alice doll ceremoniously was removed from the fridge top. (And in all honesty I'm sure there was a good 10 stickers that were missed. She did a really good job and got into a potty going groove!)

 Oh the joy and laughter and glee!  It was one of those awesome moments where it's so much fun to be a parent and make your kids day.  We are so proud of Elyssa for achieving her goal and so glad that we aren't cleaning up nasty accidents all the time anymore, much less changing her diapers.  

Way to go, Elyssa Lael!