Adventures in Potty Training

Oh. My. Goodness. I have been putting off potty training as long as I possibly could, but now that Sam is 3, and showing some interest and signs of readinesss...I supposed I'll give it a go. Besides, we will have baby #3 in about 6 weeks, and 2 in diapers should be better than 3 in diapers, right? Things actually have gone pretty well. Yesterday we went to Target and bought big boy undies, yummy snacks, an extra potty chair, and a toilet seat cover that is designed for toddlers. I also had my sticker incentive chart ready to go, pretzels to make Sam thirsty, and the enthusiasm...so I thought. Here are a few issues I've had: -Our multi-level is a killer. It is SO choppy, and when we're sticking around the house, it's hard not to be too mobile w/ 2 active toddlers. Up and down for snack rewards, stickers, lugging the potty chair up and down, etc.etc.etc. Sam also seems to favor the "gray comfy seat" (the toilet cover) as opposed to his potty chair. I have a friend bringing over a few extra potty chairs to help w/ this. I'm going to have one in the kitchen, one on the deck, & one in the basement. I also have one to take w/ me in the car. -Poop. Sam has gone poop in the potty chair before. But he's freaked out about it now. Yesterday he didn't go at all. I know that kids who are potty training can get constipated b/c of this, so I'm avoiding milk, cheese, and bananas for him for now. Today I told him I'd even put on a diaper for him to just go poopy and then we'll switch back to big boy undies. He agreed. This eventually stops, right? -Being naked. Sam HATES this. I put on a longer t-shirt yesterday and kept him w/o undies so he'd realize when he was peeing. He hated it. He did pee all over the deck while he was drawing on the patio door w/ window markers (into the door track, which was awesome to clean up). He freaked out a little bit and it scared him. So halfway through the day I put his undies on. He did fine. But TODAY he had 3 accidents, 1 of which was my fault b/c he ran upstairs to use the gray comfy seat and it wasn't on the toilet so he didn't make it in time. He kept asking to put his diaper back on, but I reassured him and said we're just practicing and that it's okay to make accidents. That Daddy did too, and his cousins, friends, etc. He settled down then. -Pulling up the undies. This is a little tricky for Sam. He's still "acting" like a baby (literally) and pretends he can't put on his clothes. But if he's trying to go play and do something he WANTS to do, he miraculously figures it out. I'm trying to be the cheerleader and not be negative about this PT thing, so I help when he asks. -MARY ELLEN. Oh my goodness. I think this has been the most difficult aspect (besides the fact that my back is shot and I'm 34 weeks pregnant.) I cannot keep ahead of her! She's sitting on Sam's lap in the potty chair, standing in it, dragging it around to try to climb things, trying to eat the Cheerio that (was) Sam's "target" when he chooses to stand to pee, etc. etc. She has such a different personality than Sam. Sam is always safe and clean. She's my risktaker-- a climber who loves to get dirty! And NO I do not see signs of readiness in Mary for potty training. She's not there AT ALL. And frankly, neither am I. :) For instance: -All at the same time today, in the hot sticky humidity outside, Mary ran off and was playing in the mud, after I told her no (okay for later, but not right before lunch/naps...don't have the energy to scrub her down.) Sam peed his pants and was freaking out. I was so hot and got both kids cleaned up and then I needed a shower. So I put Mary in her crib like our routine w/ some books. Once I was out and drying off, I heard a BANG. Mary had climbed out of her crib and fell HARD. She cried so hard. Scared me half to death. Of course Jason is traveling and couldn't lower her crib tonight (he's gone for 3 days). I didn't want to mess w/ it to be careful w/ my back, so my dad came over and lowered it before naps. I'm praying she stays in there, little Mogli! Later, Sam peed his pants again (as noted before...the toilet wasn't ready) and then he slammed his fingers in the patio door, and then accidentally slammed the screen door onto my ankle while I was trying to walk out onto the deck. It felt like my ankle was crushed. Add this to being in the basement for a change of scenery, and me lugging the potty chair downstairs so Sam could go. He peed, and I was cleaning it up in the storage area, the place w/ the sink. Not the safest place for kids to play. Mary's by the water heater and pulling things off the shelves, out of storage. I'm trying to quickly clean up pee and get Sam's sticker and snack and set the timer for the next attempt. In the mean time, I'm trying to schedule physical therapy and Mary HATES when I'm on the phone. I literally had to go up to the top floor from the basement, with both kids screaming after me, while I eventually locked myself into our bathroom in the back corner of the house to finish a 2 minute phone call. IT HAS BEEN A DAY. PS- Remember the door track that was covered in pee yesterday? Well, after Sam uses the window markers on the patio door, he takes the spray bottle and drenches it, so colored marker-water fills the track again. After cleaning that up a few times today, the markers and spray bottle are put away. Did I mention I'm trying to be a cheerleader and get new fun things out to play w/ since we need to stick around the house while potty training?! That has been the most challenging. Usually we're out and about. But we're stuck here, timing the potty attempts, "celebrating," and playing referee. And Jason's traveling. I also am trying to clean out Sam's dresser and closet to make room for Mary's stuff since we're moving her into Sam's room this weekend. I need to go through Mary's closet next then prep all the baby gear for Adelaide's room. I thought having a couple indoor projects would be helpful since we have to stick around here for a few days. Ha! Lord help me. SUCCESSES: Even though Sam has a had a couple accidents today, he's gone in the potty 8 times!!! Many of which was his initiation! He also woke up w/ a BONE DRY diaper this morning! Woo hoo! PS- Can I just say I think it's funny what I used to define as "stress"? When I'd be home from college in the summers, I'd sleep in, spend a couple hours at the gym, and then the afternoon at the pool. My biggest issue was what to wear that night if I were going out, and I'd get yummy drive-thru somewhere, shop, sleep, and hang out w/ friends. Now I can barely take a shower w/o an almost-visit to the ER. Kids certainly change everything! I can't imagine potty training w/ all of the newborn stress. Good thing Sam is actually doing well. He's really really proud. :)