Happy Potty Party to you
You are a big boy now
Happy Potty party to you...
Somewhere between morning smiles, busy days, and goodnight hugs James became a big boy.
 |
| February 2011-James 1st introduction to the potty. He sat on it with clothes on. After this, it sat for 6 months unused. |
I remember well the night I dropped James off at my in-laws house. I looked at him knowing he'd never look so small to me again. I was so right. When he came to visit me in the hospital the day after Thomas was born, he looked so big. His new haircut added to his "big boy" look, but he looked huge compared to my newborn. Thank goodness I had prepared myself for this.
He almost instantly took on the role as a big brother. I didn't hype up Thomas' birth as much as the books told me to because I didn't want to overwhelm James, or stress him out. About a month or so before my due date, I started telling James I had a baby in my belly and his name was Thomas. James was aware of this new presence, but I'm sure he didn't quite know what to expect...neither did I.
I couldn't have been more pleasantly surprised at how easily he transitioned into his new role. He knew Thomas was his. He would run to get Thomas' paci or bottle at the sound of a cry. He would make sure Thomas had his stuffed elephant with him every time we left the house. In the car, if Thomas started to stir, he would reach his little arm over to the elephant and pull its tail to make the music start. He would sing and play peek-a-boo to make Thomas look at him. In turn, Thomas fell in love with his big brother. It's hard to find a time when James is in the room with Thomas, that Thomas' eyes aren't on him. Before Thomas could smile, he would just stare. Once Thomas could smile, he would always share his biggest smiles and loudest giggles with his brother. They already have an unspoken language between them. They can just look at each other and start to giggle. I have loved watching their relationship blossom.
 |
| James, Auntie Coleen, and Thomas during one of James' first visits with Thomas. He was already acting like such a big boy and such a big help with his bottle! |
I knew that I needed to start encouraging James to reach some milestones, but didn't want to rush him during this transition. I didn't want him to associate any changes in his life with Thomas' birth. I've let him stay in his crib, didn't take his paci away (although I always thought I'd break that habit by age 2), and most importantly I didn't push the potty scene. I let James enjoy any little bits of his "baby" self while he adjusted to his new, "BIG" role.
 |
| Thomas' first day home. James was studying him and helping with his pacifier! |
 |
| Paci for Thomas! Paci for James! |
Once they were a whole 6 months into their lifelong relationship, I knew it was time to start pushing for some Big Boy behaviors. James had been using his pacifier for bed and in the car. The car was more of a selfish decision because it would keep him quiet for a car ride. Any mom knows how desperate you can be for some quiet time to get your thoughts straight. I started noticing that James wanted his paci more often though, and I knew that he was creating a bad habit. I knew it was time to go. I decided that throughout December, I'd talk to James about his magical paci's. I told him that he was a big boy now and they knew this. I prepared him for their magic act of disappearing. He was a little confused, and at times got frustrated and said "No mama! I don't want magic paci's," but I would tell him that magic paci's were cool. My first of many New Year's resolutions was to rid of the paci. New Years day came quickly. I sat there watching him getting ready for his nap, and I did it. I walked into the kitchen and took the scissors to the tips of all of his pacis. I didn't want to go back on my decision, so I made sure that there were no "survivors." I brought James up for his nap and with a shaky hand, gave him his "magical paci that had started to disappear." He was so confused and started whining. I wanted to cry with him. Eventually he put his head down and held his broken paci in his hand and went to sleep. He slept for 3hrs that day. I couldn't believe it. I didn't think I would be as lucky at bedtime, but to my surprise I was. He just asked to hold it in his hand. He told everyone about his magic paci and used it as some sort of bragging right. Within a week, he no longer asked for them. I was able to slip them into the rubbish and never look back. He's almost one month clean of the paci addiction. When I see old pictures of him sporting his paci, he looks like such a baby. I can't believe how quickly he adapted to this change. Although my quiet time is gone in the car, I've noticed how much clearer he is now talking and how many more words he is using. Apparently our car rides are good practice for him. Win!
 |
| James-all plugged up so I can have some quiet time in the car :) |
 |
| One of his last nights with his pacifier cuddling Thomas by the Christmas tree! |
His amazing ability to drop the paci habit got me thinking about potty training. I've listened to so much advice about training boys and how you should just wait until they are ready (which is around age 3 for them). James had started showing interest in the potty last September when I was on maternity leave. He would use it here and there but never showed full commitment and I wasn't going to push him. I wanted potty training to be as painless as possible for both him and me. I am planning on enrolling him in pre-school come April, so my goal has been to have him potty trained by then. I started telling James that he could go to school once he went on the potty and didn't need diapers anymore. I would have him finish the sentence, "James can go to school when..." and he would say "I go on the potty." I started coming up with potty songs and he'd sing along with me. This went on for a few weeks. Finally, he started showing lots of signs that he was ready. He would talk about the potty, showed interest in the undies I had bought him a while ago, and started going to the same spot (under the table) when he was going to the bathroom. I knew it was time. If he could take the time to go to the same spot every time he had to go, he could make that spot the bathroom. I gave myself a pep talk and got Andy and my mom on board with my decision to train. I didn't know what I was in for, but I knew I wanted support.
A week before the training began, I told James that we would be having a potty party that weekend. For anyone that knows James well, you know he loves a good party. He is a party groupie. He's there to help anyone blow out a candle or to sing Happy Birthday at the top of his lungs. I knew a party would be a solid approach for this big step. I hyped the party up all week. I told him we'd wake up and put his undies on and we'd put the diapers away forever. I told him there would be prizes all day and once the weekend was over we'd have a cake at Gramma's house with everyone and sing "Happy Potty Party" to him (to be sung in the tune of Happy Birthday). He was thrilled. He told everyone about this potty party we were planning. He'd ask me about it during our conversations in the car each day. We'd sing the potty songs to prepare. He was ready.
 |
| His potty prize jars that were eventually filled with prizes and treats! Great bribery and he loves picking a reward each time he made it! |
The morning of the potty party came. He woke up and we sang and cheered. We couldn't start all of the festivities right away because James and Thomas have a Saturday routine of going to Boston's with Pa and Coleen. They went out for their breakfast date and walk around the Plymouth waterfront, then came home around 11:30a.m. I put James in for a nap to make sure he was rested for his big afternoon. I had prepared big prize jars full of lollipops, colorful mini candy canes that looked like crayons, army men, matchbox cars, matchbox motorcycles, and other small toys. I wanted to make sure this jar was very tempting for a 2.5 year old. When he woke from his nap I went in cheering again. He proudly put on his underwear and help me tuck all of his diapers away. He went downstairs and did his superhero pose in front of Andy to show him his super cool Buzz Lightyear undies. We took deep breaths and watched some real magic unfold...
No accidents. From 2p.m.-9p.m. he had no accidents. I didn't have to prompt him to go, do any songs or dances, no potty entertainment, nothing. He went on with his daily routine (as well as Andy and me) and every once in a while we'd watch him dart by us and into the bathroom. Within a minute or so we'd hear, "I DID IT! I WENT ON THE POTTY!" This is not what I expected at all. I couldn't have dreamed of an easier potty training situation. I convinced myself it was beginners luck. At 9p.m. I put his pull up on (I'm not that confident), and put him to bed.
Andy and I had kept our schedules clear for Sunday. James woke up and I put his underwear on right away. I started giving him lots of juice and water. I wanted him to have as much practice as possible. I think he broke some sort of potty record by going about 15 times before his nap time. Each time, he ran to the bathroom and went all by himself. I was upstairs putting laundry away when I heard news of his biggest accomplishment yet of his potty training journey..."I DID IT! I DID IT! I DID STINKIES ON THE POTTY ALL MYSELF!" I heard Andy get up from the couch. I ran down the stairs. He really did it. Our not so little boy anymore actually brought himself to the potty to do his business. He was so proud of himself.
As promised, after his nap and a couple more trips to the potty, we put a pull up on to make our first trip out of the house to go buy him his potty party cake. We stopped at Walmart in Plymouth and got him a yellow monster cake (very appropriate), and made our way to Gramma's house. When we arrived, he was completely dry. I put his undies back on and we at dinner and played. About an hour into our visit, he said "Pee pee is coming!" He ran to the bathroom by himself and went. We all cheered for him, lit the candle on his potty party cake, and sang. You know your two year old is loved when his grandparents, cousin, uncle, and parents are all singing this ridiculous song to him super enthusiastically. He was beaming. He ate every last bit of his cake and played a little more. We packed him up, left his undies on, and drove home. When we got home, he was still dry. He went to the potty one last time before we tucked him in and said good-bye to his potty party weekend.
Today he went to my moms house while I worked. I was wondering how he'd adjust to her house and his potty routine. He had one "small leak" in his pants before making it to the potty, but the rest of the day was successful. He napped in a pull up and woke up dry. I'm sure it won't be long until we can comfortably nap him in undies. James stats: 3 days of training, 1 accident, one "leak." Not too bad if I do say so myself! :)
 |
| My proud "Big Boy" and his potty party cake! |
Since he has been born, James has never ceased to amaze us. I have enjoyed every surprise he's given us, every smile he's brought us, and every bit of love he's shared with us.
