Some thoughts...

...on potty training.

Just a random picture of him stealing one of my cameras, just before doing his business and bathing. I know...why would I let him play with my cameras? eeek. He's actually got some great shots...

We are day 7 into this training, and things are still going well. I'm not yet completely brave enough to take him in public for long periods of time in his undies. That's my goal this week. Every day I think we all get a little more confident with this whole process. So here are some thoughts and some things we've been doing with this training:

• It's kind of like breastfeeding (and that's not supposed to begin for 2 more months!). When you breastfeed, life kind of revolves around it. You time errands perfectly to correspond with baby's feeding schedule. As soon as you're done, you rush out to get as much done as you can before the next feeding approaches, but you always know you're limited in your time out. Same with potty training.
  
• What color of undies?? When we are out and about, I continuously ask Stone what color his undies are, or what is on them, so he remembers he has them on, and therefore, will not wet them. He LOVES his different undies. He gets mad when I put a diaper on for him at night time and naps (no, I'm not brave enough to let him go to bed in undies yet...nor to our 3 hour church block today).
• The negotiator: I have always been quite the negotiator. Apparently, I have passed that down to Stone. Without getting graphic, we've changed our potty prize mentality a bit. He now only gets his potty prizes for "big time" potty results. He quickly learned that if he broke up his business into 4 or 5 trips to the potty, he could get 4 or 5 prizes. He negotiates which type of prize he gets each time he goes. I now reserve the "big ones" (dollar toys) for a big job well done. ...he tried outsmarting the system.
  
• Sleeping in: I thought I got this for another couple of months before baby #2 gets here, but not so. Sometimes Stone will come in with some toys, and he knows I want a few more minutes to rest my eyes. But now, he knows if he comes in saying, "poopy mommy, let's go!" ...it gets me out of bed in a split second. Even when he cries wolf.

Altogether, we are proud of our little guy. This is proving to be successful. The thought of a long road trip in the near future for the holidays kind of freaks me out, though. Does that mean lots of stops?? What did you do when (if) you had to take your newly potty trained kid on a loooong road trip?? Ooooohh boy.