P is for Potty and Patience!

We have tried potty training Madi many times, I have lost track of just how many, she was just never ready and we never wanted to push it... too much. But right before she turned three we decided to give it another try and just make it the funniest thing she has ever done! We let her pick out her own treats when she goes in the potty… (being the smart girl she is she choose chocolate bars!)

Woah! I know…and we let her pick out her own underwear! So she picked some My Little Pony underwear (of course), Elmo and she has also got a variety of flower ones, so she has a drawer full of panties. So the first 4 days were pretty rough I have to admit, more for me than for Madi. Patience is doesn't come easy for me, so I have had to really work on that as she had accident after accident, day after day! This T-Shirt Avery is wearing says it all...(I wonder if they have one in Madi's size too?) But after all the frustration (that I had to hide from her) all the messes around the house and the endless encourages from her dad, grandparents and I, a light bulb went off and she is conquering the toilet one day at a time! We made potty time into play time and that has made all the difference! So as soon as the timer goes off we tell her it’s time to go potty! And she says, “Come on! I need to get my dinosaurs too…”

Madi is doing really good. She still has a few accidents here and there, yet she now uses the potty without screaming and throwing a fit! Sometimes she even runs into the bathroom and sits down before the timer goes off, or before we even have to ask her, which is a huge step! We are so excited and see that she is becoming a big girl, wanting to do more and more by herself everyday…a little bitter-sweet. We are excited to see her grow more independent yet sad to see our baby getting older!