Nope! Not premature at all!

Ava-Kate is doing fabulous with potty training. We no longer have the resistance and fear of number 2 :) She just has to go when she has to go. She refuses to even try and sit on the potty if it's not on her terms. She also can only wear underwear, pull-ups are viewed as diapers and therefore free game to wet and soil (I hate the word "soil" but sometimes it's the only word that works). We only have accidents once in a while and usually it's my fault for not watching her to make sure she goes when she holds herself (which is so funny, what if adults still did that every time we had to go really badly?) Anyway, we can even go to the park, mall, grocery store, and any other errands if I time it right and leave right after she just went potty. I just am still trying to figure out how to make her know it's ok to go on the big potties in public restrooms. Oh well. The little funny things you take for granted. All in all, I think it was mostly me that had to be ready. Ava-Kate has probably been ready for a long time, I just had to buckle down and prepare myself for dealing with it. I've been worrying about potty training since she was born, and now I realize it wasn't so bad. I can't imagine going any longer with changing diapers all day long! So to mommies now and mommies to be, good luck, you CAN do it! Oh, and I'm sure your tot can do it too! :)

Potty Training

This may be a little pre-mature, and I hope I don't jinx the process by posting this, Ava-Kate went poo poo in the potty today! We've been potty training on and off for a couple months now, but I was so worried that AK was too young. A friend of mine at play group said last week that when they start to take off their diaper they're ready. Well, that did it. I gritted my teeth and decided we're only doing underwear from now on, except for nap and bedtime. Ava-Kate's been really good at going potty for pee pee but has never gone poo poo. I mentioned this at play group this week, and the same friend said that she would take a doll, or a bear, or whatever and put that on the potty. Then, using something like beans (I used un-cooked black beans), you have the doll go "poo poo". Later today I tried it, and brilliant! Ava
-Kate went poo poo 15 minutes later in the potty! We also borrowed this book from the library,

and though graphic, it was great to teach that we don't go poo poo or pee pee on the floor, but in the potty. Oh how I love the miraculous joys of motherhood. I don't think I ever thought I would put this much energy in, or get so excited about, the basic functions of the human body. But oh, how excited I was when my baby girl finally went! So, crossing our fingers and hoping the accidents will be fewer and further between.