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I've mentioned that Avery has moved into her big girl bed, which is still going great! But we also started another BIG milestone about a 2 weeks ago. For 3 days in a row Avery would tell me that she needed to go poop and wanted to go in the potty (we've had a potty seat sitting in her bathroom for months, she's been interested in it, wanting to sit on it in her diaper and all, but not actually wanting to use it). Each day she told me this twice. The first 2 days she didn't make it to the potty in time the first time but she would for the second. One the 3rd day she went both times in the potty.
I talked to my sister (the toddler teacher who has helped potty train over a hundred kids) and she told me to start potty training. I was in shock!!! I mean, I knew that all the signs were pointing to it but I couldn't fathom actually potty training my 21 month old. I mean, really?!?! So my sister gave us some tips on how to do it. Here is what she suggested:
- the day before we start put underwear on over her diaper so she gets familiar with them
- if possible, stay at home for at least 2 days when starting to potty training
- take her to the bathroom every 30 minutes and before and after she eats or drinks
- if she doesn't want to use the bathroom, tell her she has to try to use it before we can... go outside, play, have snack, etc. (must be things that parents are willing to push back)
- once she gets the hang of using the potty at home venture out to places where a bathroom is easily accessible
- accidents are ok and WILL happen, it's a learning opportunity, but have the child clean up themselves and the mess afterwards
- once you make the switch to underwear don't go back and forth between diaper/pull-ups and underwear, it can be very confusing for the child. However diapers are still fine when they are sleeping
- make a big deal about everything related to going potty; buying supplies, going to the bathroom in the potty, etc. Be super excited about it and it will rub off on her
The next day Avery and I went shopping for potty training supplies. First, Avery got to pick out her big girl underwear. She was pretty excited about it and couldn't decide on just one theme, and since I knew we would need more than one pack, she got to pick out her 3 favorites (Dora, Minnie Mouse, and Fairies). Next we went and found some potty time books to read when she is in the bathroom. I picked out several books about using the potty and then she got to pick out 3 more books of her choice. Avery also got to pick out a cool basket that holds her books in the bathroom. The last few things we picked up were things for going potty when we were out and about. We got a potty seat that folds up and fits in my bag and a small collapsable potty for in my car.
During nap that day I washed all the underwear and when she woke up she got to pick which ones she wanted to wear over her diaper. She was very proud of them and made sure that she showed them to Nana, Papa, and Daddy when they came over/got home. We kept talking about what a big girl she was and how she was ready to start using the potty. We got her books and book basket all set up in the bathroom and started using it that afternoon in a very laid back way (she did still have her diaper on all that afternoon). She went pee pee in her potty chair several times but she still went in her diaper, too.
The next day we went for it! It was a Friday so I was by myself and it was an interesting day, frustrating at times. I think our biggest problem was that we tried to keep her in a more confined area, one that wouldn't be as difficult to clean up (so it was mostly the kitchen, dining room, and outside). Well, she did not like that at all and it made her very whiny and fussy. She had several accidents but also several successes. But by the end of the day I was exhausted!
The next day Eric and I decided to say screw it and let her go where ever she wanted in the house (but we did cover the new couch with her extra water proof bed liners). This made her a lot happier and we started to have even more success. She would go pee pee almost every time she went to use it. However, she would get so excited that she went, that she would stand up after a couple little tiny drops, clap for herself, and want to dump it in the toilet. She would do this 4 or 5 times at each sitting. The real problem with this was that she never actually completely emptied her bladder and she would then go off and in less than 5 minutes have an accident. We kept trying to get her to sit longer but it just wasn't working.
The next morning (day 2 of potty training house lock down) Eric thought it might be a good idea for Avery to try out the travel potty seat here at home so that her first experience with it wasn't out in a public bathroom that is unfamiliar and possibly a little scary. So, we put it on the potty and had her sit down on it. She immediately went and we started telling her that we could hear her going pee pee. She thought it was pretty cool and as she listened she kept going and going and going, until she emptied her bladder!!! After that she had no accident. So we tried it at the next potty time and it worked again! We decided that instead of using the awkward travel potty seat we would go buy on that fits on the potty better. I ran out at nap time and bought a potty seat and taller stool. Since making the switch from the potty chair to the potty seat, she has only had 3 accidents and that's been over a week and a half!
I don't want to drag this post out too much so I'll write later about taking our potty training girl out in public for the first time and how that's go! But boy have we had a lot of excitement at our house lately!!!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
The Move to the Big Girl Bed
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So Avery has now been in her big girl bed for almost 2 weeks. I was actually surprised by how smoothly it went. We had planned on moving her into the room and bed on Friday, June 24 but Eric won a big award at work so I took him out to celebrate that night and we pushed the big switch back to Saturday night instead. We kept the bed time routine as close to the old one as possible. Eric and I both gave her a bath and brushed her teeth. Then we headed into her big girl room where I said good night and gave her lots of cuddles, hugs, and kisses. Once I said good night and left the room it was only her and Eric. He got her all lotioned up and in her PJs.
Now, this is where the routine had to change a little. Before, they would sit down in the glider and read 2 books. Since there is no glider in the new room they had to read sitting in her bed. Once they were done it was cuddle time. Once again, this usually happened on the glider but instead had to happen on her bed. She needed a little more cuddle time with daddy than usual but handled it all really well. After the cuddling, he got up, told her he loved her and good night. He never actually mentioned staying in the bed or anything.
It took her a while to fall asleep that night, about an hour. But she never cried or anything, just talked and played in bed. The whole time Eric and I sat glued to the monitor listening for sounds of her getting up from bed. We were sure we would have to go in there a ton of times and put her back to bed. However, she did not get out of her bed one time!!! We were amazed!!!
The next morning we heard her making noise and went into her room, once again convinced that she would be up and out of bed playing in her room. However, there she sat on her bed, quietly talking and playing with the toys she sleeps with (Seahorse, Baby, and Lamb Lovey). Once we went in, she told us she wanted to get up from bed, so we picked her up and cuddled her for minute, just like in her old room.
And that is pretty much how it has gone ever since, for both nap and bed time. It's almost like she doesn't realize she can get out of bed on her own, even though she does it all day long when we are playing in there. For some reason when it's time to sleep she forgets that she can get in and out by herself. We got so lucky!!!
Now, this is where the routine had to change a little. Before, they would sit down in the glider and read 2 books. Since there is no glider in the new room they had to read sitting in her bed. Once they were done it was cuddle time. Once again, this usually happened on the glider but instead had to happen on her bed. She needed a little more cuddle time with daddy than usual but handled it all really well. After the cuddling, he got up, told her he loved her and good night. He never actually mentioned staying in the bed or anything.
It took her a while to fall asleep that night, about an hour. But she never cried or anything, just talked and played in bed. The whole time Eric and I sat glued to the monitor listening for sounds of her getting up from bed. We were sure we would have to go in there a ton of times and put her back to bed. However, she did not get out of her bed one time!!! We were amazed!!!
The next morning we heard her making noise and went into her room, once again convinced that she would be up and out of bed playing in her room. However, there she sat on her bed, quietly talking and playing with the toys she sleeps with (Seahorse, Baby, and Lamb Lovey). Once we went in, she told us she wanted to get up from bed, so we picked her up and cuddled her for minute, just like in her old room.
And that is pretty much how it has gone ever since, for both nap and bed time. It's almost like she doesn't realize she can get out of bed on her own, even though she does it all day long when we are playing in there. For some reason when it's time to sleep she forgets that she can get in and out by herself. We got so lucky!!!
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Week 34
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I can't believe I only have about 6 weeks left to go! That's under a month and a half! And boy do I still have a ton to do!
Yesterday was my week 34 appointment and it went really well. I had an ultrasound first to check the placenta (because of my blood clotting- MTHFR) and growth and fluid. Everything looked good. She's still head down and measuring at about the 80th percentile for weight (which I totally don't trust those measurements- they told us Avery was going to be almost 8 lbs and she wasn't even 6 and a half). Fluid was a little on the high end but nothing to worry about and the placenta looked great.
Check up was quick and smooth, still on track for the VBAC and I was happy that my doctor said that the projected weight would not be something that we use to determine if we have to have a c-section or not, more just something for us to be aware of and keep in mind. Phew! I had already told Eric he has to go with me to the last ultrasound appointment so that if they tried to tell me we had to have a c-section because of weight I would have him there to support me in disagreeing with them. I know there are plenty of reasons for c-sections and I'm ok with that but to me weight is not one of them unless it becomes a safety concern during labor.
Other than that, doing pretty good. Blood pressure is down (yesterday it was 126 over 84, yay). All this rest while Avery rests has been good for me. However, I am definitely starting to feel 34 weeks pregnant. It just hit me within the last week. My feet hurt, my back aches, I have to pee constantly, and I am not moving a quick as I was, which is hard when I am trying to keep up with a 21 month old.
As I said I still have so much to do! The house is a mess since I can't clean when Avery naps and yeah right I can clean while she's awake. Eric is trying to help but he's been so busy with work. I have to start working on my bag for the hospital and buying a couple things for Avery (big sister presents) and the baby (birth day gift and baby book). I also have to finish organizing the nursery and getting all the baby stuff out, cleaned, and ready to go. It just seems like the list is never ending! I'm hoping to get a lot done this weekend. Wish me luck!!!
Yesterday was my week 34 appointment and it went really well. I had an ultrasound first to check the placenta (because of my blood clotting- MTHFR) and growth and fluid. Everything looked good. She's still head down and measuring at about the 80th percentile for weight (which I totally don't trust those measurements- they told us Avery was going to be almost 8 lbs and she wasn't even 6 and a half). Fluid was a little on the high end but nothing to worry about and the placenta looked great.
Check up was quick and smooth, still on track for the VBAC and I was happy that my doctor said that the projected weight would not be something that we use to determine if we have to have a c-section or not, more just something for us to be aware of and keep in mind. Phew! I had already told Eric he has to go with me to the last ultrasound appointment so that if they tried to tell me we had to have a c-section because of weight I would have him there to support me in disagreeing with them. I know there are plenty of reasons for c-sections and I'm ok with that but to me weight is not one of them unless it becomes a safety concern during labor.
Other than that, doing pretty good. Blood pressure is down (yesterday it was 126 over 84, yay). All this rest while Avery rests has been good for me. However, I am definitely starting to feel 34 weeks pregnant. It just hit me within the last week. My feet hurt, my back aches, I have to pee constantly, and I am not moving a quick as I was, which is hard when I am trying to keep up with a 21 month old.
As I said I still have so much to do! The house is a mess since I can't clean when Avery naps and yeah right I can clean while she's awake. Eric is trying to help but he's been so busy with work. I have to start working on my bag for the hospital and buying a couple things for Avery (big sister presents) and the baby (birth day gift and baby book). I also have to finish organizing the nursery and getting all the baby stuff out, cleaned, and ready to go. It just seems like the list is never ending! I'm hoping to get a lot done this weekend. Wish me luck!!!
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