A potty post

So the "Potty Training" chapter of Kaitlyn's life has been a long one. It has been a roller coaster, with several peaks and several valleys. All of last week was another peak, as she kept dry pretty much the whole time. Even through the weekend she did a great job. However we have been trying to get her to go poop on the potty for a long time. She has done it, a handful of times, but nothing consistent. We have tried everything! We talk about how exciting it is. We talk about, show her and let her try her big girl underwear. We tell her she can go pick out even more brand new big girl underwear, whatever kind she likes. We bribe with things like candy, stickers, popsicles, special trips (for example, a "date" to Bentleyville with the parent of her choice). One day she pooped in her big girl underwear right after having been on the toilet and saying she didn't need to poop, so daddy put a few choice toys away and we told her she would get them back when she pooped on the potty. NONE of this worked for a long time. She is just a stubborn little girl. She knows, and she knows we know she knows, what it feels like to "have to go".

So today when I walked in to daycare just a minute after she FINALLY pooped in the toilet for the first time in a long time, I made a huge deal of it. I was like proud mommy + 10 cups of coffee and a few Red Bulls. I exclaimed over and over how proud I was and what a great job she did, etc. She seemed very happy and made sure to tell everyone who would listen "I went poop on the potty!!! HEY EVERYONE, I went poopie on the potty!!" We arrived home and the first thing she told dad was "I went poop on the potty!". We walked into the house and the first thing she had to do was get her toys back (the ones we had put away earlier). The second thing she did was ask for a popsicle. Then we put in one of her favorite DVD's, which is "Curious George goes to the Zoo and other adventures" (which was one of the things that had been put away). We had a good supper, and then the lucky girl even got a bubble bath all to herself without sister. If all of that isn't positive reinforcement enough for her to continue on a path to diaper freedom, I don't know what is?!?

Anyhow, I hope Kaitlyn starts doing this consistently now. I would be so proud, and save money on diapers too. Maybe I could finally afford to visit the Melon House with that extra money.