Potty Progress....and More

OK, so it's been 1 week since I decided to give this potty training thing a shot....just to see if Ruthi was interested.

I am TOTALLY AMAZED at this child!

Since we had the first successful tinkle in the potty last Tuesday, the ONLY time she's wet herself was when she was sleeping a couple times, and a couple times when we were away from home - and she was wearing a diaper.

I went out and bought her Dora panties on Thursday and she wanted to put them on right then. I had to explain to her that we needed to wait until we got home. And she does NOT want to tee-tee on Dora! She has made it to the potty every time.

Then there's the "other end"! The first two times, she didn't quite make it to the potty - but she was trying. I think it caught her off guard the first time. The second day, she sat on the potty for the longest time, and I began to smell something so I thought she was going. Turned out to be only air. Shortly after that, she went, but didn't quite get it to the potty. Thank heavens for hard wood floors!

So, her Daddy decided to encourage her and told her that if she could do it in the potty, he would get her some ice cream. She ended up not going for 2 days, but on the 3rd day, she made it to the potty - TWICE! Oh yeah, we are so proud of her!

Today, we "graduated" to the "big potty" and she has done both numbers on it already. What a big girl!

Now, we still haven't mastered going when we are away from home, which is why I decided to move her to the big potty so it wouldn't freak her out when we are out somewhere and she needs to go.

Today we were away from home for over 3 hours, and I kept asking her if she needed to go, and she said no. When we were about 10 minutes away from home she said she needed to, and I asked her if she could hold it. She said she could, but I was fully prepared for her to be wet when we got home....but she held it!

I just can't believe how easy this has been. CJ was terribly difficult to train, so I am just amazed. And thankful!

Now....for other BIG news!

I know that some who read this won't understand why this wasn't already happening, and others will think that we shouldn't bother with this change already. But, each family has to make their own decisions, not based on what others think.

Now your curiosity is really up, huh?

Well, Ruthi is now sleeping in her OWN BED!

Yes, up till now, she has slept with me/us. And to be quite honest, I haven't been in a big hurry to change that. I love holding her until she goes to sleep, and feeling her next to me (Ok, on me most of the time) - it's something she and I both have thoroughly enjoyed.

But, last Tuesday, (yes, the same day we started potty training) she showed interest in sleeping in her bed. So, I sat in a chair in the corner until she fell asleep. It took less than 10 minutes.

For several nights, this was the routine. She would say, "Mommy, you sit in chair and watch me." So I did. I would read as I sat there, thanks to the invention of a book light. And I've read more in a week than I had in a year!

Yesterday, she went to her bed at naptime and went to sleep all by herself - no mommy in the room. And last night, she went to sleep witout me in the room. Well, after a little incentive bribery. I told her (after she had gotten up to play several times, and running in to give us hugs and kisses), that if she'd stay in her bed and go to sleep, that she could have some ice cream today.

She slept all night. She did wake up around 5 and came to get in our bed - which is fine with me! And today, she got her ice cream.

Just a little while ago, she informed me she was sleepy - went to her room and got in her bed and went right to sleep. A big girl she is! Oh my!

Um, yeah, we are quite proud of her!

Next....the paci. But I'm in no hurry. I want these to things to be 100% mastered before we tackle that. And when she's ready, I think it will be just as easy.

And yes....I know all the "negatives" of her still having one. But she's fine, and I'm sure it will be gone soon. That will be the hardest on me, I'm sure, as to me, once that's gone, that's it for the "baby" stuff, and she truly will be a big girl. So bittersweet!

And my sweet girl will be 2 and a half on Saturday. How did that happen?