Potty Training, Round # 1

As I mentioned before, we started potty training big boy Braden!!! He caught on to the potty part pretty easy. We've had a few accidents, but he's doing awesome. The poopy training wasn't going quite as well!

One day at the store while I was browsing I ran across this toy . . .

Now if you remember, Ryan is a big Bonanza fan. So what could be better for his little boy than his very own Bonanza Ponderosa Ranch, complete with barn and figures of the characters from Bonanza, even their horses!!! This became Braden's bribe to do his business in Ribbit, the potty chair, and not in his undies. Addyson helped to remind him as often as I did. "Braden, don't poop in your undies!". He is quick to point out to Addyson that she poops in her diaper. But she doesn't seem to care . . . at all. Hence why we're not trying to push her out of the dipaers for now.

Anyway, after our vacation we focused hard on the pooping because this mama was tired of cleaning dirty undies in the toilet. I'm thankful that we didn't have to use cloth diapers and enjoy this little chore x 2 for the last 2 + years!!! So the Bonanza toy sat on the bathroom counter tempting little Braden.

He wanted it bad, real bad. His daddy let him hold the box and drool over it while he sat on Ribbit. He would randomly want to try to go just in hopes of getting the toy. But to his disappointment there was nothing to show for it in Ribbit -- so no toy. But one day he caught on.

And the Bonanza toy was better than he even dreamed!!!

And he has been doing pretty good ever since. There were a few other bribes along the way (most included play hay bales and tractors and balers). And said bribes were taken away when mommy got to clean out the undies. Addyson was so helpful in letting him know they were being taken away. He caught on pretty fast to that and decided to try a little harder about keeping the big boy undies clean!!

So, I think the boy is potty trained! He wears a pull up for naps but it is dry most of the time. And at night - because this mama is not excited about waking him up to go potty. Or cleaning wet sheets. I'm enjoying the fact that they are sleeping great and I don't have to get up much at all during the night! Mostly thanks to another big change in the kids' life (more on that in a post soon hopefully!!). I am so proud of Braden. He tries diligently to learn and likes to do things correctly. He has worked hard and is doing a great job!!! Nice work, big boy!!!

We can only hope that Round # 2 with Miss Addyson will be half this easy. I have a feeling it could be very interesting :)