Screams from the bathroom

Screams from the bathroom isn't that uncommon, but it usually is the words "I'm Done" Which really means I am done pooping and need to checked or wiped! Ellery kept repeating "Mason don't" and "Mason stop that" in her sassy voice. I went to investigate to find Ellery sitting on the toilet while Mason was peeing in the back end of the toilet! Ewwwwwww Maybe I should think about revisiting my potty training ways!

Trial and Error

Maybe the best parenting is doing it by mistake.

Ellery is officially potty trained and has been for quite some time. We don't have to remind her to go, it is nice. We put our pj's on early the other night and left Ellery in her undies. We still will put a diaper or a pull up on her at night. She wakes up wet sometimes and other times dry. Or she wakes up and tells me she just peed in her pull up. We have tried bribes such as if you have a dry pull up in the am you can have M&Ms. It worked a few times, but the two M&M she got wasn't worth it. Maybe she should have upped the ante of M&M's? Well, we didn't put one on her and she woke up dry. She got her reward and now the dilemma to put her in undies or pull ups at night. Clearly she can do it, but if she does have an accident I would rather sleep than change sheets. I think this is a complete convenience for the parent move, but maybe I'll let her try again next month!

Poop Party

Not much I can really say on this one except it's true. Yes, we have "poop parties" in this house. It started a few weeks ago during nap/quiet time. I hear Mason shouting from the upstairs bathroom that he is "done". Yes, I know he is 4 and he can wipe his own bottom, but when I have the time I like to make sure we don't leave any marks in the underwear. It is a work in progress. Anyways, I go upstairs to help him and find that Ellery is also out of her room and sitting on the toilet as well. When asked what they are doing Mason tells me they are having a "poop party". Not a party I want an invite to, but Ellery is thrilled with the invite and now when Mason runs to the bathroom saying he needs to poop, she follows right behind him stating she needs to go too!

Privacy Please

Ellery is not scared of the big girl toilet any more. She is also learning to keep her undies or her pants on while she goes rather than strip down to her birthday suite. Her biggest supporter during her potty training is her big brother. We can't keep him out of the bathroom while she goes, he is even content enough to find seating in the corner. Don't mind that it is a mini toilet, it won't stop him from cheering her on. It is funny toys didn't motivate Ellery to go #2 like they did for Mason. Candy did the trick for her.

Ellery Potty Training

This sweet sweet girl is almost potty trained. While we were in the hospital having Bryson, Nana took on potty training with Ellery. Nana might have to write a book or something because Ellery has been going like a champ since. A big thank you to Nana! We were struggling with going #2, but she has conquered that fear as well and has gone #2 on the potty chair the past two days. We are proud as can be, and since we have been home a bit more the past two weeks we have been able to set the timer and watch her go. One would think she would fight us or regress with a new baby around, but I think she likes it because she gets special attention and special treats aka candy for going #2. Nothing like getting one out of diapers while just getting one into diapers. On that note Bryson is big enough to wear 1-2 size diapers rather than newborns.

Big Girl

We have a big girl on our hands. We gave up sippy cups a few months ago and have been fairly successful in drinking out of a cup. We used to put her back in a sippy if she spilled, blew bubbles, or put food in her cup, and we were doing that regularly but then she figured out she'd rather have a big girl cup like her brother. We haven't had to use a sippy in a few weeks due to spillage.
We also have started transitioning her into her new room with a big girl bed. I might have to break down and buy her girlie sheets and comforter rather than make her use Mason's hand me down space ones. She doesn't seem to mind, but she does favor girl colors over blue. We tried last week and she failed miserably so we put her in the twin bed last night and she was happy for a bit. She then started coming to the door, we baby gate her into the new room, and we told her if she came to the door one more time she would have to go into the pack and play we set up in her room. She failed and ended up in the pack and play, but she is currently upstairs taking a nap in her big girl twin bed and she hasn't came to the door. She isn't that big to begin with, but looks so small and dainty in her big girl bed.
We also put big girl undies on today per her request. Poor Mason couldn't go 15 min without having to relieve himself where Ellery can go 1 hour plus before she gets the urge. We filled up on fluids and popcorn today and she is proud as she can be to be in underwear. We only had one accident and that was when we were outside playing and she did #2 in her pants as well as #1, but she came and told me asap because she didn't like the feeling. Mason tried telling her it was ok to poop on the potty, he stated "you just have to push a little harder". He also told her not to be scared. I still think she is a little young, but she is expressing the interest so I am not going to tell her no.
Thank goodness I have another child on the way. It is tears of happiness that she is growing up, but I don't know if you can ever prepare for it emotionally.

Potty Training-Not Quite

Ellery is showing a real interest in sitting on the potty chair, but not having any results. I am not ready to potty train her, but I do let her sit in the bathroom with me every so often. She takes after her dad in expressing an interest in reading while sitting on her throne.

Privacy Please

Mason is a big boy and doesn't always tell us when he has to go to the bathroom, he just goes by himself. He usually goes on the regular toilet, but since Ellery has expressed an interest in the potty training toilets he has now found a rekindled interest in it as well. I was walking by the bathroom today when a little voice inside informs me he isn't done yet and "he needs some privacy." Being the super mom that I am I decided I needed to grab the camera and capture the moment.
PS Everyone is fever free and feeling much better.

Big Boy Mason

We are pleased to announce we are wearing big boy undies at night now. It is official, we are done with diapers/pull ups. He traveled to South Carolina in big boy undies without any accidents and has been doing great. He has been dry in the morning for the past few weeks, but we didn't want to chance it while on vacation, but we finally took them away and wha la. He also has started going #2 on the real toilet and goes without being told. He has figured out the urge and I couldn't be prouder. I am also thrilled to have discovered flushable wipes, they are fantastic. We have had to change out the undies a few times in the past few weeks, but never enough to go through to his pants. It tends to be when he is really excited about a toy or in a large group playing and I don't give the extra nudge I know he needs.

Also, if Mason every starts a yard service we have the perfect marketing picture for him. He is all about safety in his safety goggles and asks you to try to poke his eyes while he is wearing them.

Potty Trained

I could have posted this one a week ago, but I didn't want to jinx us. I can honestly say Mason is potty trained. We still have our occasional accident, it is hard for him pull himself away from fun toys. That includes playing with his matchbox cars. They were very mesmerizing the other day and we couldn't be interrupted for a potty break for some crazy reason. It is the cutest thing listening to him say he has to potty and run for the bathroom. It is like music to my ears. He is also having no troubles going #2. He has been successful on this elimination for over a week. I am also proud to report that he has had a dry diaper the last 4 nights in the morning and the first thing I wake up to is "Mom, I have to potty". What a wonderful alarm sound! I was confused on how a 2.5 year old could put together a 25+ piece puzzle on his own, but couldn't figure out potty training. I guess I wasn't truly ready to train him. Now we need to potty train Ellery, poor thing seems to not get her diaper changed near as often as before. I am happy to report we sat her on the chair yesterday and she did go. It was an accident on her part on going in the toilet, but still it is a start. They say girls are much easier than boys and whoever "they" are might actually be correct. The only question left is what to do with all the money I am saving on diapers now, I think mommy deserves a treat.

Poooo

We are such proud parents from yesterday's potty experiences. The potty training is going good and we are having less and less accidents on going #1 every day. Not to mention Mason goes potty sometimes by himself without any prompting. Yesterday he had to go #2 and sat on the potty chair and read books and he went like a big boy. We had a mini celebration and Mason and mommy beamed with joy.
While we were at the Sesame Street Body exhibit Mason found the poo machine and was enthralled with it. How appropriate? He would push the button and watch it slide through the opening and look at me wrinkle his nose and say "ewwwwww". Maybe the machine is what prompted him to use the big boy chair. Perhaps I owe a thank you to Sesame Street.

Diapers to Undies

We have hit potty training head on due to inspiration from my friend Michelle. I owe her a big thank you for answering all of my questions and reading literature I was too lazy to read. I was hoping for the prodigy child that potty trained himself and reality has hit that I don't have that child. We have been wearing undies and not diapers for a few days now and I have learned a lot of tricks of the trade from Michelle like:
1. Put an X on a piece of toilet paper and put it in the toilet and let the kids aim for it. The straining to aim is supposed to help in going #2. Unless your my child who has a huge phobia to go poop on the big boy toilet or any where else other than his diaper and now undies. Lucky me! I can report that he has gone once, but it wasn't on his terms so it may take a bit more time.
2. Let your child run in the buff rather than use training pants. Helps them hold their urge better. I was holding out on this one but decided to finally try it because I have a child who doesn't mind feeling "wet". Let me just say I thought Mason had discovered all of his boy parts until he walked up to me with something harder than usual and asked me "uh oh, what happened". I decided to skip the birds and the bees story at this time, but if he keeps it up I might have to give it. Surprise surprise he doesn't mind running in his birthday suite. We tend to run in the buff while we are at home and then we are using big boy underwear for errands and play outside and he has gotten better at not wetting his undies after the birthday suite attire.
3. Let the little one help in the dumping process if using a training toilet. I was doing this wonderful job on my own and had no idea I was robbing my child of joy and accomplishment.
4. Let them bring a toy and books with them. I had brought a few books into the bathroom, but I was not letting any toys past the door. I now let toys in the door and let Mason place them on his step stool to watch him be a big boy. I came in after him to discover he had pulled his step stool closer to the potty chair so they could get rock star seating for the event. I guess sitting on the step stool in front of the sink was just too far to get a good view.
5. Stay positive and have fun. Which brings me back to Mason and his discovering phase. It is obviously bringing pleasure to him and I have to say for the most part I am staying positive and attempting to have fun and actually getting a good ab work out from all the chuckles Mason brings with each bathroom trip.

I'm Not a Big Boy

We have been working on the potty training here in the Chaplin house I think Ellery might train before Mason. I don't think Mason is that thrilled about it. He has only told us a couple of times that he needed to use the big boy toilet and he refuses to poop in it. Yet, even when it isn't fun for him or me he gives me a chuckle.












Mandi: Mason it's time to go to the bathroom and sit on the big boy toilet.
Mason: I'm not a big boy. (thinking if he isn't a big boy he doesn't have to use the big boy toilet)
Mandi: You're a big boy now come on and lets go.
Mason: I'm not, I'm not a big boy. (repeating at an almost scream)
Mason then requests to play with the leap pad.
Evil Mandi: The leap pad is a big boy toy. If you're a big boy then you can play with it and big boys use the big boy potty.
Poor Mason: (looking pathetic walked to mommy and used the bathroom so he could play with his toy)
Ellery: (follows like a shadow and mans her position on the potty training toilet gleaming with joy.)

I go Pee Pee

Mason has been saying he needs to go pee pee and runs to the bathroom and sits on the toilet. We have not had any "results" until tonight. After his bath he said he had to go and ran to the bathroom sat down on the thrown and peed like a big boy!

Oppppps

I try to shower before Rob leaves in the morning but if I don't get that accomplished I bring Mason in the shower with me and put Ellery in her swing in the bathroom. I had placed Ellery in her swing and was about to get in with Mason but he had a surprise in his diaper so I took him to his room to get him cleaned off. They say never to leave your toddler alone with your baby. I was only a few seconds behind him, the time it took to wrap up a stinky diaper and throw it away. I was talking to him and asking him if he needed to sit on his potty chair and he is telling me no, but when I walked into the bathroom the corner of the swing and Ellery's right foot are all wet. Mason peed on his sister. Her swing had blocked in his potty chair, so I am not sure if he just got really excited to shower or if he couldn't get to his chair?

Mason giving Ellery Zerberts

Ok, so I am behind in my postings and I will back log our trip to Omaha and visits from Tom, Grandma Ellen, and Papaw Brooks. I just couldn't resist sharing this one. I was trying to get some new dance moves from Mason and he wasn't cooperating. He kept climbing on the bed to play with Ellery. I am proud that I caught her first zerbert from Mason on camera. He wouldn't stop giving them to her and she didn't mind getting them. It gave me a good chuckle.

Another proud moment is that Mason has received an m&m every night since we returned from Omaha for using his potty chair. We are very proud of him. It started out as just a dribble on Saturday night and each night he has gone more. We try in the mornings as well, but not having near as good as luck as the evenings. We bribe him with 1 m&m for going, we know it is probably not the best, but it is working.