Did she go? In a word, no.

Guess who is wearing diapers full time again? That's right, my dear daughter.

After trying potty training for three days, it was clear that we weren't making a bit of progress. In fact, we were regressing further because now not only was Olive NOT peeing in the toilet, she cried when we even took her in the bathroom.

FAIL.

Rather than scar her for life, we quit. It seemed like she knew when she was peeing and understood what we wanted her to do, but couldn't make it happen. I am still feeling optimistic that perhaps now that she's seen what the goal is, maybe she'll want to try it again on her own sometime. But if not, we will probably try again in maybe four or six months. Who knows?

Didn't we just do this?

Today we began potty training Olive. Crazy? Maybe. Maybe not. She is definitely on the young side for it, but I'm confident she will pick it up quickly. (I must say though, after going at this for about eight hours, I am a little less confident than I was this morning.)

Yesterday I bought a bunch of panties. Superheros, Dora, and standard-issue Hanes. All a little on the big side. Apparently Target doesn't stock panties small enough for a 17-month-old. I washed them, dried them, and got them all ready for her to wear this morning. Good thing I bought a bunch. So far she has gone through five pairs, I think. In eight and a half hours, three of which were spent napping. Another hour of which was spent playing pantsless out in the sprinkler.

So. That sort of sums that up. We've got a long road ahead of us, perhaps, but I'm going to give it a good shot. She doesn't start at her new daycare for another week, so since she'll be with me or the grandmothers this entire week, it seemed like a good time to focus on using the potty. And if she shows no signs of improving or getting the hang of it after a few days, we can always call it off and try again in a few months. I'm not completely crazy.

How many times can I say the word pee in this post?

Ah, potty training. We're doing it, baby.

Andrew and I had been following that whole wait-'til-he's-ready thing, but about a week ago we changed our tune. Pretty sure Milo was not going to be one of those kids who just up and decided it was time to pee in the potty. Milo is stubborn and determined and willful. He likes to make his own decisions. And so far, he has not wanted much of anything to do with the potty. Not for Skittles. Not for marshmallows. Not for cotton balls (our reward system for Milo: he earns cotton balls for his cotton ball jar when he does something good, then when the jar is full we go out for ice cream or some other fun thing).

Then last weekend, about a month before his 3rd birthday, we just kind of decided it was time. We talked up how Saturday was Big Boy Underwear Day and isn't that soooooo exciting? We get to go to the Big Boy Underwear store and pick out some Big Boy Underwear and—ooh!!—maybe the Big Boy Underwear will have THOMAS on it!! Lots of verbal exclamation points were used.

And thank Sir Topham Hatt, Walmart sold Thomas underwear. Milo and I picked out three (identical) packs for a total of 21 pairs of Big Boy Underwear. I figured that this, combined with the seven pairs of Old Navy truck underwear we already had, would be enough to get us through the first few days, even though the truck underwear was basically unacceptable (to Milo) because the trucks were all on the butt and Milo could not see them and therefore would not wear them.

Milo was very excited about his new Thomas Big Boy Underwear. Upon taking them out of the package, though, Milo was EXTREMELY disappointed that Thomas was on the back. Seriously, underwear manufacturers, get a clue! Little boys want to look at Thomas! And they can't see their own butts! Put the Useful train on the front!! Fortunately, a few of the pairs had all-over patterns, which were acceptable though not as good as the big Thomas.

That first day, Milo had two pee accidents and peed in the potty once. He mostly stayed dry and did not poop all day. I think he was pretty good at holding it from the start of our little potty training adventure. He was still in a diaper for naptime and overnight. And after that first day, there has been no looking back. He no longer wants to wear a diaper ever, though he accepts it at naptime and overnight. He's doing great. He has pooped in the potty TWICE!! and peed several more times.

He's still had accidents every day, but more successes, too. I think he is starting to realize how he  is controlling things and what happens. He likes the candy rewards, but I don't think that is a huge motivator for him. He has gotten to play games on Daddy's tablet while sitting on the potty, and I think that's what really getting him in there. We also set a timer so he knows when it's time to go try to pee. (We've been using the time for other things, too—like so he knows when it's time to go take a bath or read stories before nap, for instance. The timer is good for this kid.) 

This morning he woke up with a dry diaper, which is AMAZING in and of itself, then he went and peed on the potty right away. So proud of him. In less than a week, he's gone from fulltime diaper to waking up dry!

And he looks adorable in his little underwear. Of course, he wears them backward half the time so he can properly see Thomas. This is pretty hilarious, as it causes major wedgies and he's always picking at his undies. But you know, some battles are not worth fighting, and if he wants to wear his underwear backward, so be it.

Parents of little boys, tell me: did you potty train standing or sitting? We have been doing both, but seem to have much more success with sitting. So pretty much sticking to sitting for now. I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to this stuff. Advice, give it to me!

Hooray!

Milo peed in the potty tonight! First time it was totally intentional on his part. He stood, and I tossed a square of toilet paper in for him to aim at. And within 30 seconds, maybe, he peed! And it nearly all went in the toilet!

I cheered, and we called down for Daddy. Andrew came up and saw the pee, cheered, and gave Milo his very first "I peed!" Skittle.

Then Andrew asked him what we do after we pee. Milo said, "Put your penis down." Andrew said, "What else? We flush!" And Milo proudly flushed.

He was so proud. Smiling and cheering right along with us. After bath we called Grandma and Grandpa (left a message) and Nana. Got to tell Nana all about it. She was very excited, too.

I am so proud of him. Yay, Milo!