It's official!!

Sadie is finally potty trained. This might be boring for all of you but I need to record how I (we) accomplished this vexing task. About a year ago Sadie's friend Lizzie was showing signs of wanting to be potty trained. I thought that because these girls were on the same track (developmentally) I would get Sadie started with the training as well. We bought the potty and put it in the bathroom. She had a few exciting moments when she decided to sit down and be a "big girl" but that was about it. She showed very little interest in the whole ordeal other than the Reese's pieces she received whenever she used the potty. Then I got pregnant and had absolutely zero desire to do anything but sleep on the couch while Sadie played with her trains. I feel a little guilty because she was finally showing the signs of wanting to train but I was just too lazy (and nauseated:-)

Entering the second trimester of this pregnancy I got a sudden boost of energy and decided to try again with the training. However, if any of you know Sadie, you also know she has a mind of her own and doesn't like to be forced into doing anything. Now because I wanted her to be trained she totally retaliated and wouldn't even sit on the potty. I finally gave up again knowing that the more I pushed the more she would back away. It wasn't until we had a week off of preschool for Spring Break, that I actually saw a little progress. I found something that Sadie is obsessed with (Disney's Cars Movie) and used the toys as incentives. At this point she was really comfortable going #1 but NEVER wanted to go #2. She would always go off into a secluded place (right after she used the potty) to "take care of business" (sorry I really dislike all the potty vocabulary). So to initially get her to sit on the potty for #2 I got her a MACK semi truck. If she performed, she got the truck but if she messed up her pants, I took the truck away. She LOVES MACK and eventually did everything in her power to keep him.

Now that she was finally comfortable we decided that every time she went #2, she got one of the car characters from the movie. This was a great incentive as she got so excited to use the potty because she anticipated the next car. She only had a #2 accident once because of this plan and when that happened we took all the cars away and she had to earn them back all over again..one by one. I know it sounds regimental, but it worked for Sadie.

Now every time she keeps her pants clean while she's away at nursery or preschool, she gets a lollipop (we ran out of cars). She is always so excited when I pick her up as she says "Mommy I did it, can I have my lollipop now?" She's a great kid. I am so proud of her (and me for enduring to the end). I can honestly say this was one of the hardest things I have ever had to accomplish. Good luck to all you readers with a soon to be trained toddler. It's definitely NOT a walk in the park, well at least it wasn't for us.

Hooray for Sadie...she's finally trained. Now that she's out of diapers, I have to start all over with the next little one. It's a viscous cycle!!