Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

Potty training is actually going rather well. I don't recall any accidents during last week (unless I've already blogged about them). She only had one accident last weekend, and the accident wasn't even a complete, tee tee all over the floor, accident. Instead, she just leaked a little, looked down, looked at me and said, "Uh-oh." I told her that was alright, and as she was slightly leaking, I asked her, "Can you hold it?" And, she did! She stopped tee teeing, and she ran to the bathroom and finished in her potty.

Then, on Monday, I decided to finally begin the "big girl panties" yet again. Honestly, I was a nervous wreck and not because I was afraid she couldn't do it, but because I had to go to the grocery store (actually two grocery stores) with her in tote. And, this time, I had to go because I had to buy salad and salad stuff because I was having dinner with a friend, and I had offered to bring a salad. I was determined not to use Pull Ups. So, we practiced for a few hours that morning, and then around 2:00 p.m., off we went to both Sam's Club and Kroger.

I brought her big girl frog potty with us, and before and after we entered a store, I asked her if she needed to go tee tee in the potty. If she refuses to try and go, I don't force it, and I just say, "alright, well let me know when you need to go tee tee in the potty." So far, not forcing her and letting her go at her own will has worked wonderfully! While we were out and about grocery shopping, she decided to try and go tee tee in the potty every time I asked her. And, we never had to use the store potty.

And, before we left, I told her that we were going to leave her juice cup at home because she didn't want to have to go potty while we were shopping if she could help it, and she knows that drinking makes her have to go tee tee. And, surprisingly, she did. I was afraid she'd have a meltdown in the store when she decided she needed it (because she was tired and thirsty), but she didn't. Her juice cup has become like a lovey to her, so her "apple juice, Teddy and paci" go hand and hand.

Well, my stomach was in knots for nothing! She did not have one single accident! I told her I was so proud of her, and she just grinned from ear to ear. I had brought along a towel in her diaper bag in case she had an accident on the floor at the grocery store. And, honestly, I wasn't a nervous wreck because I was afraid she would tee tee on the floor. I was more nervous just dealing with the extra added process and not knowing where the bathrooms were in the store and not knowing what I was going to do with a buggy full of groceries for 10-20 minutes if Annabelle did decide that she needed to go tee tee in the potty.

Tuesday was an awesome day as well, no accidents! And, Tuesday evening, we even met friends who live 45 minutes - 60 minutes away to watch their son play baseball. I was concerned she would be distracted while playing with their 3-year old daughter and forget to go tee tee in the potty. I limited her fluids once again, and she did just fine.

On Wednesday, she spent the day and night with my parents, and once again, no accidents! They even took her to their normal weekly routine of eating at Captain D's, and she went potty in the big potties inside the restaurant.

Well, Thursday was a different story. I met Annabelle and Grandmama and Granddaddy at McDonald's that morning since she had spent the night with them. She had another slight accident while at McDonald's, but again, it was only a slight leak that reminded her that she needed to go tee tee in the potty. She wet her panties, but she still finished in the big potties in McDonald's.

Then, we went strawberry picking in Loganville, Georgia. So, we drove all the way from Duluth to Loganville (approximately 45 minutes), and she had no accident. She tee teed in her frog potty (that was seated in the car) before and after we picked strawberries, but still, no accident!

Then, we went to visit my Great Aunt Belle who lives in Monroe, Georgia. She still did fine all the way there, but after we arrived and were playing with her coloring books and colored pencils on the floor at Aunt Belle's, she tee teed a little more than usual. I asked her again, "can you hold it?" as she started tee teeing and looking down at it streaming below her, and she did. So, she only got the carpet slightly wet. The worst part, Aunt Belle had apparently just gotten new carpet. The saving grace (in my eyes), she only tee teed on a little walking rug that Aunt Belle had placed over the new carpet to walk from room to room. I took Annabelle outside to tee tee in the potty while Grandmama cleaned up the tee tee. I didn't want to leave it sitting there.

Then, on Thursday, she fell asleep on the way home from Great Aunt Belle's, and I hadn't put a diaper on her yet, so she had another accident. But, even though it was more than just a slight accident, she wasn't swimming in it, and it dried very quickly without me having to dry it up with a towel.

And, then, today, she's had a few accidents in her big girl panties, but yet again, she's been able to stop herself mid stream. Once again, she was just very busy playing!

So, Annabelle is doing awesome at potty training (even with the big girl panties on). I guess she was just ready! Her candy of choice has changed to "Daddy's jelly beans" and "Nonnie's jelly beans," but when those run out, we'll go back to M&M's again.

So, each day, Annabelle is taking two steps forward and only one step back! Hopefully, the one step back will slowly become another step forward.

I am very proud of my little girl! And, I am so thankful to not have any very wet diapers to change!