{"id":1034,"date":"2014-01-15T21:51:26","date_gmt":"2014-01-16T02:51:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/themaddlife.com\/?p=1034"},"modified":"2018-12-29T13:17:16","modified_gmt":"2018-12-29T18:17:16","slug":"lets-get-this-potty-started","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/themaddlife.com\/?p=1034","title":{"rendered":"Let’s Get This Potty Started"},"content":{"rendered":"

We finally bit the bullet and spent the entire weekend potty training. We used Gary Ezzo\u2019s method in Potty Training 1-2-3.\u00a0 I bought the book while still pregnant with Harper and for months it has been staring me in the face.\u00a0 I originally decided on his method as he was the author of Baby Wise, which was the foundation for the method of breastfeeding that I utilized with the girls.\u00a0 Finally with a weekend of not having any commitments and a forecast of rain, we decided IT WAS TIME!<\/em><\/p>\n

We started with a trip to Giant Friday night to prepare.\u00a0 That involved two little girls who for the first time were customers in training.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

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They filled their carts with juice, M&M\u2019s, chips, and lifesaver gummies.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"They had a great time navigating through the aisles and being little shoppers.\u00a0 Before bed we talked to them about the big day ahead.\u00a0 When the girls woke up in the morning they were ready to get this potty started!\u00a0 Avery and Emerson each got a cup with juice for their baby.\u00a0 After their babies had a drink, they asked their babies (a.k.a. Maya and Sophia) if they were \u201cdry and clean.\u201d\u00a0 Maya and Sophia each received an M&M for staying \u201cdry and clean\u201d.\u00a0 After a few minutes Avery and Emerson sat Maya and Sophia on the potty and they each made a little bit of pee pee (a syringe with diluted apple juice worked perfectly\u2026.great thinking daddy).\u00a0 After lots of cheering, Avery and Emerson helped pour the pee pee in the big potty to flush.\u00a0 Once hands were clean, Maya and Sophia each received two more M&M\u2019s. \u00a0In time the novelty of Maya and Sophia wore off, but the idea of panties and candy remained exciting. <\/em><\/p>\n

The focus of the weekend was staying \u201cdry and clean\u201d.\u00a0 We had many accidents especially at first but we also had many successes. We were constantly cleaning up pee, changing panties, and doing load after load of laundry. \u00a0We even ran out of panties at one point and Emerson had to use a pair of bloomers.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Staying \u201cdry and clean\u201d was the task at hand and even brushing teeth and brushing hair was put on hold for a day.\u00a0 It seemed like not a minute went by where we weren\u2019t on our hands and knees cleaning pee off the floor and quickly carrying a girl to the potty to make it in time.\u00a0 And while it was exhausting for all of us, seeing the excitement on the girl\u2019s faces when they went pee pee and even poo poo in the potty was awesome. The joy in their innocent faces each time they successfully used the potty makes even the most mundane activity joyful. \u00a0While I don\u2019t wish their life away, I look forward to being their cheerleader for each and every event in their lives, no matter how big or small. It brings me so much joy to be their mommy and constant supporter. <\/em><\/p>\n

And where was Harper during all this you wonder?\u00a0 Well, with the exception of grandma giving Harper her first bottle Saturday morning upstairs away from the commotion, she pretty much hung out right next to us all day in her new little chair that grandma bought for her and her pack n play. <\/em><\/p>\n

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It amazes me how my little baby is so low maintenance and content.\u00a0 As long as she is fed every so often she is happy and smiling. \u00a0She likes to sit back, watch and enjoy all the crazy commotion of her family. \u00a0She doesn’t even mind when her sisters hug her (a.k.a. tug and pull her).<\/em><\/p>\n

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Harper even had her 5 month birthday on Sunday and the girls sang Happy Birthday to her a number of times while happily hanging out in their panties.<\/em><\/p>\n

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There has been a noticeable difference in Harper\u2019s growth this month.\u00a0 From 3-4 months, there didn\u2019t seem to be that much difference, but I swear in the last two weeks, she has just gotten so much bigger!\u00a0 Being a 9 pound baby at birth, I guess she has always been big but she has never seemed chunky to me\u2026.but the past two weeks she has developed rolls\u2026her knees even make faces according to Granddaddy!<\/em><\/p>\n

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\u00a0Harper \u2013 5 Month Snapshot<\/em><\/p>\n