Potty Training Day 1

Warning! Graphic Content! Do not read if you are afraid of poop.

NO! No! Don't worry! I don't plan to document every day of potty training.  I'm hoping for an update Monday after a few more days and then some brief mentions going forward.  The next two days will determine whether those updates include starting over. :)
By the time I got Ben on the potty first thing this morning, he had already peed in his diaper and did not like the cold toilet or the nakedness required by footie pajamas.  We put his big boy undies on right away with some jammie pants and with the help of the iPad, books and a few sing-a-longs, had a couple long stints on the potty in the first few hours of the day.  Unfortunately he peed his pants twice right after these trials.  And then on the next try he peed on the potty!! I was elated and he knew it and was clearly happy with my pride.  After another try later I thought I could run upstairs and brush my teeth and while I was gone he peed and pooped in his pants. :(

First real try

 

surrounded by the waterproof shield (I needed more of these)

After lunch I set a timer and we tried with no success and he went downstairs to play while I thought I could quickly heat up some lunch of my own.  That time I found him in the corner (not that he's ever been put there,) peeing and could tell he was sad.  We tried one more time before the nap that never happened but he did stay dry while he was in his crib attempting a nap. In the hours that followed there were two more small successes with long periods on the potty.
Late afternoon and post-snack with a tiny start while on my lap at the computer, we rushed to the potty and had a very successful time of both pee and poop!! I really didn't expect poop on the potty the first day so I was very excited! 

the first pee/poop success!

 
After that we had one more successful mini-pee followed by 2 accidents after Dada got home and we started a movie.  The first was within 3 minutes of my reminder timer and the second was admittedly unexpected (I think even for Ben.)

so darn cute in his big boy pants

So, as day 1 comes to a close:
* I am exhausted (I did finally get the head cold my boys had suffered with so that hasn't helped.)
* That one poop on the potty and lack of poopy diaper I had to change made all the work and mess and laundry worth it.
* I remain hopeful we might be able to continue this journey after Monday.
* I'm really thankful for bloggers and friends who have been there and whose stories will help me persevere.
* I am exhausted.
* I love Ben's bedtime more than ever before. 
* I was surprised at how much I really couldn't leave him as those were the moments of accidents.
* It is WAY more stressful potty-training your own kids than other people's (lots more at stake I suppose.)
* I wish someone had told me to buy magazines for the long periods on the bathroom floor.

Finally, some notes about our process.  We decided to forgo the mini-potty chair and go right to the insert on the grown-up toilet with a step stool for access.  While this means more parent help in the beginning and while rushing to go, by the end of the day, Ben was climbing up on his own.  I think we figured this would cut out a step later and with the aid of books and the iPad there is plenty to keep him entertained while he tries.  We will skip diapers for naps but will use them at night (probably for weeks or months if we continue.)  We will give this a real college try through Monday night and decide whether he "gets it" or not.  If he really isn't grasping it at all, we will go back to diapers for 2 or 3 months and try again.

It's now nearly 8:30 and that means I can go to bed soon! Goodnight and Happy Weekend dear readers.