Diapers VS The Potty

This is where I want you to insert the Rocky Theme song.  You know, the one...

Da da daaaaa Da da daaaaa Da da daaaaaa Da da daaaaa dadadadadaa da dum da dum dadum

Ok, you know the one.  Anyway,  insert it and know that in one sense, it is what keeps me going.  Why?  Because, it is diapers VS the potty and I refuse to let the diapers win.  You would think with as many arrows as I have been blessed with I would remember life's little trials, such as the one that owns the title today.  However,  I do tend to have mommy memory, which seems to erase any difficulty I have faced thus far, so that I won't be discouraged when I need to face it again.

As I mentioned in my last post, I planned on having Belle out of diapers so that we wouldn't need to continue to spend the $40 a month any longer.  Well, God in has grace and mercy has granted us this desire and Belle has been out of diapers for over 2 weeks now.  I can't tell you how proud of her I am and how much I love seeing her prance around the house in her panties.  It is the cutest thing!  The best was when we bought her some pink cowgirl boots the other day and she walked around the house all day in her tee, panties, and boots.  I have missed having a little girl in the house!

Ok, so what's my problem, right?  I mean, she's out of diapers!  She's officially potty trained and a BIG GIRL NOW!  She rarely has an accident, and if she does it is usually because we couldn't get her to a toilet in time.  She has stayed dry all day, even on long trips to and from Disneyland.  I got it made, right?  Well, I had forgotten a few little things that come along with the joy of having a new child become potty trained. 

1.  The FASCINATION of new toilets...
All of my children seem to be fascinated with new toilets as soon as they are potty trained.  Not new in the actual sense of the word, but in the new to their own hienies, sense of the word.
New toilets at a store. 
New toilets at a friend's house.
New toilets at a mall.
New toilets at outdoor events.  Which to you and me are port-a-potties.

This means they want to go the minute we arrive someplace new and isn't it interesting that the urge comes on at the exact moment they see a 'restroom' sign?

2.  The TRIGGER of the word 'potty'...
Me:  "Boys, do you need to go potty before we leave for the dentist?"
Belle:  "I need to go potty! I need to go potty! I need to go potty!"

Karizma:  "I'm taking the dog out to go potty."
Belle:  "I need to go potty! I need to go potty! I need to go potty."

Me:  "Miguel, don't forget to clean up the restroom."
Belle:  "I need to go potty!  I need to go potty!  I need to go potty!"

Me-before bedtime to the kiddos: "Make sure you brush your teeth!"
Belle:  "I need to go potty! I need to go potty! I need to go potty!"
(So, you see that it isn't just the word 'potty', but any word that associates with the bathroom, in general.)

3.  QUANTITY vs quality...
I really do believe I am spending more time inside restrooms,  near and far, than anywhere else, this past month.  Belle is a big believer in quantity over quality.  I think it is because she is trying so hard to understand her body and decipher between when she really needs to go or not.  So, this means, that we must encourage her and take her every time she asks.  We never know if it is the real thing or not and don't want to take the chance.  Karizma and I learned that the hard way a couple of weeks ago at Target.  She said she had to go as soon as we walked in.  Karizma took her.  Not even 3 minutes later, she said she had to go again.  Karizma took her, again.  Then, 5 minutes after that run, she said it again.  We decided against erring on the side of caution, and paid the price 2 minutes later, when she gave us quite a bit of quantity and quality in her panties.  We then decided that not only was it not fair to not believe her, but it sent the wrong message to her, as well.  So, now we take her EVERY time she says she has to go.  This means that we do spend an awful lot of time in restrooms.  At home, church, Target, port-a-potties.  (This past Sunday at church, I believe between Karizma and I, we took Belle to the potty a total of 6 times, and that was before our Pastor even began the sermon!)

I'd forgotten about the FASCINATION, the TRIGGER, and the QUANTITY.

But, I'd also forgotten about the look of accomplishment and pride they get each time our large family squishes into our tiny bathroom to give her nothing short of a potty party when she makes it to the bathroom.

And, I'd forgotten the sense of accomplishment I also get from walking past the diaper aisle at the store and knowing that I no longer need to pay for another one of those...well, unless God chooses to bless us with another arrow. :0)

Belle at 20 months, is the first to be fully trained before age 2 out of my kiddos. (Karizma was trained at exactly 2.  Miguel, Walker, Zack by 27 months.  And, Christian by 2.5 years, in case you were wondering)

She also doesn't need diapers at night, but I am still putting them on, just in case...at least for another couple of weeks.  She sleeps on her toddler bed next to Karizma and wakes her up in the middle of the night to use the potty and slept with me last night and at 1am, I heard the sweetst little voice..."I need to go potty.  I need to go potty.  I need to go potty." 

So, I am losing some sleep at night.  And, I am spending a lot of time hanging out with toilets, known and unknown.  But, seeing my baby conquer one of the first big goals of her life has been nothing short of amazing to me.  I am thrilled to be a part of it all and look forward to the next milestone reached. 

So, in the battle of the diapers VS the potty...the potty wins!

*If you are curious as to how many times I needed to pause while I wrote this post to make a dash to the restroom, it was a total of 3 times, with only 1 of those times actually being productive.  Sure do love my life as mommy and wife, and I am NOT being sarcastic. :0)