We've been potty training.

FOR MONTHS!  But somewhere along the line I think I forgot to tell you that. 

"Oh Mom, do you have to?!!!"

I believe we started back in November.  Maybe October.  And as expected, the first few days were a total gong show.  Phil and I kept looking at each other, wondering if the nay-sayer's were right......wondering if we really should wait a few more months.  But as a duo we stayed strong (go team)!  We reminded each other to take deep breaths, stay calm, and that pee on the carpets was far better than puke (and there has been plenty of that, too!).  Anyways....it was hard.  There was always a puddle to clean up and it seemed as though we became one-handed people, with paper towel and cleaning spray in the other hand at all times.

HOWEVER!!!!!!!!!

As hoped, it got better!  Within a week or so, Nory caught on to this whole potty business and we were once again on top of the parenting world!  It seemed the days of going to the potty every thirty minutes, singing songs on the bathroom floor and tag-teaming in and out of the tedious situation were behind us!  Nory would say she had to go and we'd run to the bathroom, take care of business, and be back out to play in a flash.  She reached a point where she didn't even need diapers during nap times and would keep a pull-up dry during outings to the mall.  The best part was that all of this was reached without any of these so-called bribery tips and tricks (minus the thrill of flushing the toilet afterwards!).  TOP. OF. THE. PARENTING. WORLD.  THE VERY TOP, YOU GUYS!  

HOWEVER!!!!!!!!!

As totally UN-expected (because we didn't read up on the subject prior to beginning this entire potty-training ordeal), the week after we brought Juliet home from the hospital, our potty training was forgotten and it was as though Nory had never heard of the word "potty" in her short little life.  UGH.  Back to puddles, non-stop clean-up's, and absolute frustration.  And you know what?  Keeping each other calm during ROUND TWO of potty-training?  NOT SO EASY, people!  NOT SO EASY AT ALL!  Phil and I were pulling our hair out, trying to figure out what in the world we did wrong.  We immediately blamed ourselves and felt like we'd been knocked off the parenting podium to this abstract and uncomfortable world of people-that-are-parents-but-really-shouldn't-be.  And since we were also dealing with the exhaustion that comes with a newborn (and still had YET to read any potty training material at all), we ALMOST threw in the towel and put the diapers back on.  Doubts flooded in.  That Nory wasn't ready.  That we pushed her.  That all those who warned us were right. 

But before we full-on QUIT, we decided to try out some bribery. 

"Nory, do you want icecream?  Then go potty!"

"Nory, do you want chocolate?  Then go potty!"

"Nory, do you want a sticker?  GO POTTY PLEASE!!!!"

Nory didn't bite.  NOT EVEN ONCE.  NEVER!  What kid doesn't want icecream?  Or chocolate?!  Or stickers (which were awesome and purchased SPECIFICALLY for this very purpose, might I add)?!!!!!  I suppose the answer was:  OUR STRONG-WILLED, CANNOT-BE-FOOLED daughter.

So we resorted to bribery of different sorts.  Bribery that might be more appealing to Nory...

"Nory, do you want to go on your bike?  Then we have to go potty!"

"Nory, do you want to wash your hands and play with the water?  Then go potty!"

"Nory, do you want to play with the flashlight?  Then go potty!"

Luckily, these things worked (albeit temporarily!) and gave us the wee bit of momentum we needed to get the ball rolling again!  In the meantime, I finally did the potty research I maybe should have done from day one.  Turns out these relapses are completely normal, especially during times of stress like WHEN A NEW SIBLING IS BROUGHT INTO THE HOUSEHOLD.  Phewfffffff.  Maybe we weren't the worst parents after all!

SO.

As it stands, Nory (KNOCK ON WOOD times 100000000) seems to be back on track in the potty department.  HOORAY!!!!!! 

BUT.

Remember how I did that bleepin' research?  Turns out that relapses can happen more than once and it's still absolutely normal.  Oh joy. 

With that, it's time for some more coffee before the little ones awake and the fun continues!  Wishing all you potty-training mamas and papas lots of patience and good luck! xo