we heart indoor plumbing

It is day 3 in official potty-training for Obi-2, here. Progress is going really well. HALLELUJAH!

We started with the potty seat and regularly "trying" several months ago, and for a while there (around Christmas) we thought he was going to be completely toilet-trained around 20 months. I know, I know, we hear that's early. His brother was out of diapers by 19 months, so we think it's normal.

Then he "regressed." He was no longer interested, and I lacked the discipline to constantly remind him and take him into the bathroom, and bribe him, and all of that. So we kind of fell out of that routine.

However, I am done with diapers, especially the gross stinky ones, so in the weeks leading up to his birthday, we started encouraging him to try again. We especially talked up turning two. You know, when you're two years old you don't wear diapers, you wear big-boy underwear! (Everyone knows this. Really.) We talked about it every time we'd change a diaper, every time he'd say he didn't want to go to the bathroom, every time his brother would go. All excitement pointed toward the big day.

I have to say, the rah-rah was fun. It was maybe a bit like when households initially got indoor plumbing. "In a week we're going to have a toilet inside and we're going to use it! We'll be able to flush! You'll have your very own seat!" What a novelty.

If you think of it, one of the biggest luxuries we Americans have is indoor plumbing. Many moms in other countries are not blessed with "potty training" a child, and all of the fun songs, videos, products, and things that come with it. (sarcasm dripping...) I suppose another difference is they do not have kids running around in their own poopy, smelly, mess for years on end. So, who's lucky? But I digress and hop onto a soapbox, which I know is annoying...

Anyway, on his big 2nd birthday, we got up, took off his diaper, and put on underwear. For his birthday, his daddy & I got him a lot of Elmo underwear. Many of them have a sports theme, so he's pretty excited about it. He likes to "keep Elmo dry. No potty on Elmo!" How sweet and thoughtful of him.

I had a bible study that day, so I took him there in his "big boy pants" and then changed him into a pull-up. Unbelievably, he told his "teachers" that he had to go. I know, I know, my child is amazing. In fact, he's been doing quite well ever since. A few accidents, but otherwise quite successful on the transition to indoor plumbing. We're halfway through day THREE, and only one accident so far today. Yay!

I am so, so, so, so, so hoping this is going to work long-term. I am done with diapers. I need a break. Obi-1 was just getting out of diapers around the time Obi-2 was born. So, count-em: I've had 3 1/2 straight years of poopy and wet and gross diapers. We've had stinky trash or pails for that long, too. We do cloth diapers, generally, although we keep a stash of pull-ups in case we're out or somebody else has to change him. Cloth is not as bad as it sounds... maybe someday I can write about why and how this works for us. Suffice it to say, I don't care how it's done, diapers are a disgusting, yet necessary, part of babyhood and nobody enjoys it. It is no secret that everyone is happy to leave diapers behind, the sooner the better.

The other day, somebody was asking us when we're having another baby. Seriously... I can't just celebrate my son's 2nd birthday? (I suppose it's a compliment, in some way, that people think we should have more children.) I said, "when he's potty trained and the smell of a dirty diaper is something I don't have to recognize on my own child... and then I'll think about starting this whole thing again!" That may be a lame reason to not want to jump back into babyhood, but folks, it's really my biggest reason right now.

So, on to big-boyness and that miraculous wonder of indoor plumbing! YIPEE!!