Potty Training- The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

WOW!!! Potty training is HARD WORK!!! My life has been consumed by potty training lately, a task that (before I started) I was sure could be mastered in only a few short days! Have I ever been more wrong?!?! I know this is a lengthy post full of TMI, so I will not be offended if you don't read it! Here's our potty story...

Approach #1- Going straight to panties and taking Bailey to the potty every 15 minutes to have her "try".
Reality #1- We spent ALL of our time in the bathroom- it seemed like those 4 walls were closing in on me. Bailey seemed to not mind so much (her little potty seat is quite comfy!), but I couldn't get anything done around the house. We also went though about 10 pairs of panties, outfits, and towels a day, so...

Approach #2- One of my friends, Katie, sent me some info about the 3-Day Potty Training Method. It sounded quite severe, but I was desperate!
Reality #2- This method really works! Bailey (pretty much) learned to tee-tee in the potty and tell me when she needed to go in just a few days. Of course, I also had TONS of prizes as rewards and followed her around constantly reminding her to tell me when she needed to go. She still had accidents when she was busy playing and forgot to tell me, but it was MUCH BETTER!
The Ugly of Reality #2- After about a week of beginning potty training in general, I realized that Bailey had not pooped in about 7 days- BAD! I knew she needed to go and she started complaining about her tummy hurting. So I called the doctor and they recommended Miralax, which at first did nothing. So then I took it upon myself to try 2 suppositories and 2 enemas- both with NO results! Poor baby! She would run from me, shouting, "Don't get my hiney Mama!" (This is quite embarassing when you're in public!) After a few days, I think the Miralax kicked in and I was eating my words ("I'd give anything for my baby to just poop so she can feel better- I don't care where she goes, as long as she goes!"). Of course, WHERE she went was anywhere and everywhere ALL DAY LONG! So we were back to pull-ups because I couldn't handle cleaning up poop any more!

Mom, I'm not so sure about this.


Approach #3- After having to put her in pull-ups for a few days, it was like starting all over again! So we were back to Approach #2, Round 2.
Reality #3- She was doing great with tee-tee, but she flat out refused to poop on the potty. I think I ruined her with all of my treatments and she was scared to death!

Approach #4- I was very glad to have an upcoming girls weekend with my college girlfriends in Dallas to alleviate some of my frustrations. Before I left, David asked me if I would be offended if Bailey was completely potty trained when I came back. I said no (of course, I never thought he could do it!).

Reality #4- I can't believe it!!! David (aka The Poop Whisperer) got her through two days with no accidents AND poo-pooing on the potty! Yes, the patrons of the Mexican restaurant in Dallas probably thought I was crazy for talking very loudly on my cell phone about how I was so excited she poo-pooed on the potty!

Here is a photo from our "First Poo-Poo on the Potty Party!" Bailey was so excited to put her very first sticker on the Poo-Poo side of her chart- excuse her appearance (this was mid-bath)!

I honestly have never done anything so frustrating before! It's like psychological warfare with this child! As I post this, we are going on Day4 of wearing big girl panties with no accidents. And I'd like to point out that everyday we've going somewhere too (church, running errands, MOPS, and school). I know we're not home free, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and it gives me hope!

Here's her "school" daily synopsis sheet- we're very excited about no marks on the Diaper part and 2 tally marks (I know it looks like 11) on the Potty part!