Potty Training

Potty training sort of happened by accident. As I was touring preschools, I kept saying of course he will be potty trained by fall, but I really didn't want to force Hud into anything and fall seemed to be creeping up with no sign that we were going to tackle this potty training thing. For some reason, diapers just seem so much easier and more convenient, so I was hesitant to push for potty training. We always let Hudson initiate and up to this point the extent of it was placing him on his potty before baths at night, with an occasional pee and poop in the toilet. On June 4th, Hudson asked me if he could have a starburst and without thinking I said if you go potty in the toilet you can have one. He immediately ran to the toilet and tried to go. He couldn't so he drank a bunch of water and kept asking to try. So without meaning to, I had begun our potty training journey. I put Hudson in his first pull up because I again wasn't fully ready to commit to this whole thing yet. I had Jake form Jake and the Neverland Pirates on it and he was very excited about his big boy underpants. He didn't pee in the toilet all day and seemed upset that night before bed. He kept trying over and over and over again and was getting emotional. I told him I love him when he listens and when he doesn't. I told him I love him when he is good and when he is naughty. And I told him I love him when he pees in the toilet and when he pees in his diaper. I love him no matter what! He thought it was funny and laughed, but he also seemed really relieved and calmed down after I said it. *On a side note, we moved Hudson's books so he can reach them when he wakes up from naps and in the morning and told him he was allowed to read in his bed quietly while he waits for me to come get him. During his nap today, he took Snowy Day, tore it into tiny pieces and stuffed the pieces down his diaper. So that was the end of the book reading in his crib, lol.*

On June 5th, Hudson woke up and the first thing he said was, "I want to go peepee in the toilet" and he did! I had a feeling that it was bothering him the night before, but didn't expect him to wake up so determined. He got a sticker and a starburst and I decided that I needed to take Hudson's lead and fully commit to this, so I put him in real underpants. He went the whole day without an accident! He didn't do a poop all day, which again was frustrating him because the reward for pooping in the toilet was an oreo, but he peed 7 times in the toilet! I was so proud of him! What a big boy!!

On June 6th, Hudson was playing in our bathroom in his big boy underwear and peed in our bathtub. He looked stunned. I think it snuck up on him because he was having so much fun and it was his first experience peeing in real underwear. Luckily for us, it was no big deal to clean up because he chose such a convenient location (thanks Hud!). Right after that accident, he did his first poop in the toilet. That day, Aubrey came over to watch him because I had a bridal shower to go to (obviously if this had been planned ahead of time I would have made sure I was home all weekend). He had a poop accident in his diaper while I was gone. He did great the rest of the day though.

On June 7th- June 9th Hudson had no accidents! Yippee! I was shocked at how easy this seemed to be. Finally, something that causes most parents trouble was going smoothly over at our house! It was a miracle! 

June 10th, was a big milestone in the potty training journey. It was our first big venture out of the house. Hudson had his Gymboree class. I was so nervous. Of course, we get to Gymboree and the bathroom is flooded and out of service. I was nervous the whole class and asked Hudson about 15 times if he needed to go to the bathroom. He did need to go about half way through class, so I ran him over to Lyfe Kitchen to use their bathroom. 

June 11th was another big milestone. We drove up to Mammoth for Justin's graduation and Hudson had no accidents on the drive. I put him in a diaper just to be safe, but he waited until we stopped at the gas station to pee. 

Fast forward a few weeks and Hudson has only had one more pee accident. It seems like when he is with other people he gets nervous to tell them he needs to go potty. Other than that though, he has been awesome. Even while we have been out at the pool, over at people's houses, etc. he has asked me to take him to the potty when he needs to go. 

I am so proud of Hudson and so relieved that he was able to do this on his timeline. I love that he initiated it and it never felt forced. I think the fact that he was ready and wanted to go to the bathroom in the toilet made the whole process so much easier. Especially after hearing how horrendous it can be from some of my mom friends, I am very thankful that we finally got to have an "easy" parenting experience for a change. It is funny how much going to the bathroom, pee and poop get talked about when you become a parent and it is especially funny to see how excited your kid going to the bathroom in the toilet can be. I honestly never thought I would get so excited about poop and be running from the other room to check it out and high five my little man, but honestly these have been some of my proudest parenting moments these last few weeks and watching my little boy transform into a big boy right in front of my eyes has been a bit emotional. Way to go Hudson, mama and dada are so proud of you!!