Nobody told me...

Beau has been pottytraining for just over two weeks now, and with great success.  He still has an accident here or there, but for the most part he "gets it."  Despite all the advice I got from friends, books I read, and questions I asked, there are a few things that no one prepared me for while potty training a little boy.  Here goes...

1.  I find random items in my toilet - like my tennis shoes or my favorite wooden spoon.

2.  Selecting which "big boy" underwear to wear today is parallel to my picking out which dress to wear to prom.  Seriously Beau, they're underwear.  No one but Mommy is going to see them, and there's still that chance that they'll end up wet at some point during the day. 

3.  "Accidents" are not limited to peeing in your pants.  Oh no, two days in a row Beau had to walk around the class room barefoot because he managed to pee on his shoes.  How's that for bad aim? 

4.  When he insisted on standing up to potty, because, well, that's how Daddy does it, I had to help him "aim." 

5.  He refuses to pee into the "big" potty because, "Mommy, I'm scared."  And so, instead he stands on the toilet seat, firmly grasping on to the toilet bowl tank.  Hey, it works. 

6.  After he mastered peeing standing up, I had to have a conversation with him explaining that pooping standing up is really ill-advised. 

7.  I have never been so glad to have the maid come on Friday. 

8.  Seeing the look on his face when he has success makes cleaning up all those accidents worth it, well, almost.  You never really get used to cleaning that up. 

Eleven months!

Charlie is eleven months old today. I’m no math genius but I think that means that next month he will be one year old. ONE YEAR OLD! Holy Moly…where did the past year go?!

So, here’s what the cutest, sweetest, most cuddlely, lovable eleven month old around is up to these days.

*  Houston, we have a tooth. Actually we’ve got two teeth. FINALLY, Charlie has two pearly white little chompers. They arrived the week that he turned ten months. He’s very proud of his teeth and likes to show them off. At his last doctor’s visit she pointed out that the two top teeth are also about to break through the skin. One of the little suckers just bust through the gums, but has yet to make an appearance.   

*  Freakish strength. Yep, just like Beau, Charlie seems to have acquired his father’s freakish strength. I was watching him on the school’s webcam the other day when he stood up against the play area. It kind of looks like this, in case you were wondering. After gaining his balance he proceeded to push it about three to four feet across the floor. His teachers were just standing there watching in disbelief. It didn’t really shock me; I’ve seen what he does at home.

*  Charlie has not been spoon fed in over a month.  He insists on feeding himself, which makes it easier and more difficult for me, all at once.  Luckily, he pretty much eats anything we put in front of him, but he is particularly fond of cheese or anything with cheese on it.  Oh, and formula...forget it.  That's for babies.  I'm lucky if I can get him to drink 18-20 ounces in a day.  Sheesh.

*  Oh, and speaking of food...Charlie has added another word to his vernacular.  We have "ma ma", "da da" (both directed at the correct party) and "Beau" and now we have "mum mum."  Oh yea, the kids loves him some Mum Mums.  I never knew anyone could get so excited over a rice cake.  But hey, to each his own. 

*  While hasn't taken any unassisted steps yet, he LOVES walking behind his activity walker.  Heck, he loves walking behind anything he can push - Beau's trucks, the kitchen stools, mommy.  He'll definitely be walking sooner than later. 

*  Unlike his big brother, he took to the sippy cup immediately.  He now casually sips his formula (see above) and water.  I can't wait to see his face the first time he gets a little juice in there. 

*  Charlie loves playing with balls.  Any type, any size.  He can now roll them to you and catch them when your roll them back.  He also has learned to throw them pretty well.  Apparently he had a lot of practice pitching his pacifiers from his crib.  (Seriously, at first I was finding them at the foot of his crib.  Now I find them hurled across the room behind furniture.  Do we have a little QB on our hands??)  

*  He also likes to crawl to the nearest pillow or blanket and bury his head in it.  He then looks up as if to say, "Did you see that?"  It's almost as if he is pretending to sleep or pretending to throw a tantrum.  I prefer to think it's the former.  Besides he does this at bed time too.  Core gave him the most darling puppy pillow, which he has used correctly since the day I put it in his crib.  My little guy is really growing up. 

*  And the best for last...remember the old addage, "Monkey see, monkey do."  Well apparently we are doing something right in the Brian residence.  Check out the note Charlie's teacher left us on his daily progress report last week.  She said if she had a video camera, it would have gone viral by that evening.  *sigh* These are the things I hate missing. 

Say what?!

"We call him the bottomless pit." 

Charlie's teacher, remarking on his eating habits. 

"Beau." 

This morning Charlie called to his brother by name.  Beau and I both turned and looked in disbelief.  And I think Charlie surprised even himself. 

Say What?!

"Charlie, I'm a big boy now." 

Beau, commenting to Charlie about his new status. 

Little Victories

Oh the trials and tribulations of potty training! Beau first took an interest in going to the potty last summer when he was just shy of his second birthday. As excited as I was about that prospect, I was dealing with a colicky baby and so potty training just was not a priority. I did buy a little “potty chair” which Beau immediately took a liking too. Of course, at first he sat on it, fully clothed, shouting, “Yee haw!” But eventually his interest in it deepened.

When we decided to really go after the whole potty training adventure we needed a plan – something to incentivize stopping what he was doing just to sit and relieve himself. Well, knowing how much this kid likes to eat, we gave him “treats.” Treats were not one specific item; treats were whatever he asked for after a successful potty break (within reason, of course).

Well, this strategy worked pretty well. That is until we realized that he was not using the potty when he HAD to go. He was using the potty when he WANTED a treat. Big difference. But what do you do? Eventually he discovered the joy of poo poo’ing on the potty. Yes, you laugh, but the moment he did that and discovered how wonderful it felt not to walk around with a giant load between his legs, he actually started to tell us when he had to go, before he had to go. SUCCESS!!

And then, something else happened, after about a week of pooping only on the potty, I noticed that his entire diaper was dry. Well, school noticed too because Wednesday afternoon his teacher asked Billy to please only send Beau to school in “big boy” underwear. He was ready. Oh my goodness! He was ready!!

Yesterday was officially Beau’s first day in big boy underwear. When he woke up he immediately asked to go to the potty. While he sat on the pot listing which treats he would like (“gummies…red m&m…chocky milk…applesauce…”) I handed him his “Big boy” underwear and informed him he would be wearing these to school that day. He grabbed them, clutched them tight to his chest and beamed one of his big old smiles. Excited? I’d say so.

Well, guess what? He was ready. Day one came and went and not a single accident. The little guy stayed high and dry. We are so very proud of him, and he’s pretty proud of himself too. I know that he’s likely to have a set back here and there, but what a huge step. Our little man is growing up. Now, if only he could wipe his own booty. Now THAT’S a serious victory.

So I don't have any stills of him on the pot...but here's a few second video of him telling Charlie to give him some privacy. 

Makin' groceries

Did you see that?

So how does one to keep two very active little boys entertained?  Take them to the grocery and put them in the "car cart."  Oh yes, one of the boys' new favorite things to do is to "drive" side by side while Mommy does some shopping. Thank God for these carts.  They successfully keep the kiddos busy and happy while I wander from aisle to aisle. 

Mommy, you're embarrasing us!

Race ya!

Brothers hug.