Once we arrived at the ball park things turned up. Toby loved the cheering, the people and the food!
I was thankful that Joe didn't get a belly shot when he took this picture. I feel HUGE!
This time 2 weeks ago I was struggling to get Toby to actually sit on his potty seat for more than 10 seconds. When he wasn't sitting on the seat he was running around the house naked, so I was chasing him with a pair of big boy undies trying to convince him that it would be FUN to wear these new undies. I felt a little like a circus clown.
This week...it's amazing, that's all I can say. Yesterday Toby TOLD me when he had to go. We went in and he sat on the seat totally content...did his business and helped me pull his pants up! After 2 full weeks in undies he now knows when he needs to go, he is holding it until we get to the potty and he is fond of the undies.
I am so proud of him. He is growing up so fast and is such a joy to be around. He is talking all the time and communicating in small sentences. (most of which I understand, but not all) He is going to be an amazing big brother! just 6 short weeks to go.
Today is our 14th day in potty training and I am thrilled to say that we are making some GREAT progress. Here's what has been happening as of late...
Friday morning...(major low point!) I thought we were ready to leave the house and get out a little, so I packed us up to go visit my grandparents. While at my grandparents house (we were there for about 1.5 hours) Toby had 5 accidents, one of which was ON their living room chair!!!!!!!!! I didn't realize it until we were on our way out the door. I don't think I have ever been more embarrassed as a parent. What I realized is that Toby was starting to go (#1) and then would stop himself. He'd come tell me and I would put him on the adult toilet (which he isn't comfortable on) and he wouldn't go. We'd change undies and it would happen all over again. But in all my frustration I can see that he was learning so much, and his muscles are developing in being able to hold it and release it.
Cha, cha, cha, changes...I knew I had to make some changes, so it was off to Wal-Mart again. I needed to buy the rubber pants that go over the undies (so he won't pee all over someone else's house) and we needed a portable potty seat. These things have made all the difference in the world!
Friday was a real low point and I can say that we turned a corner that day. The rest of the weekend he has had minimal accidents and has gone on the potty many times...even #2!!!!!!! He has actually gone #2 on the potty twice TODAY!
We are still not there yet, but we are well on our way. everyday gets a little better, so thanks to everyone who has encouraged us along the way. I can honestly say that the last 2 weeks have been the most difficult 2 weeks since Toby was a new born, BUT the sun is shining again!
and then he did some dishes. He loves to play in the water!
after a full week, I am seeing some improvements...LITTLE though they may be, they are steps in the right direction!
yesterday while we hosted a party for a friend of ours who just returned from 2 1/2 years in Honduras, Toby went 3 times on the potty...and one was #2!!!!!!!!!!! Of course he also had about 7 accidents yesterday too. We choose to look at the bright side. He really is learning what it feels like to have to go, and tries to get to us to tell us. And I am learning to read his signs...he usually grabs himself right before he goes, so we rush to the potty and sometime we make it and sometimes we don't.
we are all learning and I am thankful for my very involved husband. I couldn't keep doing this if he wasn't helping me. I am blessed to have him as a life-mate, parent-partner, and mostly my husband!
we've hit the wall...I'm not sure if it's Toby, or me...or maybe both, but after 4 full days of this we are sick of it. sometimes I really want to quit, but I know that would really confuse Toby. So I will try to stay strong. Thanks to my mom who came to relieve me for a little bit this morning, and to Joe who made me an appointment to get a pregnancy massage tonight...both made me want to cry--I think it's the hormones talking!
I'll report again when we are over this hump.
notice Toby...he is terrified of boat rides...at least at the start
he is feeling more comfortable, but still not sure he likes it
ok, he is finally enjoying himself
wow, this is not easy! Today we had 5 accidents by 10:13 AM! In total we had 7 accidents and 2 successes. I was doing laundry during nap time so he'd have new undies when he woke up. By this afternoon he was understanding that I was cheering for him when he went on the potty...he really likes the celebration song we sing (we stole it from Becky...my sister-in-law)
successes...
failures or frustrations...
well, tomorrow is another day. I am hopeful that next Tuesday will be better than today was. Small steps!
Welcome to my diary...sort of. Today began day 1 of potty training Toby. For those of you who don't know I come from a family where everyone from my nieces to my father have all been potty trained at 18 months. So, here we are. Today was actually a really good day. I was afraid that I'd be out of undies by noon, but here's how it went...
Toby sporting the new briefs!
like father like son!
On another note...Toby is about done with the high chair. He really likes to sit in a regular chair at the table with us, so we created a make-shift booster seat. He LOVES it and even tries to crawl in it on his own. We are keeping a REALLY close eye on him these days. 
NEWS...We took Toby for his 18 month check up and learned that he has grown 2 inches in 3 months!!!!! I knew he was tall, but didn't realize just how much he'd grown. He is in the 95% for height, and the 50% for weight. (too bad his mom and dad aren't in the same boat)
here are some recent...and not that recent pictures.
Life at the Lake...
