When Can I Say He's Potty Trained?

Some would say as soon as they initiate pottying on their own, then they're trained. Whether or not they're having accidents. I know little kids have occasional accidents even when they are fully trained so when can I consider him "trained"?

He is doing phenomenally. Seriously. The "accidents" he's had in the past few days have simply been just little dribbles before he realizes to run to the potty. Only requiring a change of underpants and no other clean up. Today he's been completely accident free (some minimal overnight wetness) all day so far...even through his nap. Woo hoo! But, we're keeping track of everything on a star chart so I know that yesterday he had 17 pee pees in the potty and just one dribble in the underpants. That's a 94% success rate, people.

He's got his eye on the prize, though:

If he can stay dry (and "clean") all day then he can choose one of those prizes. One is a Play-Doh accessory (1st choice) and the other is an army man with a parachute like he likes in Toy Story. I don't want to jinx him so I won't say anything other than he's been dry all day so far. And we went to Gym. And had a nap. Looking good. And he's initiating almost everything himself.

What a big, big boy. But look how he still looks like a baby here:

My sweet sleeping angel.

Oh, and when he woke up from that...
Some brotherly love:

Love D's expression there--well, what you can see of it anyway.

Dalton is starting to share. He did this with Daddy the other day too. He puts his fingers in his mouth and then "shares" them with his loved ones by putting them in their mouths too:

I think it's precious. And moist.

Dalton is usually quite supportive of his big brothers pottying. He often looks on from here (if we're upstairs):

Or here, if we're down:

That one is getting kinda risky...having him on the couch like that. Eek!

But did you notice the discarded Pull Up in that top picture? Easton's prefers to remove things entirely while on the throne. He used to want to take off his shirt too (George Costanza-esque) but we've got him to stop that one. And he'll leave his bottoms around his ankles if you ask him to. Like when we're out and about.

For example, we were at Gym today and Easton made a trip to the potty. We left his pants and Pull Up around his ankles as he held himself above the bowl. He prefers for the stream to hit the actual water, rather than elsewhere in the bowl and so he was backing up for that to happen and he fell in! His little bum got wet! But we dried it with paper towels and he tried again. What a trooper to get back up on the horse like that. He even made another trip right before our half hour drive home. He's trying really hard to keep those pants dry all day. Playdoh toy here he comes!

Gym was good otherwise too. The question of the day was what his favorite fireworks were. He said he liked the blue. He didn't watch fireworks this year so I liked that he said something.

Speaking of blue...

Popsicle mouth. And Dalton showing us what he'd do if he was allowed to eat popsicles too:


Dalton. Oh sweet Dalton. Sleeping last night did NOT go well. I eventually brought him into bed with us as he was up for the third time at just 1:30 or so. Ugh. I didn't mind the co-sleeping too much last night. But for some reason I've discovered when he sleeps with us it makes my knees hurt. I have yet to figure that one out. But ow. They're sore today.

Well, once D wakes we'll be doing the Wal-Marting. I'm debating underpants vs. a Pull Up for the first time. Hmmmm. Probably go with the Pull Ups still. It doesn't seem to hinder his progress. And I feel better about it.

Okay, that should do it, peeps. Till next time.