Potty Training!

I've been very bad about updating this lately because we have been potty training!

Jim and I have been dreading this stage since the boys were born and hearing that boys were the most difficult and potty training two at the same time is almost impossible is not a good motivation...

We started using the potty before Thanksgiving and decided to wait until after the holidays to get serious about it. At least they were getting positive reinforcement when they were doing it and they were starting to understand the concept. Alex is extremely focused and has done a great job from day one. In the beginning Nathan requested a diaper instead of the potty. Last weekend we took the boys to the store to pick out their pottys-they each proudly carried them/pushed them to the check out line. Originally I bought two simple white ones that they refused to sit on. The ones they picked have Elmo and "flush," they love them. They call them "A-yex mo mo potty" and "Noni mo mo potty" we read potty books to them and were generally crazy enthusiastic every time they went pee pee in the potty. We have said the words "pee pee" more over the last two weeks than the rest of our lives. Last week we changed into big boy underwear after school every night and they did great all week! Then we stayed inside all weekend to focus on potty training- which meant taking each of them to the potty at least every 20 minutes. They did a great job all weekend! I haven't taken the photo of them both on their pottys that is worth embarrassing them for their whole lives to post...yet. Their success is definitely due to their reward- one m&m per pee pee, I think they would have given us blood for candy if we asked. Nathan tries to hold back so that he can go to the potty twice and get two candies- I call this great real world skills. Alex is extremely focused and centers himself over the potty before gently sitting down, waits and then stands up when he's done. Nathan is all over the place but has been focusing a lot better and is really good at holding it.  It ended up being a great weekend to stay home because it was 70 degrees and we got a break by playing in the backyard. Not sure what happened to Alex's pants, but we had a great time playing outside. We definitely were ready for them to go to bed each night this weekend...

This week they are in pull-ups at school and will get to go potty there as well. So far they have done great! Very excited to A) not buy diapers and B) not have to do this again!