Potty Training a 26 month old

*This may be one of those TMI posts, but I assure you, there are no offensive photos.

When I was 6 months pregnnt with Parker, I decided to potty train Phoenix. I had to get it done before Parker was born and it's best to avoid training durring holidays or major life changes, so I did it in November, just after Halloween. I found this 3-day method online. http://www.3daypottytraining.com/

It costs about $24 to download the e-book, but you also get an account that allows you to e-mail Lora, the creator of this method if you are getting frustrated or stuck and she will give you extra tips and advise. (Look up a coupon code and you can save a little, too)

So I started on Friday, and I am taking Monday off, as an extra buffer, because I am the only one who can be patient with him and I'd hate to send him to a sitter that soon.

Friday, Day 1:
      I noticed that it is both harder and easie to potty train my second child. This time, I was better prepared. I had sticker charts and prizes ready to go and the hall and Parkers room covered with towels. I also bought 20 pairs of underwear this time. With Phoenix, I only got a 7-pack and we went through that in the first hour. I think I changed Parkers undies 25 times that first day. He earned 3 stickers and he knows that he doesn't like to be wet. It's easier for me to stay possitive this time because I am expecting him to have so many accidents. When I was training Phoenix, I was surprised at how much untrained toddlers pee in a day. The hardest part about training the 2nd child, is trying to entertain the other child in the house. I can't just let her go outside, unattended and when I do let her have more freedom than Parker, Parker freaks out because he is trapped in the hallway. (I rolled the luvsac down the hall to block his exit. Also, (TMI warning) Parker has yet to go #2. This kid usually goes 4-5 times a day. I'm hoping he doesn't let it build up for a few days..

Saturday, Day 2:
      I changed undies twice in the first 17 minutes he was awake, but he had earned 3 more stickers within 3 hours. He is totally getting it! He still doesn't make it in time, but he totally makes a run for it when he starts feeling wet. I should've been carefulwhen wishing for #2. He finally let one go, which was ok. We dumped it in the potty and flushed it. We had given him a bunch of fiber ad prune juice and now he's shat down his leg....Thank goodness for the towels. Grandma Suzie is coming to pick Phoenix up for a sleep over. Hopefully we will all have a better day tomorrow. Thanks, mom for helping me out the very same day flying in from a week on vacation.

Sunday, Day 3:
        2 stickers first thing in the morning but no more all day. 2 more poo-running-down-the-leg episodes. He does not like the feel of that at all. Again, thankful for the towels, I still have not had to clean poo out of the carpet once. I just put him in the tub and rinse him off. Then it's clean unders and on carry on. I've opened up the hallway of doom and lengthened his leash to the kitchen. I just layed a trail of towels leading to the bathroom. Every time he starts to pee in his unders he gets excited and starts saying "again, again". So we run to the bathroom and get on the little potty, hoping for a drop to make it in so he can earn a sticker. Having the house to ourselves made for a little nicer day, Phoenix got to play at both grandma's and her cousins houses, but tomorrow, she's stuck back home with us. I took off 1 extra day just to be sure he's got it and I really don't want to send him to my friends house to tend until I'm a little more confident that he'll make it to the bathroom more often than not.

Monday, Day 4:
       Last day home with mommy!