Potty Talk

I think we need to buy stock in Pampers.

I've been changing diapers steadily for almost 8 years now. We are currently buying diapers in size 1, size 4, and size 5 pull-ups in pink and in blue. That's a lot of booties to wipe every day.

I've got a whole diaper changing station set up under the TV in the playroom. A child locked cabinet is complete with diapers, pull ups, baby wipes, diaper rash creams (Aquaphor and Kroger brand desitin), disposable gloves (for those random explosions and I figure the babysitters appreciate them :)), grocery bags (who needs a diaper genie when you can use grocery bags, they're free!) and a vinyl nap-mat that I pull out to lay them on because there are wood floors in there.

Of course Kate has her own changing station in the livingroom. I don't lay my 6 wk old on the floor in the playroom. ;)

But I have to say, Micah's not being changed on that nap-mat much these days. His potty training is coming along wonderfully! He really only wears one pull up a day and is keeping it dry! He goes #1 in the potty and if I make him sit there long enough he'll go #2 as well, YAY MICAH!!!!

So why do I not switch him to undies? Trust me, I'd love to go back to just having 3 in diapers. Its because (and this is SO frustrating) Micah still won't tell me when he needs to go potty. :( He knows the sign for potty, so it shouldn't be a communication issue. I just have to guess when he might need to go again, usually timing it around the time that I'm changing the little girls' diapers. And sure enough, he'll go. So he's holding it... so long as I don't forget and make him wait too long. If I randomly ask him if he needs to go, he'll say yes every time. Just for something to do. And because he loves washing his hands. *insert eye roll*

From what I understand, this is typical "time training" from the orphanage. They just took all of the kids to sit on potties at set times every day and they learned to hold it until those times. Kinda sad. If any of you adoptive moms have any tips for breaking the time-trained thing, I'm happy to hear it. I wish he would just tell me when he needs to go. :(

So the other reason I'm keeping him in pull-ups is because... I'm scared. Its just the truth. But if you ever saw what comes out of that kid if he accidentally gets milk... you'd be scared too! As long as he doesn't get dairy in his diet, we're good. But when he does, watch out. And I really don't want to clean that out of underwear. Or where ever else it might land.... ugh.

Abby on the other hand, will say "Uh oh Mommy! Pooped!!!!" This is her universal phrase for letting me know she needs to be changed. Then occasionally she'll follow it up with the signs for "wet" or "dirty". Which, as her proud mother, I think is pretty impressive. :) And she really likes sitting up on the potty if and when I take her but shes terrified if anything comes out and wants down immediately. Nevertheless, I'm confident that she's really close to being ready to potty train. At this point I'm only waiting on Mabry.

Mabry turns two this fall and the plan is to potty train Abby and Mabry together. I had hoped to do Abby this summer but ya know, having a baby and all, I've been a little busy. :) So hopefully by Christmas we will have only one more to potty train and five kids successfully using the potty!!!

Then I'm going to buy stock in Charmin.