CAUTION: This post will be filled with multiple references to my child’s pee, poop and penis. Please skip if this is just too much information about the Phillips family. Seriously, no hard feelings.
The book says that on day 1 we’re supposed to strip the child down naked and take them to the bathroom as they start to pee. And that this will then lead to a mind-body connection ultimately translating to the child’s ability to verbalize their need to use the toilet. Theoretically this can be done in 3 days.
So with large coffees in hand, we did just that. Stripped Andrew down to just his Thomas tee shirt and let him fly free as a bird from the waste down. I’ll spare you every ‘pee-tail’ [I’m clearly loosing my mind…] but here are the highlights:
- Andy and I spent 12 hours staring at our son and all his pieces and parts today looking for any sign that he was about to pee. I felt like I was 1 part interactive, committed parent and 1 part pervert.
- Like a dog, Andrew successfully marked his territory all over the house today. Many times we were able to get him to the toilet at the end but not before a trail of pee was created.
- He did say that ‘he needed to use the potty’ at times but I think it’s pretty random and mostly a new fun game for him. Yay for us!
- Andrew showed little apprehension about sitting on his new throne. This was a BIG and pleasant surprise to me!
- My powder room looks like a children’s library as we read a silly number of books while we tried to get him to go. [Insert image of Andy or I sitting on a tiny stool reading ridiculous amounts of Curious George today. I hate that monkey right about now…]
- I never thought I’d have to say ‘Point your penis down’ so much in one afternoon…..and still get sprayed on the chest.
- His one and only poop today was in the toilet!
- Andy and I drank vodka cocktails on the deck during nap time to recharge. Seriously needed.
- I still think he’s somewhere between ‘clueless’ and ‘I’m peeing’ in his understanding of what’s going on. Sadly he’s not some boy-genius when it comes to the loo and there’s still a LONG road ahead until well….pants.
- BUT we ended on a high note- He asked to use the potty and actually went at the end of this evening!!
- There is a 99.99% chance he wets the bed tonight.
- Oh and Teddy- the boy who rarely poops- decided to blow it out no less than 8 times today.
As for me, I’m licking my mommy wounds over some red wine right now and gearing up for day 2. They say this one is worse than day 1. God help us.
These images about sum up today:
Overall:
Andrew: 
Andy: 
Kristi:
What you don’t see in these pictures is Andrew’s odd need to take off his bathing suit. Once the wave knocked him down he insisted on dropping his pants to take off his wet shorts. Day 1, I forced him to keep them on. Day 2, he strolled home without pants on. Modesty is clearly not in his vocabulary.
Teddy got in on the lounging too! 
And some more family fun and snuggles with Papa and Coco!
