The Washing Line (Flashback Friday)

This morning I decided to take a chance on the weather and hang out some washing on the line.

It's not a terribly astounding washing line, especially at the moment as it's lopsided due to The Boy sliding down it like a fireman.

It's a quite unassuming Brabantia whirlygig.

But as I hung up the clothes, I had a moment when I remembered hanging out The Boy's brightly coloured pants. His first pants.

Sunday 21st August 2011

Almost exactly two years ago, I posted that photo as a Silent Sunday to show the coloured gems that The Boy was getting to grips with. Potty training was a success and he was dry during the day within a fortnight.

And it feels like only yesterday that I was pegging his little, dinosaur pants on the line.

So how come I was doing the same thing earlier, but with these?

Flashback Friday 16th August 2013

How have the past two years gone by so quickly?

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Listography: Top Five Searches

The inimitable KateTakes5 has set us the challenge of revealing the top five searches on our blog.

Some people have exciting results like "surfing on jelly" or "nakes bananas". I don't. On WordPress, I have three variations of my blog name and twelve variations for a cosmetic review I did. Oh and an ostrich.

I'm going to check Google Analytics instead…

They're just as bad!

I'm going to sift through the review referrals and pick out the next five that are about content instead.

  1. Learning Through Play: this makes me happy as it's one of the things that I'd like my blog associated with.
  2. Composterium: and now it's going through my head again! Thank you Mr. Bloom!
  3. We Went To The Animal Fayre: ah, that was a good weekend.
  4. Helen Jessup: I kid you not.
  5. I Need a Wee-Wee: ah, famous for my potty-training posts.

I can't believe number four…
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Potty-Mouthed!

As many of you will know, in the Summer holidays I braved the very important stage known as 'potty training'. Not me, The Boy! I've been trained for 33 years and aside from the odd Tena Lady moment, I'm doing well thanks!

Earlier today, whilst shopping in Cardiff, The Boy announced that he needed to go to the toilet. We were standing in the shoe department of Next at the time, on our way to buy him a new Winter coat. I about turned and asked the assistant if they had one. Of course not, they are a clothes shop. I knew that expecting him to last the five minutes to the nearest one was unfair and so basically asked if I could use a cubicle in their changing rooms.

She looked at me, aghast!

I stopped, pointed to The Boy and then explained that I had a travel potty, everything would be perfectly hygienic and he was desperate. Thank you Next for letting me use the changing rooms! And thank you Potette for creating your travel potty in the first place!

And based on that, I thought I'd share my must-haves for potty-training your infant:

Seriously, you will find potty-training a whole lot easier with a potty that is easily cleaned. I found that I'd collected a lot of potties ready for training, and this is the only one that he really liked. The other 'standard' potty has gone to my mum's for use there.

  • A Potette

This marvellous little travel-potty has saved our bacon so many times that we've almost got enough for a pig of our own! The Potette Plus (which is what we have) can be used either as a portable potty with specially designed bags (absorbent pad at the base to soak up the urine), or the legs can be folded out to be used a loo-seat.

Much better than Andrex ones, they are thick and soft. They also only cost 40p a pack so are really good value. The best bit though is that they have a really strong apple smell to them, which is useful for 'special' occasions!

  • Pampers Easy-up Pants

These are called 'special car pants' or 'special sleep pants' in our house. I won't let them be referred to as a nappy, they are pants. We use them on two occasions: long-distance travel or at night-time. Never during the day!

I have never used a pull-up during the day (unless on a journey) and wouldn't recommend it. In my personal opinion (which anyone is perfectly entitled to ignore), little ones need to feel that they have wet to know the results of what's just happened. I can still picture The Boy's face on the first two days of potty training, when he wet for the first few times. Complete bafflement as to why he was wet, and then gradual realisation of why.

at home. I know! Trust me, after four days I was rocking with cabin-fever, but I truly believe that me staying in for a week and being obsessed paying complete attention to his toileting signals, and always being near a potty/toilet helped him to train so quickly. However, I also think that the fact that we sat The Boy on the potty at every nappy change for months beforehand helped. When the time came, he knew what to do with it.

Within a month, he was using the toilet. I feel it's absolute nonsense that you have to retrain them to use a toilet if you've used a potty. Maybe we were just lucky, but he just used it. He switches between the two, but now takes himself to the toilet. He positions his step, stands on it, pulls his trousers and pants down, sits on, goes, wipes, climbs down, pulls his pants and trousers up, gets down from the step, repositions it, climbs up and washes his hands. I just need to dry them for him because he can't manage!

  • Chocolate and frappucinos

'nuff said!

 I am not professing to be the font of all knowledge here and I don't intend to offend anyone or make them anxious. One of the best tips I read that if you are not ready, then don't attempt it because you will hinder your child's progression. I also believe that once you start, you can't go back because it just confuses them. I was lucky to have the summer holidays to train him, and he was pretty much done within a fortnight, although we still had the odd accident for a few weeks after. It's now two months on, and he is amazing. We have had one accident in the past few weeks, which I think is pretty good going. We both worked really hard, and as a result we got there.

Good luck to all those going potty!

The Gallery: A Photographic Moment in Time

When Tara announced that the theme of this week's Gallery was in celebration of World Photography Day last Friday, I smiled to myself. I love photographs, I love what they capture: the moments, the emotions, the memories, the treasured times.

It must be a photo from today (or the weekend). Make it a photo to treasure for generations to come; family life, a moment, a precious family member frozen in time, a day out.

Well I did take a cracking shot on that day, only I used it for my Silent Sunday before I'd read the above prompt. It completely epitomised my week with The Boy; something I feel was the biggest mile-stone in his little life so far. It's changed him from a baby boy, passed a toddler, into a little boy properly. Leading up to this event had been a huge emotional roller-coaster, and as much as he was ready for it; I also needed to make sure that I was so as to not put him off!

However, I also took this photo that day; a moment to treasure.

Now pop over and check out the other entries in The Gallery using this little widgety thing

Our Wee-k in T-wee-ts!

I've tweeted a little bit, a fair amount, quite a lot this week about The Boy and our potty training experience. Reading back through them, it shows a massive journey for my little man. I may have felt like going mad at times, occasionally rocking in frustration and due to cabin-fever, but we seem to have done it.

Just thought I'd share the change:

Saturday 13 August 2011
09:51 10 mins into #pottytraining. He's just done his first tried for wee on the potty. Wahoo! Be sure it's a different story in an hr.
10:12 Wee no.2 on potty #pottytraining
10:18 Oh no 🙁 #pottytraining
10:19 Don't worry everyone it won't be wee/poo tweets from me all day. Can I just ask what do you say when he has an accident? Show him? Explain?
12:26 #pottytraining Ok so we're doing lunch at the mo with a towel under him & limited drinks at the beginning. 10 successes so far, 2 accidents
12:58 #pottytraining We got through 45 minutes of lunch with no accidents! Wahoo. Asked to go once, taken once, success!
16:34 Right, nap over, he's properly come to, nappy off, pants on, round 2 'ding, ding'.

Sunday 14 August 2011
09:46 He's only done 1 wee in the past hour. Progress or an imminent disaster? #pottytraining
10:13 #pottytraining Just wet a bit & managed to get follow-through on the potty. Never mind, all part of the training
12:45 Question re: #pottytraining Day 2 & he's having more accidents but he's telling us that he wants to go as he's doing it. Is this progress?
16:36 I know none of you care but he's just done his first deposit on the potty! Wahoo! #pottytraining

Monday 15 August 2011
07:57 Morny. Going to be flying solo today with the potty training, wish me luck and patience!
19:47 You know this #pottytraining lark? I think he's doing ever so well. 30-45 minutes between sittings

(I was incredibly busy that day unsurprisingly. Not enough time to tweet!)

Tuesday 16 August 2011
01:03 Reading Gina's 'potty training in a week' (yes I know I'm on day 3!) & thinking "really? *Really*?" over so many things!
01:08 I mean, sitting him on the potty for 5-10 minutes every 15 minutes? *Really*? #pottytraining
01:17 Right, I'm talking to myself now, no-one else is around in the whole of twitter…
07:46 Morny!
08:04 Oh poo pants #pottytraining
10:29 #pottytraining He just said "I'm doing a wee" but hadn't actually started. Got him on the potty in time. Progress in the right way?
11:41 Ironing The Boy's bodies. He won't be needing them anymore will he? *sob* Where's my baby gone? #pottytraining
13:09 #pottytraining I prompted him but he's just toileted himself independently from pants down to back up again
19:24 I've been out! There's a world out there, with people in it! And they can say words and *everything*! #pottytraining
23:51 I have just spent £15 on a potette. Hubby has just asked me what something was in the spare room. Passed down from my sister? A potette!

Wednesday 17 August 2011
10:52 He just completely toileted himself independently! #pottytraining "Oh no, oh no, they're coming off" took pants down & went on the potty!
14:02 #pottytraining Sorry for this. I've just got him to sit on the potty & do a deposit! He made it happen! #firsttime
14:06 And then we had a little wee accident (but he got to the loo in time to finish) #pottytraining
14:10 All non-parents of infants/non child-related companies, sorry for my #pottytraining tweets this week, but it's real & our life this week!

Thursday 18 August 2011
10:26 Our buppy pads have arrived for the car seat, I feel happier going out in the car now #pottytraining
13:43 Poo. Literally. Everywhere. Note to self, when cleaning potty out from a no.1, leave another potty behind. #pottytraining
14:17 I feel a bit down after the no.2 accident, followed by the week one. Please reassure me!
19:52 #pottytraining Just stopped playing, pulled shorts & pants down & did a wee (on the potty). Hurrah, we're getting there!

Friday 19 August 2011
07:47 Biggest news today: His nappy was dry as a bone this morning. First time ever!
11:39 #pottytraining Twice today he has taken himself to the potty by himself.
14:49 #pottytraining You all want to know that there was no poonami today. Just a success!

Saturday 20 August 2011
00:31 RT: my hubby Son just woke up. Wanted his potty. Straight back to sleep afterwards. #pottytraining
09:06 Aside from the wonder that was The Boy waking up at midnight & asking to go on the potty, his night-time nappy was dry again. #pottytraining

And then I had some fabulous tweets of advice and support from some lovely tweeps, I started to name them all but the list got a bit ridiculous and I felt like I was accepting an Oscar! However, if you are embarking on potty training then I'd suggest you follow these three lovely ladies because they helped me lots and lots, and two of them were completely new to me:

And On The Eighth Day…

It's now exactly one week since we started potty-training with The Boy and I am over the moon at how well he has done learning to control his bladder.

The day started with yet another completely dry nappy, surely helped by him waking up at midnight and asking to go on the potty? That's two nights in a row that he's done that. I'm not counting my chickens before they're hatched, but I am pretty impressed that he was able to do that. Whether it was a deliberate or a coincidental waking, I don't know. I suspect his bladder was hurting from holding its contents and that woke him up. Hopefully he then associated the feeling and asked for the potty.

We've stopped charting the drinks and visits to the potty now, there doesn't seem much point. I know that he can last over an hour in between potty visits, and that he will take himself to the potty when he needs to go. The one thing that I've noticed though, and at the moment it is concerning me, is that he is, quit frankly, doing less poos. I don't know why. I've managed for the last few days to get him to go after lunch through encouragement, but not today. Not this is The Boy who used to be a two-a-day type of toddler. I'm hoping this will develop quickly!

The biggest thing we've done in potty training so far though is going out today! We only went to Ikea, which is five minutes down the road, and were out for a total of an hour and half. However, he remained accident-free throughout that time. He went (using the marvellous Potette!) when we were there and was perfectly happy for the entire trip out.

On the way back home we stopped at a corner shop to get some milk and bread, when he came out with "Mummy, I need a wee-wee." My heart raced and I jumped out of the (stationary, don't worry) car and called to hubby. He pegged it out the shop and we jumped back in the car. I'm sure I should have taken longer than two minutes to get home but there was nowhere to set up the Potette and it wasn't worth the effort. The clever little lad held it for that entire time with only the tiniest spot of wee on his pants, minute really. And oh boy, had he needed that wee!

I won't write up a daily post about potty training any more now because it's only going to include "he went on the potty!"

So, on the eighth day, she rested!

Dare I Whisper the Question?

Today was a good day. A very good day!

It started when daddy picked him up from his cot after waking. He said "daddy, I do a wee-wee!" to which daddy thought 'aye well, you've got a nappy on mate, it's fine.' Daddy took his nappy off (The Boy's, not daddy's) to discover it was bone-dry and on the potty The Boy did the most enormous wee to ever come out of a two year old boy. That it the first time he has done it, but he was dry through the night!

By the time I cam downstairs he had taken himself off to the potty independently and done another tinkle after breakfast. During the course of the morning, he did this on a further two occasions! One of them was when he was excitedly playing with his adored cousins: just stopped and went to the potty, all by himself. At the moment I am staying with him and prompting him if needed, but he really seems to have got the idea of how to use the potty and each of the steps. He's even learnt how to put his shorts back on himself, even if he does pull them up to his armpits!

A couple of times I've tried to put him on the potty and he's got cross with me because he doesn't need to go, and he genuinely didn't. I guess the lesson there is that he now knows if he needs to or not!

After lunch today there was no poonami, you'll be pleased to hear! We followed the same pattern as onWednesday and he did a lovely big deposit for me. It's also interesting to see a pattern emerging of when he goes.

When he woke up from his afternoon nap, his nappy was bone dry again. Bone dry! Another enormous wee followed and then he lasted more than an hour and twenty minutes before he decided that he needed to go again. Playing in the garden after dinner, and building the Little Tikes house that Toys R Us have sent me him to review, he stopped playing and pulled his shorts down. The only problem there was that he was 15 ft from a potty and hubby and I were trying to screw the roof together. I've not moved so fast in an awful long time!

So basically, he is now going independently on his pot. Well, I say independently: decides when he wants a wee, pulls his shorts and pants down and goes, I give him tissue paper to wipe, he pulls up pants & shorts, we wash hands. That's independent isn't it?

As I'm typing this up, he has just called out to us in his sleep. He asked hubby to come in the room. Hubby went in and tweeted this message three minutes later:

Son just woke up. Wanted his potty. Straight back to sleep afterwards. #pottytraining

He just woke up and asked to go to the toilet!

So dare I? Dare I whisper it? Or shall I wait a few more days first?

Five and Six, Clean Up Stinks

It was all going to so well. Probably it still is, but I'm the type of person that when you've been riding high on the crest of a wave (albeit a wee one), a minor stumble sends me crashing down into the murky, poohy waters.

Sorry, too many toileting references there? Get used to them because potty training is frank and all encompassing.

Yesterday was brilliant. The Boy really did superbly. In the morning he stopped playing, looked down at his pants and said "Oh no, they coming down!", pulled them down and took himself for a wee. I was astounded and so very proud of him. We might have had big kisses and cuddles, possibly a silly dance together too. Later on after lunch, he was a little windy and fragrant so I sat him down, told what I wanted him to do, explained how to help it happen and then read his potty training picture book to him. I was looking on the pictures on the penultimate page, debating if that was a potette travel potty the little boy was sitting on when a little hand gripped my leg and I saw The Boy was shaking with the effort. Well blow me down with a feather if he hadn't just managed a deposit! I was even more proud of him than for the wee, and we definitely did a silly little dance then.

Then he had a tiny little accident. Whoops! But it's ok because I explained to him that it was his willy's way of telling him that he had to sit down on the potty quickly. Success! He went the rest of the day with no accidents and visits every hour.

Today started with a delivery of our Buppy pads that we had ordered. I instantly felt a little more relieved about the prospect of travelling to Manchester next Friday with a child who will have only been training for, by then, a fortnight. Mid morning, we popped to Starbucks and then my mum's for lunch. Coming home I decided to try The Boy with the same routine as yesterday lunchtime. All he produced was a wee after a few minutes of trying. I took the potty to the downstairs loo to empty and clean when I heard an informative little cry…

"I done a poo-poo on the carpet mummy!"

My heart sank. Why, oh why, hadn't I just sat there with him for one minute longer. I knew he needed to go, all the signs were there? And why in God's name, hadn't I left one of the many potties that we have amassed within plain sight for him? What a fool I was. I raced in with wipes and nappy sack to discover yes, there was indeed a deposit on the carpet, but that he had done it in his pants because he had been distracted by the bloody television. I sorted it all out while reassuring him that it was all ok, went to the utility room to sort it out (giving him a spare potty first) and had a silent weep for 20 seconds to myself.

Going back into the living room, I discovered that his new pair of pants were damp. I hadn't even had time to finish cleaning out the poo-potty before having to empty and clean out this one! And then, the washing machine went on with a collection of pre-soaked pants from the past few days.

So, what have I learnt?

  • That I know when my son needs to go because nappies used to disguise pops and pants don't.
  • That he can produce when on the potty, I just need to be patient.
  • That a few minutes after he has performed, he will need to do a wee. It seems that the emptying of the bowel must relieve the pressure on The Boy's bladder.
  • I am knackered and need to go to bed earlier.
  • I don't have enough chocolate in the house.
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