Straight from the Bottle - All Comments

re: Potty Training is Actually Kind of Fun. Is That Weird?

Heather — Sat, 17 May 2008 02:39:26 GMT

Oh my gosh was the poopy part of potty training the hardest for us!!! We got the potty training down he knew what to do but he resisted to no end. Then one day like magic it happened. I found that you want to praise them when they do go, but not overly because they get a fear of making you that much more disappointed if they fail. Does that make sense? Actually when mine had an accident I found not saying anything about it worked the best because then he felt like an accident wasn't the end of the world :)

re: Potty Training is Actually Kind of Fun. Is That Weird?

Rachel — Sat, 17 May 2008 02:23:11 GMT

It may be too late to suggest this, but I totally recommend teaching Archer to stand up when he pees right from the get go. My son just happened to want to "pee pee like Daddy", and I am eternally grateful every time we go into a germy, germ-infested germhouse of a bathroom at the gas station and he doesn't have to sit on the pot.

Also, pooping came WAY later for my son. Lots of my friends say this is so. But we bought a special toy (a remote control VW Van, totally awesome) that was only for playing with after pooping on the potty. He really liked that as a reward (although to be totally honest this is not what ultimately worked - it was time and time alone that worked - he just had to be ready. Agonizing, but true.)

re: Potty Training is Actually Kind of Fun. Is That Weird?

Candes — Fri, 16 May 2008 19:19:44 GMT

My son trained at 2 1/2. Pee was easy Poop not so easy. Everytime I changed his diaper I'd say "Poop goes in the potty." I got to the point where I stopped asking him and just took him. He'd sit there but not long enough. I bought Elmo Goes Potty book that came w/ sound effects. He could only read this book while sitting on the potty. It kept him there to get some results. I kind of knew his internal clock so I would try to time our visits carefully.

It really helped to see his friends go potty too.

PS - Boys LOVE to go pee outside. It's a two edged sword.

re: Potty Training is Actually Kind of Fun. Is That Weird?

JO — Fri, 16 May 2008 18:01:30 GMT

Warning warning

I bought my grandson a potty book and on one page it showed a poop pile on the bathroom floor and it sain "OH NO not on the floor"...you guessed it .... he proudly showed his mother his pile on the floor and exclaimed OH NO not on the floor" It remains a family chuckle.

re: Potty Training is Actually Kind of Fun. Is That Weird?

GirlsGoneChild — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:52:47 GMT

Yeah. Candy isn't cutting it at this point for the poop. I guess I just need to be patient with him and hope. Ha, Sheri! I have no idea what I'm doing! But sure! Send him on over! Make sure to pack light, though. It's HOT here right now. Ugh!

re: Potty Training is Actually Kind of Fun. Is That Weird?

Liss — Fri, 16 May 2008 14:39:04 GMT

One step ahead has a portable seat that folds up and you can stick in your purse. It fits nicely over any toilet. Also the pooping took longer for my son too it was almost like he was afraid to do it. M&M's help.

re: Potty Training is Actually Kind of Fun. Is That Weird?

lla.ma. — Fri, 16 May 2008 05:22:08 GMT

youtube.com/watch

thats the only good part about the sesame street pottytraining dvd but damn, is that a catchy song!

re: Potty Training is Actually Kind of Fun. Is That Weird?

Sheri — Fri, 16 May 2008 04:28:23 GMT

I am packing Quinn's bags and sending him your way, Rebecca. He's 4 and well, only pees about 1/2 the time, and no poop in the potty at all. We've tried everything.

He's cute and blonde and would make a great friend for Archer, and when you are done potty training, you can send him on home. Deal???

re: Potty Training is Actually Kind of Fun. Is That Weird?

AmyK — Fri, 16 May 2008 00:32:18 GMT

Copious amounts of naked time and Bribery - M&M's worked wonders with my son. I let him hang out pretty much naked so we had ease of getting to the potty when the urge struck and so I had less laundry when there was an accident. I was very pregnant and lugging the laundry up and down was the bane of my existence.

He was almost entirely potty trained (just diaper at night) by the time his brother was born (last August) and he was only 2 years 4 months and was completely out of the diapers at night by 2 years 6 months.

Peeing was no problem. Pooping was the part that he was scared of... but my boy loves chocolate and I rarely gave it to him so the M&Ms worked...

At almost 3 (on May 28th) he still has trouble pulling his pants back up and he prefers to poop naked from the waist down. I guess it harkens back to all of the nudey time I gave him at the start of things - but hey he doesn't expect some chocolate every time he poops so I guess I should count my blessings.

re: On the Eve of Knowing

Breninsmom — Thu, 15 May 2008 22:52:09 GMT

I am going through the exact same thing! As we stand now we have an 90% girl- which is very exciting since my husbands family doesn't make girls this will be the first in, like, 50 years! Waiting for the 4D Ultrasound in 6 weeks...

re: Potty Training is Actually Kind of Fun. Is That Weird?

Melissa — Thu, 15 May 2008 22:21:41 GMT

I'm so good at this potty training business that I have trained my daughters best friend and one of the neighbor kids. We started by wearing panties all the time, if she had an accident it was going to be miserable rather than all nicely contained in whatever in the hell that gel like substance is. (Which was a deterrent for my kid because she hates to be dirty.) Then when she would "make peepee in the potty", we had potty parties! When she had he urge (or at least once ever 45 min even without the urge) we would run into the bathroom and get her in position followed by the commencing to wait. When she did her business, I (and everyone else that was in the house) would clap and sing and dance and carry on like idiots while she sat on the throne clapping and kicking her feet. We had music, stickers, confetti, M&Ms, cake on occasion, balloons, I was serious about potty training. I even had potty parties at the mall, I didn't care, I was on a mission! The first few times we would call Nana or one of her other big people so she could brag on herself. She was a little younger so the silliness was pretty equivalent to awesomeness but she knew that when she did her business we were having a 2-3 min party! I had this booty shaking dance I did and everything.

re: Potty Training is Actually Kind of Fun. Is That Weird?

divrchk — Thu, 15 May 2008 21:58:32 GMT

Every kid is different. My son was terrified about pooping on the potty for a very long time. He went to school in underpants and when he came home he insisted on a diaper to poop in. I fought him on this but in the end, it was easier than having him hold it in for 5 days out of fear. In the end, what worked for us was to get him to start wearing the diaper in the bathroom to poop - he used to go in a corner elsewhere in the house. Then, we made him sit on the toilet wearing the diaper to poop. The final straw was my husband cutting a hole in the diaper that my son somehow did not notice (don't ask me) and he pooped and it fell into the toilet. I read this early on in out battle and scoffed at it. My son is SMART! There's no way that will work for him. Yeah. It totally worked. So, my advice is don't rule anything out. Good luck and the pooping will happen in time.

re: Potty Training is Actually Kind of Fun. Is That Weird?

pqbon — Thu, 15 May 2008 21:33:57 GMT

My wife found a folding porta-potty.

The one we use looks like this:

www.amazon.com/.../ref=pd_bbs_sr_5

(This may or may not be the one my wife bought but it looks like it.)

re: On the Eve of Knowing

Megg — Wed, 14 May 2008 01:09:39 GMT

I know its late and all of that jazz but I have to say, boy boy boy

re: On the Eve of Knowing

Candes — Mon, 12 May 2008 19:55:42 GMT

Good luck on the proof positive u/s. I have two boys and couldn't be happier. I love my guys. Tucker tells EVERYONE when Carsen gets older he's going to wrestle with him. Insert cheesy, ear to ear grin and little face all a-glow.

re: On the Eve of Knowing

cocosmalls — Mon, 12 May 2008 19:12:09 GMT

i have a son a few months older than archer and am pregnant with my second.

i felt EXACTLY the same, i always thought i wanted all boys and then i warmed to the idea of a girl. first ultrasound they thought a girl but was not 100% until the second and she is a girl.

now i walk through the clothing stores staring at the pink just wondering how i will make it happen.

re: On the Eve of Knowing

amandashea17 — Mon, 12 May 2008 02:47:36 GMT

Oh rats I didn't win! No I will have to buy a copy! Hehe.

re: On the Eve of Knowing

GirlsGoneChild — Sun, 11 May 2008 01:02:10 GMT

See above! I posted their names at the end of my Update. Thanks!

re: On the Eve of Knowing

Janet — Sun, 11 May 2008 00:10:45 GMT

So who won?

re: On the Eve of Knowing

Maia — Sat, 10 May 2008 22:41:26 GMT

I read on CNN recently that a study showed women who ate a high calorie diet just before getting pregnant were more likely to have a boy. And women on a restricted calorie diet were more likely to have girls. Also, women who ate breakfast had boys more often. So perhaps that will prove true in your case. In either scenario, I bet he/she will be just as adorable and delightful as Archer!

re: On the Eve of Knowing

Melissa — Sat, 10 May 2008 02:18:16 GMT

Sorry I missed the contest, but I'll put my 2 cents in anyway. GIRL That's the gut feeling I got reading your post.

When I was pregnant I wanted a little girl so bad. It took me awhile to get used to the idea of a boy. But I'm so happy I had a boy now and I don't miss the pink clothes and little bitty sweaters like I thought I would. It's just as much fun dressing him up! Now I think if I had another I'd want another boy, though the balance of testosterone to estrogen is already tipped against me.

re: On the Eve of Knowing

CoolAuntieTina — Sat, 10 May 2008 00:24:42 GMT

You know, today I imagined you updating with an inconclusive answer. Congrats on having a girl or boy :) I have my 21 week ultrasound next week, although we're not finding out. I almost want the technician to mess up and announce the sex, so I can know, but not give an official OK. Is that weird?

re: On the Eve of Knowing

ewokmama — Fri, 09 May 2008 22:38:24 GMT

I absolutely had to know the first time around but the second time around I *might* actually go for the surprise. I don't know, though. Suspense is too much for me! I can't handle surprises!

Congrats on finding out you're having a...baby. :D

re: On the Eve of Knowing

Heather — Fri, 09 May 2008 22:36:51 GMT

So stoked to be one of your winners! Although when I got the email, I assumed you'd been told it would be a boy-- oops, now I know it could very well be a girl! Well, if so, they are so much fun. Drama queens, but fun ;)

And Archer will still be one awesome big bro :)

re: On the Eve of Knowing

GirlsGoneChild — Fri, 09 May 2008 19:55:20 GMT

Oh and if anyone wants the track list to my winner-CD, you can email me at rebeccawoolf@gmail.com and I'll get it over to you. All songs, I imagine are downloadable on Itunes.

re: On the Eve of Knowing

Ms G — Fri, 09 May 2008 19:51:07 GMT

My experience with most techs and docs when it comes to sex determining, count on the opposite of what they say unless they can point out easily-recognizable parts.

So hey I'm voting girl.

moonravencrow@gmail.com

re: On the Eve of Knowing

GirlsGoneChild — Fri, 09 May 2008 19:21:52 GMT

OKAY-- STOPPING CONTEST, HERE. WILL BE UPDATING POST MOMENTARILY. THANKS SO MUCH FOR PARTICIPATING!

re: On the Eve of Knowing

Bremily — Fri, 09 May 2008 19:07:00 GMT

I'm thinking girl. I just like girls better. I already bought (and read) the book, so choosing me as your random winner would be totally thrifty! Loved the book and I am so excited for you!

re: On the Eve of Knowing

Rebecca — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:25:49 GMT

I'm gonna say boy. Only because 2 boys does sound like an awful lot of fun.

re: On the Eve of Knowing

Dani — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:06:46 GMT

I will go ahead and guess boy, but vote for girl (I'm one of three sisters)