Yay - Poopy!

Well, I was very tired this morning and didn't really want to get up to keep Clark busy - but Kara wanted some extra sleep and she has been doing so much lately that I just couldn't say no (although I did dawdle a little).

Now, as I try to write this, Clark who was playing nicely by himself, just stood up and started giving me lots of full face smiles and making his little noises of joy.

Ok -- got him back to playing.

Well - after we got up - Darwin had to go out - so we all went out back. The weather was great (it has been very humid lately - but not at 7am this morning). We walked around the yard picking up branches and talked about what branches are and about leaves, etc. We did this for about 15 minutes or so - and it was a very nice little outing.

Then, we came in and Clark practically inhaled a big banana (but with a short interruption), then we both had some apple with cheese, then some bread. Clark made a small mess, but was in a pretty good mood throughout.

The highlight of the morning, however, came while Clark was eatting the banana. When I put Clark into the highchair, I then went to get the banana and a knife to cut it up. As I returned to him, he was making the potty sign (opening and closing his hand - and he was looking at me expectantly.) I was still half asleep, and I was in feed-him-banana mode, so I didn't really pick up on it. But then, during the first half of eating the banana, he kept making the potty sign again and again, and it finally sunk in that this was the potty sign. So, I ran him to the potty, and his diaper was clean, but he quickly starting pooping and peeing.

WOOT WOOT -- YAY CLARK -- POOPY IN THE POTTY!! -- WAY TO GO -- YOU'RE A GREAT LITTLE POOPER. And so on.

Kara's been working on getting Clark to go on the potty for quite some time - since Clark was about 6 months I believe. We learned this was possible from a work friend of mine with a strong European background. He said that in Europe they often potty train by about a year or so. We did some research and found out this was true - but you had to pay close attention to the child throughout the day, and rush them to the potty when they show any indication that they're going or when you know they tend to go, and give lots of praise for going on the potty. Our trying to teach Clark some sign language has also helped. For months Kara's been working this. I can be a little slow sometimes, and so when I'm home I mostly get to be the cheerleader (sometimes I even make up little cheers about going to the potty as he's doing it). This morning was the first time for me that he clearly said (with the sign language) that he had to go, and the first time that I got him on the potty in time with no fuss or hassle. But with lots of praise: GO CLARK GO - POOP POOP POOP - PUSH IT OUT SHOVE IT OUT WAY OUT - GO CLARK GO - YAAAAY CLARK.

Quite the sureal life - being a parent. But also very rewarding.


(first posted on facebook on August 22, 2009)