Potty Training Boot Camp: The (maybe not so) Dirty Details

The Goal: Potty Train Eva (26 mos.) in one week.
The Plan: No diapers unless she's in bed. No pants, just undies. No couch sitting. (sorry kid) No outings all week unless Eva's a quick learner. (sorry mom) Set timer for 15min - 30min intervals until her pattern is established. Lots of fluids, lots of attention, lots of patience, lots of encouragement.

PTBC Day 1
...8:30am: Little Recruit wakes up cheerful... and clueless about what Squad Leader Mummzie has in store for her in the next 24hrs. (and rest of the week +)
...9:30am: Fed and now dressed in new ("Pwitty!") undies, Little Recruit is prepped for Operation Pee In Potty. One timid Recruit and one over-excited Leader head for the bathroom. After 15 uninteresting minutes Operation Pee In Potty is declared a "No Go".... for now.
...9:45am: Squad Leader Mummzie sets the all important timer...15min.
...9:50am: Little Recruit informs Squad Leader Mummzie that "Pwaywoom is WET! Fwoor is wet!"
...9:52am: Little Recruit is back on the potty as Squad Leader Mummzie attempts to soak up the pancake sized puddle in the playroom.
...10:15am: Squad Leader Mummzie hopefully employs secret weapon Warm Water Bowl with Toys. Amazingly, still no-go.
...11:55am: After 2 more cases of "friendly fire" the body undie count is now up to 3. The casualties line the side of the bathtub as Squad Leader Mummzie marches her reluctant and recently renamed Recruit "Puddles" out of the unused bathroom to the lunch table.
...12:10pm: A smiling Recuit Puddles informs Squad Leader Mummzie that she is going to pee in her booster seat.
...12:11pm: Operation Pee In Potty seems destined for failure as Squad Leader Mummzie mops up the kitchen floor. Thank God nap time is only a little more than an hour away.
...12:35 WE HAVE A HIT! Operation Pee In Potty has a tablespoon of a success! Recruit Puddles is awarded two mini Chocolate M&M Medals of Accomplishment as Squad Leader Mummzie realizes she just danced because of urine... and she'll likely do it again.
...12:58pm We have a second strike! Recruit Puddles seems to be catching on!
...1:25pm "Mummy, there's uh-oh ina room." Or not.

...1:45pm Recruit Puddles is unhappy to be diapered for her nap. Squad Leader Mummzie is happy she is as she arranges soggy undies (count now up to 5) and mop cloths tub-side so they will not drip on the floor. There will be laundry tonight.
...4:00pm Little Recruit Puddles awakes with a heavily soiled diaper and excitement for a new pair of ruffle undies. "Whicha ones I wear?"
...4:20pm We have another hit!
...4:50pm More reason to call her "puddles."
...5:00pm Squad Leader Mummzie, debating the wisdom of it, offers up the last undies of the batch. Then, a brainflash! "Eva do you see the cupcakes on these ones?" (A delighted gasp) "Let's keep these undies nice and clean so they look pretty!"
...8:00pm A damp, but triumphant Squad Leader Mummzie reviews the day. After the "cupcake beauty bribe" Recruit Puddles did good work to keep (everything) dry. She's such a girl. Operation Pee In Potty is declared a success... for today. Tomorrow: Operation All Day Dry Undies.

PTBC Day 2

...11am After a late start due to Squad Leader Mummzie having a morning appointment, Recruit Puddles is doing great showing understanding of her new "job" and enthusiasm about getting more "medals" and praise. "Mommy go 'Yay Eba!' for me." (big grin) "I will if you go peepee."

...12:00pm Lunchtime. "Eba no peepee ina booster seat. Peepee goes ina potty." So far SO good!
...2:00pm Recruit Puddles is down for her nap as Squad Leader Mummzie wonders if she has the same Little Recruit she signed up with yesterday... no accidents?!
...4:30 Recruit Puddles wakes with a dry diaper and a request to "go peepee ina potty."
...5:30pm Squad Leader Mummzie thinks she may need to rename Recruit Puddles as, once more, we have a hit!
...5:45pm Nervous Squad Leader Mummzie packs Recruit Smarty (formerly known as "Puddles") into the car to go to her buddies the Delages' house for the evening. Will Recruit Smarty be able to continue her progress amid the delightful distractions of playing with friends?
...5:55pm We have a hit! ... away from home! Amazing! Recruit Smarty is awarded one fat marshmallow by Lady 'Lage (that's what Eva calls Tiffany) and a ruckus of praise from her buddies.
...8:00pm Squad Leader Lady 'Lage's report is impressively positive.
...8:30pm Recruit Smarty is reluctantly diapered ("I no like diapers.") and sent to bed. Operation All Day Dry Undies is a shocking success.

PTBC Day 3
...11am: Another "spotless" morning. Recruit Smarty is getting this "potty thing."
...4:00pm: Another dry nap... it can't be this easy.
...4:30pm: Oops, Squad Leader Mummzie forgets to check on Recruit Smarty during her hour-long play time in her room... and we have wet carpet and a very sad and embarrassed recruit.
...8:00pm: Another "go" at buddies house, and this time it was on the "bigga boy" potty!
...8:30pm: Squad Leader Mummzie is quite impressed little Recruit Smarty's rapid training and very grateful to God for this unexpected mercy!

PTBC Day 4
A perfect day! Hooooooooooray!

PTBC Day 5
...9:00am: Squad Leader Mummzie reassures Recruit Smarty that it is "okay" to peepee in her diaper as they head out for a longer drive to Richmond and a day of friends and family.
...10:15am: One whiny Recruit Smarty begins bouncing uncomfortably in the back seat. Is she really trying to hold it?
...11:15am: An amazed Squad Leader Mummzie flushes the mall potty as Recruit Smarty says "bye-bye peepee!" to over 2 hours worth of it.
...6:20pm After realizing that she hasn't seen any "#2" in a few days, Squad Leader Mummzie employs secret weapon "Laxative" in one clueless recruit's supper milk.
...8:00pm Squad Leader Mummzie throws the DRY all-day-diaper away.

PTBC Day 6
...8:00am Operation Poo In Potty is initiated.
...11:00am RS:"I have an ouchy inna leg." SLM:"That's because you needta go poo-poo." RS:"I go later."
...1:00pm During a regularly scheduled potty time Recruit Smarty calls from the bathroom, "Dere is grapes in dere!! Inna potty! Look, Mommy! Look!!" (was that an over-share?) Sweet success!
...1:15pm: RS: "We needa call Mimi! Call Branpa! Call Eban! Call Eli! Tell her poopy inna potty!" (This kid knows when she's a winner.)

PTBC Day 7
...7:00pm Recruit Smarty is naked ...and dancing. She is quite proud of her week's work. Squad Leader cannot help but join in...but just with the dancing part.

One week of only one real difficult day of potty training. Totally amazing and totally wonderful! God knew I needed a boost.