Chapter 10: A Good Sign

November 6^th – November 24^th

·         During the first half of the month, we were pretty much on the same track for EC.  Not much communicating.  More catching after naps and when first waking up.

·         Pooping went from mostly in the toilet to cleaning many more diapers than I would prefer! 

·         However, during the second part of the month, we have figured out (at least we think) that E is starting to communicate using hand signals. 

·         She is 10 months today and today I decided conclusively that she knows what we are working on… she has started using the “milk” sign language sign to indicate potty. 

·         Today, we were at lunch at a Chinese restaurant and she was eating her baby food and had water and she signaled “milk”.  I wondered if she needed to pee.  Scott took her and sure enough, she went for him while we were out!  (Diaper was already wet, but she did pee in the toilet a bit, too).

·         Later while at home, she had nursed about 10 minutes prior to signing for “milk” again.  I put her on the potty, but she didn’t want to go…  I did feel, however, the diaper was very warm/wet, likely indicating she had just gone.  From what I hear, this is a logical progression in “normal” potty training as well.  It’s so exciting to see that she is understanding that she shouldn’t be wet.

·         She has also started grabbing the potty chair while at home.  Typically this indicates that she has already gone.

·         Also, a new development is that we have started giving Gerber puffs as a “reward” for going in the potty.  We are also encouraging her to sit on the potty, even when she protests being on there by saying  “Good sitting on the potty!”.  She seems to respond and sit there (although, she still doesn’t typically go).

·         Tonight, she had about 15 minutes of diaper free time after just having gone in the potty and peed on the kitchen floor during that time.  So, we’re not over that hump, but I do feel like progress is being made now that she can sign that she is wet (hopefully that will turn into the correct sign and learning to signal before she wets).