Potty time!

Let the potty training commence...for the fourth time. *Sigh* Yes, that's right. This will be our 4th round of potty training. The moms that have their kids trained in one day must be some kind of miracle workers! I just don't see how it is possible. And anyone reading this who has trained their child in one week or less, please please let me pick your brain so I can compare notes. I used to pride myself on being a patient person, but whenever the dreaded bathroom business time comes around, I can't help losing my cool, and at lighting speed I might add. Anyway, back to the post at hand...

The tools:

Big boy underpants. Now, let me just say, after two "accidents", I decided against the cloth underpants and switched immediately to Pull-Ups. Now I know they are not nearly as effective (and WAY more expensive), but for my own sanity, and until he has actually gone in the potty, I made the switch. It's just too hard to clean up the mess when Ella is constantly lurking two inches away from me trying to grab at the carpet cleaner and paper towels and crying all at the same time. I can only take her piercing screams for so long.

Potty chart and stickers. This is for when he attempts to go potty. He loves this part of course. And he already knows that he has to try first, then sticker time.
Candy. I have no shame. If he actually goes in the potty, then this is his reward. He hasn't quite gotten this far yet, since he only went twice in round 3 of training. They are well hidden and out of reach. So far in round 4, he has yet to receive the prized dum-dum. Oh how I wish there was a potty training boot camp where I could send Jacob. I would definitely pay! (Yes, I have already researched this, and only found one in Chicago). After all the books I've read, many are quite different in their approach. But, they are all at least consistent in one thing: don't stop the training once it has started, and don't give up! Let's hope I don't completely lose my mind when this is all over. Especially since I have one more kiddo to train...yikes.