potty training

(brynn was so proud of the underwear she picked out at fred meyers that she arranged them all in a line once we got home)

gah. potty training has just about killed me these past 3 weeks. and NO, we are still not there 100%. brynn is such a weird little child and decides some days that she will be cooperative and go without me having to beg her, then other days she is perfectly content going in her underwear/pull up's. if you know me at all, you know how much of a FREAK i am when it comes to cleanliness so cleaning poo and pee puddles off our brand new carpet isn't something i enjoy. it's especially hard to get down on the floor in my current bloated state so i no longer keep her in big girl underwear as it's just too hard.

brynn starts preschool THIS wednesday (the 9th), and one of the requirements is that they be potty trained. when i initially signed her up in late july, i didn't think it would be a problem as she has shown interest in going for months. what i should have done is started her back when we were still in germany this past january/february as she probably would have been fine as she was going to preschool and saw all the kids in her class going and was always interested. i just assumed that with the upcoming move and what not, it would be easier to start when we got settled here in alaska as i heard kids can regress during crazy times. nope. so i believe that the reason this is all back firing on me now is because i waited too dang long. it would be so nice if she was fully potty trained before the baby comes as i don't want to change TWO children!

i have tried sooo many things:

*bribing

*potty treats

*sticker chart

*telling her she could get a guinea pig (she wants one SO bad!) when she learns. we go to the pet stores multiple times a week to hold them too.

*going to the store and picking out big girl underwear

*bigger and better potty treats if she goes #2 consistently

*camping out in the bathroom with lots of books, juice boxes, and the occasional running of the water to help her "relax"

*harassing/asking her every 30 minutes to check to see if she needs to go (this PISSES her off!)

*having her go naked (which she isn't too cool with) while we are home. i only did this a few times as it was sort of grossing me out having her nether regions sit all over the place...

*wearing ONLY underwear

*having a party complete with lots of high fives when she does go (she's all about high fives)

currently the situation is this; she goes when she wants to go and i HATE it! i feel like such a failure as a mom to have a 3 year old who is STILL in diapers/pull up's. it's also very stressful to know that she is going to start preschool here in 2 days and isn't where she needs to be. her teacher is aware and has told me not to worry as she will be ok. i'm hoping that brynn will want to go more often as she will see her classmates going and pray that this will make something in her head click. what it comes down to is it's not up to me anymore. i cannot force a 3 year old to do ANYTHING especially when she really could care less. i have seriously done all that i can do and need to understand that.

blah. it would be so nice if she was wearing underwear during the day by the time this little peterson comes. i'm so sick of changing her diapers/pull up's!