Mama, I will potty-train myself, ok?

With Reese due right before Emmanuel's 2nd birthday, I thought it would be best to hold off on potty training.  You know--that's what the research says.  "Most children will regress. Wait until you have an established routine with the new baby." 

I've also heard that boys are harder to potty train, so waiting until they are ready is best.  Well, needless to say about 6 weeks ago, Emmanuel walked into the bathroom and said to me, "Mama, potty" (he did the sign for potty, also).  I said, "No, mama doesn't have to potty right now."  He persisted, "Mama, potty!"  I said, "Oh...YOU have to potty."  I flipped up the potty training seat, he sat down, did his business, stood up, put the seat down, "flushed," and clapped for himself.  LOL.  Seriously.  He did this. 

Now, granted, I'm not pushing this.  I am taking cues from him, and he usually goes first thing in the morning, right before bed, and one time in between.  Last week he even did #1 while standing up...(I know right, what an overachiever).  And, now, he will go by himself, run into our room clapping and say, "pee pee, pee pee" or "boo boo, boo boo."  His incentive--candy from the potty jar!  

He also has these cool new undies that he likes to show off. 

And he wears them ALL the time! 

(Please note, there is a drill in the above picture, not a gun.)

Now, will he regress when Reese is born?  Maybe.  Will he refuse to potty and want me to continue to change his boo boo?  Perhaps.  But, one thing is for sure...as long as we keep giving candy as an incentive...and cool new undies as a treat...this almost 2 year old really just might potty train himself!