Beginner's Luck?

Earlier this week, Mommy instituted a "star chart" to reward Ari and Alex for good behavior. The list includes saying "please" and "thank you," sharing, cleaning up their toys, and a host of other behaviors we are trying to encourage. Mommy added a line for going to the potty, but only in anticipation of using it in a few months when we tackle potty training.

This morning Mommy was reading over all of the ways that Ari and Alex can earn star stickers, and mentioned going to the potty. Ari declared that she wanted a star for going potty, and went to the bathroom, took off her pants and diaper, and promptly peed in the potty like it was no big deal. She then declared that she only wanted to wear underwear today. Skeptical but willing to try, Mommy put her in underwear and kept asking her if she needed to go potty. We even went out to the playground to watch the elementary school kids get on the bus and play with friends Andrew and Mitchell, and Ari stayed dry. When we got home, Mommy again asked if she had to go potty, and Ari was very proud to show Andrew how she could go potty. Another star for Ari!

We then went to Target for Kira's first birthday pictures. Mommy was very hesitant to let Ari go without a diaper, but she insisted she would "be fine" so Mommy packed an extra pair of pants and diapers and we headed out to Target. A photo session (which went great- we got lots of cute pictures of all three kids) AND lunch later, Ari was still dry. She tried to go potty at the store but then decided she would rather wait and go until we got home, so Mommy just hoped we wouldn't end up with a wet carseat. Sure enough, as soon as we got home, Ari went on the potty again. She didn't even want to put on a diaper for her nap, so Mommy convinced her to put a diaper on OVER her underwear, "just in case." Ari stayed dry during her nap, and then went in the potty again when she woke up. She showed Daddy how she goes on the potty when he got home, and Nana when she came over to visit (she obviously likes to show off her new skill).

Mommy wasn't sure that Ari would be able to go on her own without being reminded, but tonight after dinner, two times Ari told Mommy she had to go and ran quickly to the bathroom where she went potty. Mommy and Daddy are pretty surprised. We had to convince her to wear her underwear over a diaper overnight, just to see how it goes at nighttime, but it looks like at the very least we have had one diaper-free day for Arielle! Mommy is going to send Ari to school in her underwear tomorrow, along with a clean change of clothes, to see if this trend continues. We're afraid of jinxing ourselves, but it's at the very least a good (and early) start.

Alex, on the other hand, has shown NO interest at all in joining his sister in her new achievement. As Alex says, though, "that's OK, there's no rush!"