Mistakes

So I decided to potty-train Quinn this week during my spring break. What better way to spend my time, right? I'm using a method referred to as Toilet Training in Less Than One Day.
Basically it involves a doll that pees, lots of drinks (for Quinn, not me, though I wish), encouragement, and then consequences for wet pants. Notice I wrote "I'm using", which means we're still working on this. On day 3. After you read more of the book you find out it could take up to two weeks. Not just one day. Day one and two were really tough. He hated the consequences for wet pants (which involved practicing running to the potty, pulling his pants down, sitting down, and getting up again - TEN TIMES). He was able to go on the potty many times, but also had 3 wet pants on Monday and 2 yesterday. And he wasn't going to the potty by himself, I'd have to tell him, and he'd cry no, which in my opinion was a result of him hating the practices so much. And then today we had a break through. Only two accidents (one was just poop, the other he just didn't make it in time) and has been going to the potty by himself. By Himself. That's what I've been waiting for. I can now go from telling him to go, to just reminding him that the toilet is right there if he needs it, or if I see him getting antsy, I can just ask if he needs to go. Today has been better, but here's a list of mistakes I feel I have made.

1. Never potty train when you are pregnant. I'm emotional and it takes a lot of consistency to get this method going the right way and I'd often question what I was doing (especially during those practice runs.) Plus, you can't end the day with a nice beverage to relax when you're pregnant.
2. Don't use cookies as a reward for pees in the potty. I started feeling guilty for all the cookies he was eating and switched the reward today to grapes. Funny thing is, right away this morning, after having some grapes as a reward he somehow managed to go pee in the potty every ten minutes to get more grapes. Not sure if it was just because it's today or if it's because he likes grapes so much. I don't know why I picked cookies as a reward when I know my child loves fruit. So now it's grapes or blackberries.
3. Never potty train when you are pregnant. It takes a lot of energy and you're already tired to begin with.
4. Don't expect too much. So the book says most kids will get it in four hours. And it took Quinn and me 2.5 days. I think it's my fault. See next mistake.
5. Try not to get too neurotic. I didn't want him to wet his pants, so I think I offered too many reminders, etc. I have to force myself to wait it out and let him feel when he's full instead of constantly asking him. Gosh, that could get annoying.
6. Don't potty train when you, yourself, have a ton of other things going on. Mainly a huge master's project due Monday and a huge mess in the basement from stuff that used to be in the baby's room (which, by the way, is done!).

That's all I can think of for now, but this has been a lot harder than I thought it would be. And tomorrow we're venturing out of the house, so we'll see how that goes.