Potty training is a zoo. Even as I write this, I'm considering stopping. Shaelyn is taking a nap right now. When she wakes up, I'll discuss it with her. She's doing really great - only a few accidents and she actually runs to the potty sometimes when it's time to go. But some of her bad "transition behavior" (as I like to call it) is coming back, and I'm wondering if potty training is the culprit. If so, it'll be a while before we try this again. Like maybe over Christmas break.
That said, in order to reward (bribe) my child to pee in the potty for the first time, I told her if she would go in the potty, then we'd all go to the zoo. Five minutes later, there was a loud shout of joy as she ran up to me and said "I go to the zoo, Mommy!" Sure enough, she had earned her trip to the zoo.
Since you've all seen zoo pictures, I'll spare you all the animal pics and just show you the adorable ones of Shaelyn enjoying herself. And share these fun Aagard zoo facts with you:
1) Shaelyn's favorite animals were the giraffes and zebras. Followed closely by the monkeys. We had to visit the animals multiple times.
2) Shaelyn picked out her own clothes to wear to the zoo (as usual) and insisted on wearing her "monkey shirt" - she then showed the monkeys her monkey shirt while we were at the zoo.
3) She asked to see the seals over and over and over again, then when we got there, ran away crying.
4) While watching the elephants, one of the elephants started walking closer to the viewing area. Michael mistakenly said "he's coming to get you!" Needless to say she didn't want to see the elephants anymore.
5) Shaelyn ate a whole personal pan pizza for lunch while at the zoo. And skipped her nap.
6) She also rode on the merry-go-round for the first time in her life. And was not scared.
7) Rachelle rode in the stroller without the car seat for the first time in her life. And played with her crinkly elephant. And took her naps in the Bjorn and my wrap. And was the easiest baby to tote along to the zoo.
8) When you ask Shaelyn her favorite part of the zoo, she screams at the top of her lungs, "The Zoo Choo Choo Train!!" (And before you think it's something really cool, it's just a tram that takes you from one side of the zoo to the other so you don't have to walk the whole 5 miles back to your car.)
