Free Willy

My son just turned two.

It hardly seems possible that my little guy is getting so big.

His vocabulary is increasing and he's putting together simple sentences. He received his first tricycle. He's becoming more imaginative in his play.

He's showing compassion and affection. He apologizes after throwing his sippy cup across the room (a regular occurrence). He counts to 13, sings (most of) the alphabet song, and is learning the theme to Thomas and Friends.

He's hitting his milestones and it's hard to believe that he will begin preschool in three short months.

What's next on our developmental agenda?

Potty training.

I don't expect him to be fully potty trained any time soon. But summertime presents an opportunity for a little freedom. Going "Free Willy," if you will.

Yep, backyard play this summer means that my guy can shed the diaper and wear cute little tighty whitey's. (Our first pairs have Thomas, of course, and cars and trucks.) And I like to take the potty seat outside, just in case.

I have heard that cloth-diapered children potty train more quickly than those who wear disposables because they feel the wetness. But I have to say that this may or may not be true. Our pocket diapers seem to wick away the wetness and contain it in the liner.

We'll see.

What techniques will I try during potty training sessions? I think I will be pretty lax at first. But eventually I may employ stickers, M&M's, and maybe even Potty Training Rewards (these totally worked for my daughter!).

I'm not above bribery!

(This post was written in response to Parent Blogger Network's call for submissions on potty training. As part of The Potty Project, they want to hear about your stinky potty training tales.)