Potty Training (Beginning Stages)

I had it in my head that I wasn't going to start potty training Adam until he was closer to 3. I don't really mind changing diapers and sometimes it's just easier to not drop everything to run to a toilet every time a newly-trained child has to go or worry about cleaning up accidents. Up until recently, Adam hasn't been too interested in learning to use the potty and I couldn't have been more supportive. He is barely 2 and has plenty of time before it would become concerning to me. Lately though, he has been telling me when he has to go number 2. I was worried that not doing anything about it would be holding him back, so I've been encouraging him to go on his potty chair when he tells me he has to go. We have had a few runs, with zero results. He will wait until I re-diaper him & go a few minutes later. I felt like a little nudge was in order. My golden opportunity came earlier this week when he told me he had to go. I could tell from his face that he really had to. I asked him if he wanted to go on his potty & then get a piece of candy (my bribe attempt). He told me no. I knew that meant he really had to go and decided to rush him there and make him go on his potty. I got him situated and he wasn't very excited about it. I got books and a space heater (I was very chilly on that bathroom floor and assumed my half-naked kid was cold as well) and we camped out for what felt like hours. He kept getting uncomfortable, squirming, saying "ouch" frantically, then relaxing for a minute until it happened again. It dawned on me that if he could hold it for this long, he probably should be potty trained. It took FOREVER for him to finally let it happen. He was so surprised when it did that he jumped off the potty right away. When he did, some of it dropped on the rug. I started cleaning him up but apparently he was not finished. He went again and it landed on the floor underneath him. (He also peed on my shoe at this point). Then he stepped back right into it with his socked feet and started tracking if around the bathroom. As I was trying to get him to stop walking around & spreading it, he went some more. I knew I had to get him back on his potty ASAP but it was filled with the first round & the all the wipes I had used. I grabbed him & placed him on there anyways. He was very uncomfortable but was able to finish up without any more floor piles for me. When I was sure he was done, I decided a bath was in order. I got him situated in there and got busy sanitizing. I don't think I have ever seen him go so much in his entire life, and lucky for me, most of it was on my bathroom floor. I am really proud of myself for not freaking out at all. Jacob would not have been so lucky! Poor first child never had it this easy! Adam was probably so confused that I was so excited & cheering for him as his poop landed all over the floor. How is this better than going in a diaper? For a few days after "the incident" he would still tell me when he had to go. I asked each time if he wanted to go on his toilet & get candy. He has said no every time. When he does, I say ok! I think we were both a little traumatized by his first potty chair experience. This morning, he was brave enough to try again. I had just poured my cereal & sat down to breakfast when I heard Trevor ask Adam if he was going to go on the potty & get some candy today. Adam answered "yes!" Then Trevor told him to tell me when he needed to go. He ran right over to tell me he needed to go. At 2 bites into my cereal, I wasn't too thrilled to have to be interrupted to camp out on the bathroom floor again. Trevor was in the middle of working on something in the house, so I had no choice, but to comply. I brought my bowl of cereal along and ate it on the bathroom floor while we waited. After reading a few books in the bathroom we relocated to the kitchen so I could get my stuff ready for my church lesson. Trevor needed my help in the family room for a minute & while I was doing that, Adam came to tell me he went. I went to investigate & found nothing in the potty, but a puddle on the floor of the kitchen. I was grateful for the bazillionth time to no longer have carpet in our kitchen. After these few potty training experiences, I have no problem whatsoever keeping him in diapers for a little while longer. I'm kind of tired of cleaning his potty training off the floor.