Earlier this week I started doing time outs with Nate.  I didn’t think he was really ready for it before now.  I didn’t know if he would really understand that it was a punishment, and then there was the whole thing about actually getting him to stay in time out.

I’m not sure why I first used it, but I’m sure it had something to do with throwing toys or messing with Merchant or throwing toys at Merchant, but whatever it was I decided that I was going to bring down the hammer and introduce time out.

I was really surprised about how well he did.  Yes, he did cry and whine for the two minutes I made him sit in the time out chair (an extra chair in our dining room), but at least he did stay seated for the entire two minutes.  After his time was up I went over and told him again why he had been placed in time out, then asked him to tell me he was sorry and to give me a hug.  He said “sorry” easily but only grudgingly gave me the hug.  But I considered it a success.

I don’t want to overdo it on the time outs, so I’m only using it (so far) on things like throwing toys or hitting Merchant.  And I’m only making him go to time out after I’ve given him two warnings.  After the third violation, which usually happens almost immediately after the first and second warning, he goes to time out.  So far he’s only gone to time out twice (I think it was once on Wednesday and once on Thursday). 

Yesterday Nate was playing with his soccer ball and he threw it up on the counter.  I wanted him to know that this was very bad as there are all sorts of things on the counters that he could knock over or break , so I knelt down on his level and said very sternly, “Nate, do not throw your soccer ball on the counter.”  He looked at me, said, “Time out,” and walked over to his time out chair and sat down.  It was so cute and funny and surprising that I really had to keep myself from laughing.  I just ignored him, and he only sat there for about 10 seconds or so before getting down.

Nate during his self-imposed time out.

Then this morning he did it again.  After throwing his soccer ball at the window I told him not to do that, and he looked at me rather concerned, said “Time out,” then walked over to his chair.  I said to him, “Nate you don’t need to go to time out, but I do need you to listen to and obey Mommy.”  “OK, Mommy” he said. 

And then roughly 90 seconds later he was in time out for real.  The lure of the soccer ball at the window was just too much for him.

A big thank you to my husband for passing this along to me and totally making my day…this is hilarious!

And now I pass it along to you, but I especially want to dedicate it to two people: 1. My mother-in-law, who uses the phrase “That’s what she said” way more than any mother-in-law should, and 2. My blog friend Elizabeth (who I’ve actually never met since I live in Texas and she lives in Virginia, but who I still consider my friend because she’s really smart and wickedly funny), who declared on Facebook that for Lent she’s giving up saying “That’s what she said.”

Just in case you can’t read it, apparently student Dalten Duncan got detention for the following reason: “Another student made the comment you need to push it in further (innocent comment) and Dalten added “that’s what she said.”  Way to go, Dalten.

I’m sorry things have been so quiet around here recently.  For the second time in two weeks all three of us are sick.  And not sick with just your common cold.  No, this is wish-you-could-lay-in-bed-for-three-days-without-having-to-move-your-body kind of sick.  Luckily Nate is feeling better but Matt and I are still feeling pretty crummy.

Please pray for health and wellness for my little family.  I am sick of us being sick all the time.

Have some Kleenex handy just in case you are like me and start to get all teary.

And thus concludes my public service announcement and proclamation that “Lost” is the best show EVER!

Thank you.

Yesterday while we were all playing in the living room, Nate stood up from playing with his toys and tooted.  Matt made a surpised face and asked Nate, “Who cut the cheese?!!”

Then my sweet little darling boy said excitedly, “I cut cheese!”

So stinkin’ cute!  (Literally!!)

My baby is 2.  I don’t know how that happened, but he is now 2 years old.  Yesterday we had a birthday party for him, and he had a blast!

Let me just tell you that this Momma was happy and sad all at once, the whole party.  He was having so much fun, and I was having so much fun, and the party was really great, but all I could think about was the fact that he’s 2 and next year he’ll be 3, and then he’s going to be 13, and then he’s going to go to college, and then before I know it I’ll be attending his child’s second birthday party.  It breaks my heart. 

I love him, and he’s amazing, and I am just so happy to be his Momma.

“Here ya go, Momma.  Have a balloon.”

Nate about to take his new tricycle from Mommy and Daddy out for a spin.

Baba taking Nate out on his new tricycle.

“OK Baba, I am finished riding my tricycle.  You may now push the tricycle and follow behind me.”

“Happy birthday to you.  Happy birthday to you.  Happy birthday dear Nate, happy birthday to you.”

“OK Nate, get ready to blow out the candle.  Baba’s going to help you.”

“Oh!  Where did that flame go?!!”

Happy birthday my sweet darlin’ baby.  I love you.