I think he's finally getting it

This evening, I spoke sharply to Danny when he nearly dumped his food on the floor. He looked at me somberly then pointed to the time out chair and, nodding his head, said "Chair."

We've giving him time outs for the past three weeks. I'd been reluctant to try this particular discipline method because I just couldn't imagine him sitting still in a chair without restraints. Without realizing it, though, we've started this method at just the right moment. Remember a few weeks ago when Danny first began to tune in to our disappointment at his behavior? Shortly after that, the time outs began. Amazingly enough, he actually sat in the chair as I explained to him the rule that he had broken and that he was to sit there until I told him to get up. He protested loudly, but did sit there. With each time out since, he's gotten less and less fussy. Of course, for the time out to work well, he needs me to stand there and watch him, completely stone faced. He senses our disappointment in his behavior and doesn't like the feeling. How do I know it's working? The first time out he ever got was for spitting at or near our faces. Each time he spit, he got a time out. It took about a week of time outs on this particular rule, but he rarely spits anymore and when he does, it's because he's beat boxing (a new musical skill that we taught him).

In other Danny related news ...

• I've taught him how to play peekaboo with the baby. Unfortunately, he puts the burp cloth over her face instead of his. We have some work to do here.


• He bit me on the arm this evening. It wasn't malicious. I could tell he was probably thinking "Let's see what happens if I do this." But it will definitely leave a mark!


• Danny has gotten much more dexterous lately. He can blow bubbles all by himself, turn the cap on and off of the bubbles and even grasp the bubble wand when it's all the way in the bottle. I'm so glad he can now do this himself. Have I mentioned that I HATE bubbles?


• After Parents Morning Out this morning, Danny tried to run into the backyard though I'd told him to come in for lunch. I looked at him sternly, told him to come inside and he did, fussing the whole time. I'm just thrilled that he obeyed.