Time-Out and Corn on the Cob

Walker ate! This is a big deal because he never eats anymore. Ever. We ate at Cliff's parents house tonight and Walker chowed down on some mashed potatoes (my favorite!), corn bread and corn on the cob. He didn't eat his country fried steak (crazy kid) but it's progress. This is just exciting...his lack of eating is becoming a difficult subject for me.

He also ate some biscuit, I forgot to mention that. And, with a spoon nonetheless. How he managed that, I don't know but I'm not complaining...at least he wasn't throwing it across the kitchen like he did when the Lesniaks came to stay with us-another difficult subject for me. (Why is it that your seemingly perfect child turns into a crazy animal when you have company over??? And why is it that all your parenting skills go out the window?) I was completely stunned and had no idea how to handle his behavior because I just wasn't used to it. (although since then I've been getting used to it, because it hasn't stopped!)

Isn't he such a cutie??

He and Uncle Stephen were watching a DVD and he fell sound asleep on Stee's lap. I was so jealous. He never ever does this on me! Ever. I think it's cute that they match, too...

Judy's been teaching him to drink out of a big boy cup and he's doing a really good job. He even takes his medicine (an antibiotic he's been on) out of a cup now with no spills.

Our neighbor, Ms. Julie, who also works at Walker's doctor's office called one day and asked if we wanted a free swing set. Um, who doesn't want a free swing set? We had one in our backyard that was left here by our previous owners but it had grown all nasty and rusty over the years of us not having a kid to play on it...so we took Ms. Julie's. Walker's enjoyed swinging and pushing.

We've been implementing time-out the past few days...I'm not really sure if it's the right time or not, as I haven't had much time to read lately...but I know that we have to do something. Walker had been doing really well, behavior wise, for quite a while now and I was just to the point of bragging on him, when it started. :( We've had several fairly challenging days. He's still the sweetest boy ever and so very loving...but with some ulterior motives at times! :)

Time-out is going well, I think. He won't sit there by himself yet. (if your 19 month old does, I'm way impressed!) So, we hold either his hands or legs. I have no idea if we're doing this right or not but we tell him why he's there and then don't talk to him for the rest of the 30 seconds to a minute that he's in time-out. He has quickly learned that time-out is not a desirable place to be. He asks for "muh" (milk) every time and wants to give us big hugs with pats on the back. (those are the sweetest kind and so hard to avoid...but we make him wait until time-out is over).

I think he gets it...but as with everything, the results take time.

He was in time out 5 times Monday afternoon from the time I got home until he went to bed. Some of the things that earned him a special place in that magical spot were hitting me on the head with a car, playing with the DVD player, climbing on the table, throwing his food at dinner and I can't remember the 5th.

Today, he got in time-out with Judy 2 times. I asked her to start doing this because I know there have been some inconsistencies in how we handle things and how she handles things and I figured the more consistent, the more likely he is to learn. She said it was so hard not to laugh, but that he had to go into time out for climbing onto the kitchen table and dancing (I promise he didn't learn that from me!) and for jumping in the red chair. He pulled the same time out rituals with her, but she knew what to expect since I'd prepped her. :)