Time to Lay Down The Law

It's one of the saddest posts I've had to make so far. Perhaps the most vivid sign that our little baby is growing into a rambunctious little toddler is that now we are having to bring some discipline into the picture. I haven't yet introduced the horse whip, or the popular technique of starvation. We don't need camera crews on our doorstep just yet. So, we are sticking with the very early phases of Timeout.
It's hard to go full-force on discipline since his vocabulary is limited, as is what he understands. However, he knows the word "No" and what it means, and has for a couple of months now. Over the weekend, we put out his Play Yard near the front entry of the house, assigning that as his Timeout spot.
Monday, while I was at work, Kole fell into a familiar old trap. The kitchen trash can has multiple purposes. I think there's a post on this blog somewhere of him looking at his reflection in the stainless steel. He still does that, and it entertains the whole house when he notices himself. However, he is forbidden from opening the lid. All it leads to is him reaching in and pulling out garbage - so long ago we put an end to that and saved our harshest and hardiest "NO!!!" for when he did that. We have been diligent and consistent.
So, back on Monday, he got into the trash can and Kathy gave him - from a distance, wherever she was - a firm verbal "NO!", which he noticed, stopped, and the episode came to a halt. Maybe 10 seconds later, he was back at it, lifting the lid as he looked straight as his Mommy, as if saying "so ... I'll do this all day. I have time" Kathy had to respond with more "NO"s, then took him to his Timeout spot.
Kathy said it took about a 5-Mississippi count before he looked around and realized his toy-less surroundings, and immediatly burst out into a violent tearless cry. She waited only a minute or two, then got him out.
Lesson learned? Well, he doesn't exactly ignore the trash can, but he hasn't had to be put in Timeout since.

Getting Kole's Giggle Box

What can we say - he's a happy kid who likes to laugh.

Day at the G.P. Petting Zoo

The glass-half-full person says: Grand Prairie has been fairly smart about utilizing its Lynn Creek Park space by Joe Pool Lake - recently putting in a petting zoo for use during the Fall.

The glass-half-empty person says: Grand Prairie found another way to screw people at Lynn Creek Park - a petting zoo.

We'll stop short of endorsing the place, as $12/person was pretty steep for the overall experienc e- at least with an almost-16-month-old. Maybe a 5 year old would get more out of it. Actually we paid nothing for Kole since he was under 2, but Kathy and I were $24 together. He was actually pretty inquisitive and curious of most animals. His favorite was the cows and little calves. They were most docile and allowed him to pet them without much resistance. He still wants to pet the animals the way he pets Maggie, and that's a very rough pat. Yes he's a young toddler, but he basically takes whacks at the animals with his open hand. He liked petting the horse, a big Clydesdale, he chased some turkeys, fed some little lambs and goats and stood next to a big 300 lb. snorting pig. He had a great time running around and looking at everything. But, we were done after about an hour out there when we had seen and done everything, then he started getting hungry. A good experience for him. Mom and dad will wait till they discount their price or add a few more bells and whistles before we head back out.

Birthday Bashes with Grammy, Gram, Uncle Kelly

Kole got to spend some time with his Grammy and Grandpa Gedy on Grammy's birthday last week. We met at a mid-way point from the Wah-Hoo Ranch, at a restaurant in south Ft.Worth. Kole ate, easily, the most food in one sitting he ever has in his life - scarfing down a child's plate portion of broiled fish and mashed potatoes, plus nearly a whole biscuit. He stayed up about an hour past his normal bedtime, so it was a great Friday night out.

The weekend previous, we had a house full here for Gram and Uncle Kelly's birthdays.

PHOTO 1: Grammy, Kole and cousin Reagan out in Fort Worth for Grammy's birthday. PHOTO 2: (L to R) Kole, Gram, Reagan, Kelly, Riley blow out candles at the Fletcher Brat House for Gram & Kelly's birthdays.