Two unrelated questions for the hivemind:

1. DH bought our plane tickets for the flight to Alabama on Sunday using our Chase credit card. The card expired last month, and I got my new card, but his was either lost in the mail or confused with junk mail and tossed. We didn't catch the problem till Sunday, and since then I've been trying to get a replacment card, since it's an e-ticket, and we need the card used to purchase the tickets to get our boarding passes.

Originally Chase was supposed to FedEx the new card Monday to arrive yesterday. I called yesterday evening, and due to some kind of system glitch it didn't get sent out on Monday. Now it's supposed to arrive today. So for the second day in the row, I'm basically a prisoner in my house. If it's not here today, I'm screwed, because tomorrow I *have* to spend a big chunk of the day out of the house--I have PT, I'm delivering a meal to a couple from our church who had a baby, I have to return some library books before we leave, etc.

The Chase guy from yesterday thought that the airline would accept my Chase card just as well as DH's. Is that true? Can I stop pulling my hair out?

2. Is Annabel too young for short time-outs? I've been putting her in the playpen or exersaucer for 5-10 minutes when she gets into things she's been repeatedly told to avoid because I'm at a loss for anything else to do about it. (And yes, I do try distraction. Doesn't always work.)

I certainly hope you told them that you'd get back to them in a few days... make 'em wait a bit before your big, dramatic, karmic "NO!"

OMG, that would have been so awesome! No, I couldn't say "NO" fast enough.

Note to self: retain Sparky as Resident Evil Genius. (gotta have that evil brain on my side)

That's not a time out. That's putting her in her exersaucer. If putting Em in her walker counts as a time out when I need her doing something while I do something, she's been in time out for like months.

Well, I feel like Annabel needs her roam time now that she's so big. If I left her in the exersaucer all the time, she wouldn't be learning to run and climb. But sometimes it's all I can think of to do when I'm having to pull her away from the bookshelves every 30 seconds.

since it's an e-ticket, and we need the card used to purchase the tickets to get our boarding passes.

I always use e-tickets and they just request any credit card--not necessarily the one I purchased the ticket with. It calls up the itinerary, not the billing.

If you put her in the playpen or exersaucer for a time out, will she associate those with punishment? I don't think it's considered a "time-out" if you simply remove her from whatever's tempting her. I associate "time-out" with a quiet, empty spot with no toys so they can be punished--which at this point, I think, is beyond Owen. He wouldn't know a time-out simply because he can't really focus on what he's done wrong.

But he does understand "no" and usually cries when I tell him no. I'm just lucky at this point because he actually listens. For now.

I'm practicing not laughing at him because it's hilarious when I tell him no, he looks up, bewildered. Then screws up his face and cries. Then he wanders off to find something else to get into.

You could tie her to something.

Just kidding.

She's fine in the exersaucer. When you are done with what you're doing, take her outside and let her run all over like a wild child. Then, she'll nap. And you'll get even more done.

That's why things like the exersaucer were invented, Susan. 5-10 minutes sounds fine.

IMyBabyNews, Em has learned to pull herself up onto her knees and feet in her crib in the morning. She stands there and yells at me to wake up and she looks like she's in some cherry stained jailcell. Cutest Thing Ever.

Is Annabel too young for short time-outs?

I don't think she'd get it yet. Putting her in the exersaucer when she won't respect a "No, you cannot pick through the garbage can!" (Sara's big thing) is perfectly appropriate -- she still gets the message that what she doing before is not okay, and she's being removed from the situation.

I was told once (by a ticket agent) that you can even use your Driver's License to get your e-tickets if it has a magnetic strip. Can you call the airline and ask?