"Uh-Up"

Say it quickly and you will realize it is a 15 month-old's version of, "Shut-up!"

At first one might think it is because he has seven older siblings to teach him such things. NO! The siblings are not at fault this time. "Uh-up," is all Daddy's doing. Yes, Daddy happens to find this quite humorous (much to Mommy's dismay). Here is how it all began:

Daddy pulls in the driveway and walks in the house.
Bounce (Mommy's 3lb peek-a-poo) barks - a lot.
Daddy yells, "Shut UP!"
Mommy, "You know if you would be nice to her she would not bark at you."
Daddy, "Stupid dog."
Mommy, "Actually she is not stupid at all, she knows you hate her and you are the only one from this house she barks at like that."

One day Bounce walked by and Johnson said, "Uh-up." I think it took a couple times for me to put two and two together and realize what he was saying.

Since Jeff hates the dog anyway, he thinks Johnson is being a good boy telling her to "Uh-up." I, on the other hand, am left to discipline him cause he says it all the time (and sometimes in the worst of places - like in the middle of a class of 8 graders who laugh hysterically and feed his obsession)!

One day I was so tired of him saying it over and over and over, and me telling him to stop or "no" over and over and over while flicking his little mouth. I called Daddy, held the phone up to Johnson and let Jeff get an earful of what I have to deal with and what Johnson is going through, all thanks to him.

I suppose in another world or another family this would be funny. But I have always prided myself on my children being respectful and well mannered. This is NOT a good example of the behavior I desire.