time outs - what did we do wrong?

OK, I thought we were on the right track Wednesday putting Spencer in time out for unacceptable behavior. He cried almost the whole time, and thoroughly understood why he was there. But apparently, we screwed something up. Last night at dinner Spencer asked for it! "Want to go to time out? Want to go and sit on the floor?" Hmm. Why is he ASKING to go to time out?? We told him he was a good boy and didn't need to go to time out. This morning he asked AGAIN if he could go to time out!! I just don't understand!