Lunch with Orange Dude

This is Orange Dude (you know, from Dr. Suess’s The Foot Book). He was a gift to Simon for his birthday, and he has become a frequent companion. Most days Simon insists that Orange Dude sit in Daddy’s chair and eat lunch with us.

There are so many, many things that I know I should write down before I forget them, so here are a few more:

Almost always when anyone comes to visit, instead of a hug or even a simple hello, Simon wants to show you something. Just as you are reaching down to greet him, he will turn around and search for a toy or a book to show you. He will also do this if you greet him in his carseat (though his options are obviously limited to what few things might be in his reach) and even occasionally on the phone (like most kids, he doesn’t quite get that you can’t see through the phone). For awhile he wanted to show everyone “Baby!” but the novelty has worn off a bit, so he’s back to his airplanes and trucks.

Simon is getting better at talking on the phone, but I’m extremely thankful that my mom taught him to push the red (End) button, which is usually in the same place on any phone. This has cut down considerably on baby dialing.

His favorite phrase is, of course, “I Do!” which usually means either “I will help you/I will go with you” or “I will do it myself” (emphasis on “myself”). There is really no limit to his “helpfulness,” which sometimes really is helpful (fetching diapers), sometimes is neutral (going downstairs with me to “help” with laundry), and other times is not helpful at all (he can’t keep his hands off of the computer or cameras). Sometimes his helpfulness is just overkill (I can use the bathroom by myself—let’s just leave it at that).

As part of his insistence on “I Doooo!” he is starting to want to dress (and undress) himself. He can almost (but not quite, much to his frustration) get his coat on. The other day he was so adamant that I NOT help him with his hat that I had to lead him to the car “blindfolded” since he wouldn’t let me help him fold it back up above his eyes.
If Simon doesn’t know the answer to a question, he will think for a minute then say, “Ummm, Baby!” (Both “What does a giraffe say?” and “Did you toot?” have been answered this way, for example.)

He had a meltdown this morning because his bagel could not be put back together after he ripped it in half. The tantrum he threw would have been frustrating if it hadn’t been so typically two-year-old.