Simon’s current wordlist

• Mama (usually pronounced “Mamamama”)
• Dada
• Uh-oh (usually accompanied by a mischievous grin)
• Ba’pa’ (what Dora the Explorer carries around)
• A-boom! (his current favorite)
• Book (sounds like “buk”)

And then there are the non-repeaters, the phrases that make me wonder. He wanted me to hand him a book to look at, and when I did he said something that sounded a great deal like “Tenk oo.” I can’t imagine he really did, but…wouldn’t that be amazing?

And he understands everything. We were playing in the living room one day and I said, “Oh, you must be hungry.” Damned if he didn’t take off for the kitchen like a shot. And tonight I told him to go over to Daddy to get dressed for bed…and Simon immediately went to report for pajama duty.

The most amazing incident was when we were at the Barnes and Noble that has a train table, and Simon started running around with a train in each hand. Then he dropped one on the floor and left it there. Without looking at the train and without pointing to it, I said, “Simon, pick up the train and put it back on the table where it belongs.”

Which he proceeded to do immediately.

Wow.

Must. Watch. What. I. Say.

Of course, I already know I have to watch what I say (and I know I’m not watching half as hard as I need to be). One day in the backyard Sophia said, “I have to go to work!” So she narrated what she was doing as she did it: “I put on my badge…and I get into my car…and I say, ‘Dommit.'”

Uh, oops.

I would think that imitating me would cause the first thing out of her mouth to be “Mor-on”…but I may simply not be aware of how often I say other things.