a year and a half

it's hard to believe Simon is already 18 months. He has claimed his steak in our family and there's no getting rid of him now. He's not quite 30 pounds, but will probably get there next week. He eats more than any of his older brothers, and then some. He doesn't like riding the Carousel during story time, and would rather cheer his brothers on while making faces behind the glass.
He is a great climber and knows how to get on top of any chair, desk, table.. but his favorite place to stand is on the island in the kitchen because it always has something to eat (or break). He loves to jump on the trampoline & can hold his own while jumping with all the neighborhood kids. He's a great dancer and will bust-a-move as soon as the music starts. His favorite dance move is the Simon-spin. He will spin and spin and spin and spin until he crashes into the walls. It's become one of our favorite family past-times. "let's get Simon dizzy!"
His favorite song to sing in the car is KT Tunstall's "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" but sings WEE-hoo instead of woo-hoo in the chorus. He also screams NO-NO-NO-NO while shaking both pointer fingers at everyone in the car. He's not a big fan of riding in his car seat and has mastered the tantrum. He throws the cutest of fits.
He has a really sweet relationship with the dog, but Sunny is by far the sweeter of the two. She will let Simon pull her hair, hit her, lay on top of her, and ride her like a pony. The only way she gets back at him is by stealing food out of his hands. He has been known to take it back (out of her mouth) and it finish eating it with a dog-slobber coating. He calls her "Hunny" and makes the funniest dog bark. He sticks both lips out and howls. It can get all of us laughing instantaneously, but it's never funny when he "barks" during Sacrament meeting.
If I ever want him to leave me alone (while I am cleaning or folding clothes or whatever) I will tell him to "RUN FAST". He will usually take off in the opposite direction as fast as his little legs will go. If I am lucky, he will get distracted by something else before he comes back and I tell him to "RUN FAST" again.
He pulls a Michael Jackson move when he's poopy, but usually grabs his crotch with two hands instead of one. He's not a big fan of getting his diaper changed and runs away when I try to pin him down. I can ALWAYS get him to come to me if I tell him to "cut the pickle". He falls for it every time-- and will now put his two little pointer fingers together and randomly tell other to "tut the gickle". It is just too cute.
He's talking up a storm and we can usually understand everything he's saying. If we can't understand him, he will grab you by the shirt and take you to what he wants. He still calls Ben "Bob" or "Bobby" and can now clearly say his other brothers names too "Yuke" and "Gack". He is a great little helper when it chore time. Aaron calls him our little janitor because he can most often be found with a mop or broom and LOVES to throw anything away in the trash.
He's growing up way too fast. His eyelashes are always pointed out in public and he's got about 20 little freckles on his darling face. He has been such a fun addition in our home. We wouldn't be the same without our beautifully handsome little boy.