Five Month Monster

Thankfully about three weeks ago Baby D decided that he was sick of squawking to be picked up off the floor and decided to start sitting! Since then he has been a much happier little camper and has learned to entertain himself for short stretches of time. 

But not for too long. He still needs to be at the center of everything, especially if Luke is involved. Luke's toys are always better, his activities are always more interesting, and the Babe's attention span is always longer when he has his best brother to play with him. 

More than anything else, his dearest desire is that he be allowed to play with and drink from Luke's water bottle! Anytime he sees it he is fixated and gets very irritated if he finds the lid is closed and the straw is hidden. 

See a theme with these pictures??

Derek still hates the car, still hates to sleep, still hates to be left out, and in general is just showing lots of really strong preferences and opinions already (hooray for me). We've started Baby Led Weaning a little early, since he's already sitting up so well, and so far he has gnawed on some carrots, celery, apple, Asian pear, and green beans. More than anything, he enjoys being able to sit up to the table and be a part of the mealtime fun! 

#kidselfie

Found these gems on my phone.

Profile pictures in the making!

Mad Skills

So remember that kid who went viral on YouTube thanks to his spectacular lightsaber skills? He had nothing on Luke.

The absolutely positively very first day of school ever.

The very first picture and outfit and backpack and sign.

The very first teacher

The very first art

The very first uneaten snack. :)

4 Months

A bit belated, but did you see what we had going on last month? Cut me some slack here.

Baby D is just so adorable. Who could resist that face and those eyes? And if you should happen to glance away for a moment he is there with piercing shrieks and squawks to draw your attention back immediately. 

Baby D does not like to be put down ever; luckily he will happily sit in his baby carrier all day (about the only time he is not squawking), will lay his head down and fall asleep, and then will remain asleep while being swaddled and laid down in his bed. 

Thanks to all of the traveling he is still not sleeping through the night (although about a week into a new place he starts going six or seven hours, usually right before we leave again), and has also developed an intense dislike for his car seat, making car rides everyone's least favorite activity. 

Baby D has also started rolling! Not very consistently and mostly front to back, but occasionally he will surprise us with long rolling marathons and will roll back and forth to reach his favorite toys.

Derek also makes excellent use of his hands to pull everything to his mouth. He also recently discovered his feet and was very angry when he couldn't get them to come off.

He has the sweetest, most charming smile and dimples and still makes the best surprised faces with his big expressive eyes. We wouldn't trade him for anyone!

30 Day Blur

The last month has been a whirlwind of fun and activity! 

Ken's birthday!

The big 3-Oh.

One of the best gifts? Seeing just how much his boys inherited his love of presents.

Albuquerque! Including, but not limited to:

Cousins!

Fun fact: every Young family with children has at least one screamer, and they all sound about the same! And while we were all in the same house, sometimes they would all be shrieking at once! Best vacay ever. 

ABQ Biopark and Bugarium!

Grandma Lucile's Birthday Balloon Ride!

where Kenny stayed right in the middle of the basket and advised me on how to brace my feet were the bottom to give out suddenly. 

Matto and Beka's wedding! 

White Sands National Park!

Seattle! Where we:

went to the Air and Space Museum...

went to Baby D's first baseball game (and Luke's first Mariners game)...

and ate our way through Seattle's Chinatown.

And last but not least, our big move!

Tired yet?