Baby D's First Tub

Loved every minute of it. 

Didn't even cry when Luke threw a cup of water right in his face. 

Baggies of Dirt

Since we don't have a yard (yet, hopefully) Luke likes to go out and trash our balcony by digging around in our pots of dirt that I decided not to fill with living things this year since I was having a baby. Today after he had been playing for a while I heard him yelling for me and came to the door to find this:

and the demand, "Put this in my room." 

To play with later, I assume. 

(And yes, that is a ponytail; he kept wiping dirt into his eyes trying to move his hair)

Illegal Mudbug Fighting Ring

This past weekend we took part in our very first crawdad boil! 

Crayfish (pronounced crawfish), potatoes, corn, garlic, sausage, and onions go into a big boiling pot of water with cajun spices and then are dumped onto a table, where you spend a lot more time peeling the darn things than you do eating them. But it's well worth the effort.

And while Luke ate a few and seemed to like them okay, what he really liked was
a) the watermelon

 

and b) the little buggers themselves.

Fearless as usual, Luke had no trouble picking them up and walking around with them, even though I saw him get pinched a few times. He was the chef's biggest helper--when a bunch escaped from the giant bag and were making their way through the grass to the mud, Luke picked up almost every single one and threw them back in the bag. But not before he decided to make a few of them fight by slamming them together.

And where was Baby D through all of this?

Passed out under some tables, taking a siesta. 

The Pook Turns Three

I know it's been said before, but...

I just can't believe my baby is three-years-old. 

Luke is, above all, a boy. He loves rocks, sticks, dirt, balls, being outside, rough-housing, making noise, climbing, shooting, running, hitting, sports, throwing, and fixing things with his tools. He is a whizz with our electronics, as anyone who has been called and/or text messaged at 6:30 in the morning can attest, and has filled up more than one phone with blurry, occasionally inappropriate pictures. He hates to sleep and miss out on the party, and isn't too fond of eating or using the restroom, either, as they slow him down. 

Lately Luke is extremely interested in writing and words and likes to dictate long lists for us to write. We have started doing some beginning readers with him and he is able to recognize and read around fifteen words--he can also spell a few, his favorite being Luke and Derek. 

Luke really likes people; he is unafraid of talking to or playing with others, including adults, but always does whatever he wants to do at the park, even if it means he's doing it alone. He really enjoys wrestling and will unfortunately tackle anybody if he thinks they are having a good time, size and gender notwithstanding. He's incredibly tough--he's said things like "this really hurts" with a smile on his face--and has no fear of bugs or animals of any kind. 

Above all, Luke loves his family and is very possessive of his little brother. He wants everyone to put him to bed and eat together and watch shows together and play together and be happy. 

Just like he is.

One Month Young!

Baby D has been busy! Already he has met most of his relatives (though no Youngs, sadly), been on two airplanes, attended a wedding, gained almost two whole pounds, received lots of kisses, and been held by upwards of fifty people. 

He is still a very easy baby, though he gets a little grouchy and gassy in the evenings (don't we all), and enjoys sleeping while being held most of all. He is very alert and doesn't sleep a whole lot during the day, but makes up for it with some nice (relatively) long stretches at night. Derek puts up with lots of zealous brotherly love and with being left lying around when Luke emergencies arise. 

One thing is for sure:

 the Youngs are good looking boys. :)

Wedding Bliss!

Congratulations to Dallin and his beautiful bride, Camille, married on May 14th for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake temple!

Camille and Dallin, here is what you have to look forward to when Coco gets married and you get to experience it as parents. 

Derek was a breeze--Ken and I hardly saw him during the festivities, as he was passed around so much from relative to relative unless he wanted to eat. Every once in a while one of us would turn to the other and ask, "where's the baby?", scanning the crowd until we found him asleep in somebody's arms. 

(Case in point: cousin Shayla and Baby Derek at the temple)

Luke, on the other hand, made quite the impression at all wedding events. Here they are in order. (and since we were too preoccupied with the following events, we have very few pictures of them occurring. Instead, here are some of the relatives Baby Derek met!)

#1: Meeting Camille's family (who are awesome)

Camille has a very cute little niece who is about four months old, and Luke was very curious about her and her gender, asking over and over if she was a boy and if she was a baby like baby Derek. Finally, after being told again that she was, in fact, a girl, he paused and then said, "Let me see the vagina." As evidence, of course. 

#2: The Reception

Ten minutes into the reception Uncle Coco, who was on Luke duty, reported to Baba that Luke had, unfortunately, "crapped his pants." He consequently got to walk around in a suit coat, vest, tie, and jean shorts for the rest of the evening. 

Also, when Coco joined the jazz trio, playing a few songs on his trumpet, Luke decided this was unacceptable and threw a huge fit, hitting Colton as he was trying to play and yelling "I don't want you to play!" until he was forcibly removed by my cousin Ashlee. (Kenny had not yet arrived in Utah and I was nursing Derek in the bathroom--as if our presence could have prevented this)

#3: Waiting in the temple

This was not Luke's fault. But still funny. After waiting pseudo-patiently for the sealing to be over, I took him to the restroom and hurried back out for the photos. Upon exiting, however, a total stranger looked at me and Luke and then said, "Uh, his pants are still down." Yes, I had forgotten to pull them back up (underwear, too), and yes, Luke has officially been streaking in the temple.

#4: The Luncheon

Luke, at the tender age of almost three, gave his first wedding toast, being jealous of everyone else who got to use the microphone. It started out with "Hi. Dallin and Camille I love you." and then lasted for another three minutes in total gibberish. Best toast ever.

And finally, to round out the day, when he was most definitely way past the point of being exhausted, he pushed a poor unsuspecting smaller boy over, who started wailing and whose father rushed over. While Ken and I were trying to get him to apologize, the boy's dad said, "It's okay, he's fine," after which Luke refused, instead pointing to the dad and yelling, "But he said he's fine!" 

Oh, to be the parent of a toddler. At a wedding. 

Outnumbered

Sadly, the little girl clothes have all been returned.

Meet Baby Derek (occasionally Baby D)

Born: April 22, 2016

Weight: 10 lbs.

Length: 20 1/2 inches

So far Derek is much more mellow than his older brother. He is much more content, much more alert, and is indifferent to most poking and prodding, including having his diaper changed or doctor visits. He loves taking showers, nursing, and lights, and greatly dislikes burping and passing gas. Most of his noises are very manly--Ken says his toots sound like they came from a soundboard--but he also makes little high-pitched squeaks that I find adorable. He is beloved by his older brother, whose enthusiasm and adoration has to be closely monitored, and prefers sleeping on his dad's chest to any other location. (he also likes to slime/pee on/poop all over his dad over any other person)

And although the general state of affairs in this Young household can best be depicted by this:

we can't imagine life without him.