Touch-a-Truck

Every little boy's dream. 

The boys got to honk the horn in this one--Luke made the most of it and held that sucker down. For a long time. 

They also made sure they touched everything they could in the cockpit. (the nice cop commented on how much the boys were exploring) Luke found the altitude adjuster and was cranking it up as high as it would go. 

And they topped it off with a brisk run through the splash pad. Best spring break day ever. 

Derek at 22 Months

Derek's little voice can be heard all day long now! He finally has a recognizable word for his older brother (pronounced "Yukee") and loves pointing things out to him ("Lukey! Airplane!") and scolding him ("No Lukey!") and inviting him to play with him ("Lukey jump couch?"). He refers to himself as "Baby" and has also called himself "D" on occasion. 

Derek's also just kind of a tank. He is a solid little bundle of opinions and expressions and confidence that has no problem plowing other kids over at the park. He leaves a trail of destruction in his wake the likes of which we have never seen before, since Luke has always been surprisingly careful. Suddenly books are being ripped and toys are being broken and walls are being pounded on and there's Baby D, clearly determined to carry it out. He is, however, very honest about his destructive efforts, and will tell Kenny "Baby rip it" or "Baby break it" when he gets home. 

He's also very empathetic, however, and will come up to Luke when he's crying and make sympathetic noises and give him hugs and little kisses on his face. He gives the best little loves and the most painful face pinches and makes the funniest expressions.

And has the best little body. 

Parasites...

...the only thing I could think about while this was going on.

Especially since he may or may not have had a little drink while he was playing. 

Puddle Jumper

On our walk Baby D managed to find his own half-a-square-foot puddle to stand in. 

Happy as a frog. 

56 Months

Luke decided he wanted a photo too...

Just for fun, I am now 365 months old and Kenny is 377 months old.

That's a lot of months!

21 Months

Baby D is not really a baby anymore (sad face). He now jokes around and tickles Luke until he can't fight back anymore, will come up and blow raspberries on your belly if you're not careful, and loves to run away and hide in a fetal position while yelling "no dada!", then wiggle his bum in the air to let you know he actually wants you to keep tickling. 

He also knows just how to get under Luke's skin and has him near tears several times a day; nothing gets Luke going more than a well-placed "I won!" or "mine!" and Derek knows it. He also knows when he's not supposed to have something (we'll find him huddled in the corner, shielding it with his body) and when he's not supposed to do something (since he will grin, shake his head, and chant "no, no, no!"). He is fiercely proud when he learns a new word and can get a little shy when asked to perform on cue. He can also get so excited that his body can't quite handle all of the emotion, and it comes out in little noises or belly rubs or rapid squats up and down. 

What's really going to serve him well in life, though, is being able to flash his baby blues up through his long lashes. And he knows it.

Superbowl Babies

Our Superbowl was so much more entertaining because we had our very own in-person, energetic, super-enthusiastic, loud-talking color commentator! 

(not a fan of commercials or the halftime show though; he kept asking "why is this on? when is the game coming back on?")

He certainly didn't get the sit-still-for-four-hours-while-watching-sports genes from me. 

Jury's still out on whether or not Derek inherited them!