The Blog Post of All Blog Posts

Well... a lot has gone on for the Young family over the past few days and here are the highlights. Of the course the biggest and most important highlight is Arianna, our little bundle of joy, born at 12:34 am Friday, Feb 12. She weighed in at a mighty 6 lbs 14 oz. (the same as Connor) and is 18.5 inches tall/long (choose however you'd like to think about it).
We are happy to report that both mom and Arianna are doing great! Jacque attributes it to all of the fried chicken and french fries she ate during pregnancy. Apparently fried food is good for you after all. Who knew?!

Here's some glamour shots of Arianna or "Squeaker" as she has been affectionately dubbed. The hat is compliments of grandma and certainly made her the talk of the nursery.

Apparently TV reception is pretty good inside the womb, and Arianna is a big fan of Clint Eastwood reruns. This is her "Do you feel lucky, punk? Go ahead, make my day!" face which occured as she say daddy trying to reach for the last Swiss Cake Roll

We've also noticed some very subtle cues in her body language. We think in this one she may be sending a message to the pesky photographer who kept flashing that shiny light in her face.

"No really stop, I've had enough. Don't make me call my lawyer!"

In other news, some of you may be aware that we recently fled Iowa in hopes of warmer weather. We thought South Carolina was a pretty safe bet, but perhaps we need to re-think our plan. Here is 6.5 inches of snow that came last night. Seriously, South Carolina, who'd have guessed???

The Little Man wasn't too happy to see his former arch nemesis return either. Especially not when he's got enough on his plate now that his competition has arrived.

But despite any friction there may be, we're still one normal happy family of four.

OK, so maybe normal was too strong a word, but you get the point.

In still more news, and in order to minimize his turf lost with the new arrival, Little Man and Little Man Productions (his PR company) have launched a new cuteness campaign. Billboards are going up all over the city to make sure that he will never be forgotten, or replaced.

And you've got to hand to to the Little Guy, he is pretty darn cute when he wants to be.

Along with his new PR campaign Little Man has decided to broaden his appeal to a different crowd. If mommy and daddy are occupied then there's always another way to get attention!

In our closing story, Aaron had a great idea to open Valentine's Day gifts early as part of the celebration of everything going on. Jacque's gift was a new sharp bread knife (she had been complaining about not having a good sharp knife to cut her homemade bread with). After searching long and hard, I found a quality knife that claimed to be extremely sharp.

But of course, there's only way way to truly experience how sharp a knife is and let's just say that less than six hours after leaving the hospital a certain someone was heading back to the hospital.

2 interior stitches on an extensor ligament and 7 exterior stitches and one tetanus shot later this became the most expensive Valentine's Day gift that anyone has ever given Jacque. How romantic!!

Tahnk you for being a part of these past few days with us. Stay tuned for more entertainment which is surely to come!

The Beast

After four years of undergrad school and 3+ years of Chiropractic school, I think my brain has finally had enough. So I decided to treat myself to a graduation present after all these years of (semi) hard work. My goal was to find something that would give my mind a break. So I went into a local powersports dealer and asked to see the biggest and burliest bike they had in stock. I told them that money was no object and I wanted to see the baddest thing to ever roll across this planet on two wheels. Over what seemed like hours we looked at bike after bike until we finally found the perfect one. When I first laid eyes on it, I knew in an instant that this was my bike, my Eleanor.
Say hello to 49 cubic centimeters of pure unadulterated fun. And after 172 monthly payments she's all mine!!

Even Jacque decided to get into the action in the hopes of inducing labor.

No such luck just yet, but it's sure to happen soon.

Connor on the other hand isn't too sure what to think about Dada's new aquisition.

*%#!! Lousy Chargers

What a rotten day, Little Man was so upset by the San Diego Chargers loss to the Jets that he had to find a way to vent all his anger and frustration... unfortunately his nose wasn't up to the task. "Stupid Chargers, how could you lose on your home field after winning 11 games in a row... to a rookie quarterback- no less!!"
The scene of the crime- notice the lone blood spot on the carpet. It is akin to how the Chargers should feel for crushing the spirit of an almost 2 year old boy... alone and ashamed.

Fortunately momma has a remedy for everything, including bloody noses and bruised egos. A little chocolate cookie with peanut butter chips goes a long way for mending a broken heart. Sorry Chargers, you don't get any!!

Gettin Jiggy Wit' It

They say the measure of a man is how he spends his time when he is all by himself and no one is looking. We decided to test this theory out to see what we can learn about Little Man. Here is what we noticed. When mom is around...


When mom is not around...

Respect The Belly

Alarmingly, there appears to be a number of persons with big belly fetishes who have demanded up to date photos of Jacque. While I neither support or affiliate with groups of this nature- you have gotten your wish.

You will also notice that Little Man, who is fearful of losing his numero uno status, seized the opportunity to make his presence known. He is not going to lose any of his turf without a fight!

Choo Choo Rules

Law enforcement is no simple task, that's for sure. But it's a necessary part of society, so somebody has got to do it. Inevitably, some people are just bad apples and the best you can hope is to have the long arm of the law constantly looking over the bad guy's shoulder to keep him in line. It's the sad truth about people, some of them just don't pay any respect to the rules. And when the bad guys get caught doing bad guy stuff you've got to make an example out of them to keep the streets safe for everyone else. "Excuse me sir... do you have a permit for that? If you can't prove you have an official Choo-Choo license I'm afraid I'm gonna have to take you down to the station for a little questioning."

Great idea, can I drive with my eyes closed?!

But then again, it's no fun being squeaky clean either!

End of the Year Awards

Well, it's official the 2009 year has ended and 2010 is upon us already. Ought nine was a good year for our family as a lot of changes took place, and Ten looks like it's ready to bring more. As is tradition, we took a look back at the previous year to recall some of the challenges faced, obstacles overcome and fond memories created. While doing so it only seemed appropriate to hand out some end of the year awards where they are much deserved.

For the second time in three years Jacque took home the Big Belly Award. For most of the year it was a close call, but in the end she really left the competition in the dust. I did my best to try and keep up- but my best efforts came up short. I can only hope for next year...

Connor took home his first Little Man of the Year (this being the first time he was eligible for the entire year). The picture above was taken at a United Nations meeting in Norway where he gave a lecture on the declining status of the Apple Fritter in North America. It was a real tear jerker and by the end even the Russians were a little choked up. After his speech, he was asked by reporters if he had any plans to run for office in the near future which he neither confirmed nor denied.

It appears the real answer is the affirmative as he has already begun practicing on his "Million Dollar Smile".

Overall, The Nine was such a good year for the Young family we have decided to expand our borders and take on one more in The Ten. No officially date has been released for this new addition but we promise to keep everyone in the loop as the time arrives.

GO TEN!!!!

Reruns

They say there's no more new ideas left in the world anymore, that everything is just a re-creation or mixing of ideas that have previously existed. According to "they", all the possibilities of the human mind have been exhausted and we're stuck with leftovers over and over again, but we don't really mind because we weren't there to see the ideas the first time around. I'm not sure if I believe what "they" say but "they" seems to be pretty smart, like some mysterious super computer full of all the answers in life. But I have to admit that "they" have a point because half the hit movies lately (Superman, Batman, X-Men, etc...) have all been reruns on existing ideas.
However, having said that, "they" also say that the polar ice caps are melting and the only way to stop them from drowning half the world's population is by living more Earth friendly. While we're not going to rush out and buy a Prius, we still feel inclined to do our part to make this world a better place. So we have chosen to save the world through recycling by re-posting last year's Christmas Blog. Hey, if it was good the first time then it should still be good now, right?
Apparently "they" are right again. There are no more new ideas. At least not for us right now.



Twas the night before Christmas and all thru the pad,
not a creature was stirring, especially not dad.
The stockings were hung by size on the wall,
with mommy's the biggest and Little Man's quite small.

Connor was sleeping all snug in his crib,
with leftovers from dinner still stuck in his bib.
And mom in her jamies, and dad in his bedroom shoes,
Had just settled down for a long winter's snooze.

When out on the roof there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window and thru the last door,
I stubbed my poor toe from Connor's toys on the floor.

The moon shone brightly on the new fallen snow,
while the warm Carolina wind continued to blow.
I threw open the window (more utilities to pay),
and saw eight reindeer and a shiny red sleigh.

With a fat, jolly man so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
Faster than a speeding bullet his reindeer they came,
built like 8 Clydesdales, only with antlers and no mane.

"Now Flirty, now Birdy, now Dirty and Nerdy,
On Sturdy, on Turdy, on Wordy and Vinny Testaverde
To the top of the Wal-Mart and onto the mall,
Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!"

Then all of the sudden I heard on the roof,
the banging and clanging of each massive hoof.
I wrinkled my brow, my eyesight got hazy,
and I started to think that I might be crazy.

Down the chimney he came in one large plop,
and knocked o'er his cookies and even the mop.
He was dressed in red velvet from his head to his foot,
Armani, Versace, and not an ounce of soot.

A bag full of toys hung on his back,
and he nibbled his cookies for a good night's snack.
A snowy white beard touched his ample round gut,
he looked like an O-lineman with a huge jolly butt.

"Don't tell Mrs. Claus about these cookies," he mumbled,
"If she catches me again I'm sure to get pummeled.
My cholesterol's 340, my blood pressure 205,
but hey, I'm over 500 and I'm still alive!

She makes me eat carrots, celery and string beans,
Boy, for an old lady she sure can be mean.
But alas, the dawn breaks, my time is soon gone,
besides my reindeer have eaten your lawn.

Remember this evening as a Christmas delight,
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!"
Soon the season will pass, so enjoy all the sights
of presents and family and Christmas tree lights.
Sit back, take a moment and sip on some nog,
While you finish reading this rerun holiday blog!

The Left Side

Being back out West, Little Man decided it was time to re-connect with his inner Californian. Of course, the only way that can happen is at the beach- so we headed there right away. It was a spectacular reunion for all to watch... "Oh delicious salty water with never-ending waves of awesome force and destruction- How I have missed you."
For Connor, coming to the left beach is not a laughing matter; not even Grammie can disturb his unrelenting focus.

In all the blinding sunshine, Mom and Dad almost forgot that it's December already and Christmas is right around the corner. Dad had the great idea to take a pic with another left coast phenomenon- the beach sunset. However, the whole don't take a pic when facing the sun thing kinda lessened the effect so we had to change directions.

Not bad, and definately the way Christmas was intended to be... NO FREEZING and NO SNOW!!

Once we got rid of all the people the sun decided to cooperate with the camera again and looked a little something like this.
Not a bad sight in your rear view mirror. Thanks for the memories Cali.

5 & 1/2 Years

For the Big Turkey Day (aka- Pre Black Friday Push 'n' Shove) we decided to take a trip back to my old stompin' grounds. One of the first stops we made was to a special little place where some important stuff happened a little over 5 years ago. It was beautiful sunny day, and brought back some good ol' memories from times past.

Just for fun... here's a quick stroll down memory lane when we were still young and beautiful.

Five plus years and still runnin strong... Now that's something to be thankful for!!

The Little Man Experience

"I want to start off by thanking all of my loyal fans... I recognize that due to business reasons I have been a little scarce lately, and for that I want to apologize. In all the hustle and bustle of life I have been neglecting my Twitter accounts, Facebook pages, Late Show appearances and I haven't even crashed any cars, made racially insensitive remarks, or checked into any rehab facilities to keep my name in the news. But all that's going to change because I realized today that it's time to get back to basics. Where would I be without my adoring public and paparazzi following my every move so the tabloids can keep my dearest and most loyal fans connected to even the most dull activities of my daily routine. Therefore, I have decided to take all of you with me on a very run of the mill and ordinary day. Welcome to my life... First thing in the morning I like to hike to the top of a nearby hill and scout out my objectives for the day. I never do the same thing twice-- I thrive on the challenge of living each day to the fullest!

I know my high rollin' ways and my haute couture fashion may give people the wrong idea about me... but trust me, I'm not afraid to get down and dirty if the situation requires it.

This was my first conquest of the day. It may not look like much, but you should see what's left of the barrel I rode in over the falls. You'd think wood would last better than that.

After the excitement of the falls, I decided to take a leisurely 112 mile ride down the river in a raft I constructed entirely out of pine needles and dead beatles. The first 90 miles were a cinch, but the bears kept trying to steal the fishes I caught with my bare hands. A few well placed strikes to the sniffer and they quickly realized who's in charge.

Next, I was able to travel back in time, before color was invented or even thought of, to hang out with some of the old-timers. It was a lot simpler life back then, that's for sure.

All that time travelin' took a lot out of me coming back through the space-time continuum so I decided to hop in my very own indoor swimming pool. But the hotel staff tried to make life difficult for me...

What do you mean this pool is only for big people??!! Don't you know who I am?!

Yep, that's right. The Little People always win. I celebrated my victory over the staff with a little show I like to call 'Buff Connor in the Buff'. The 2010 calendar will be ready soon.

Lastly, I decided to finish my day off the right way, with a little bit of catchin up on the sports scene and kickin back some of the finest imported Root Beer that money can buy. I know this kind of life isn't for everybody, but's it my kind of life.

Thanks for tuning in today. Stay tuned for next week as I explore the innermost workings of the human mind while scuba diving in a volcano full of hot lava."

Recovery Time

After a week of moving, two weeks working and searching, and another week of studying and testing we decided it was time to take a break and head for the mountains. Of course, having been in Iowa for the past 3 years we had to take some time and fill in a few gaps for Little Man. We tried to explain the concept of a mountain, but it just didn't sink in. So we gave him a list of books to read by John Muir, and after finishing all 12, he was finally ready to experience- THE MOUNTAINS!! Needless to say, Little Man was quite over-joyed at finally encountering giant rocks sticking thousands of feet in the air. He realized his 21 months in Iowa left him unprepared to fully enjoy such a majestic and fantastic work of Mother Nature. At his request, we began a beginners mountaineering course with no time to waste.
After a few trips to the ER, a slight concussion, and three dead squirrels... Connor was attacking the mountain like a man on a mission!
Of course, climbing a mountain is only a small part of the experience. Little Man made sure not to miss out on anything by personally inspecting every tree, twig, leaf, bench, railing, passerby and trash can.

With his training coming along so smoothly, as parents we felt it was time to turn Connor loose and let him try a few obstacles on his own. The first obstacle was called "Mile High Bridge In 40 MPH wind".
OK, so we fibbed a little, the wind was only blowing 35 MPH, but Little Man handled it with ease.
At the top of the mountain, Connor insisted that I let him on my shoulders so he could be higher than anyone else there.
After reaching the summit, Little Man decided to take some time to reflect on his accomplishments and perform an introspective analysis of his life. After several hours without moving a single muscle and with complete immersion in his thoughts he finally declared the day a success.

Not bad for a days work.