Happy Halloween - beware the wild insects

This year we couldn't agree what Robbie should be. I said "Bumblebee" because it's the only year that I get to make him be something cute. By 2007 he'll already be deciding for himself that he wants to be Bob the Builder or a dragon or who knows what. This year he should be cute.
Toby wanted him to be a Pirate because "Bees are gay". I'm sure the bee community would argue that point, but then when you think about bee society - millions of males and only one female...maybe he's on to something.
Since we both knew Robbie wasn't about to wear an eye patch, Toby bought him a 'coon skin cap and now he has two costumes: Davie Crockett and a Bee.

The Rock Star Life

Last weekend Toby and I took some "alone time" and Robbie stayed with "Grummy and Grumpy" while we went to Jackson Hole.

While we were there, the Gap in town had this really adorable outfit on clearance (which at the Gap means it's still about 40% more than you'd pay at Target) that was so cute we couldnt' resist.

So here he is- Robbie, the Future Rock Star.

As is typical of us anytime we get time alone, we spent it shopping for Robbie. He came away like a bandit with a new monkey, a license plate with his name, a submarine, a sweatshirt, two shirts, a pair of jeans and I can't even recall what else.

Robbie the flying wonder baby

Last week we went to Oregon on vacation - partly to visit family and partly to avoid the virtual certainty of a nervous breakdown if I had to spend another week working.

We got to go to the beach one day and Robbie got his first taste of dipping his toes in the ocean, eating Marionberry ice cream and ... sandruff.

In, all I think he had a good time (except perhaps when we were pouring bottled water of his feet and butt in a pathetic attempt to wash away some of the sand)

My son - the model.

Is he an Old Navy model? Or is his mother just spending way too much time working?

The Big Little Man

robbie-orange-shirt
Originally uploaded by Robbiekins.

He almost looks like a little boy in his "big boy" clothes. The shorts Grummy Kathy bought him are a perfect match with his little orange polo shirt.

Say what?

robbie-duh
Originally uploaded by Robbiekins.

Today I had a few moments to try to take some pictures of Robbie so I moved fast and grabbed a sheet out of the dryer, tossed aside his diaper (at my own risk) and plopped him down on my photo table for a few snap shots. Of course, no little session would be complete without at least one hilarious expression.
I call this one "You want me to do what?!"

Soggy or water logged

robbie-drool
Originally uploaded by Robbiekins.

This little boy has been a drool factory for over a month now. It started with the appearance of his first two teeth under the surface of his gums (they look like tiny white dashes) but it just keeps on going and the teeth never break through. He doesn't seem too bothered by it, but he goes through four outfits a day - and that's not counting changes caused by diaper issues.

I defy you to show me a cuter child

robbie-tummy1
Originally uploaded by Robbiekins.

Yeah ok, maybe I'm slightly biased...but even from a non-biased, purely photography professional's perspective...this kid is dang cute! But, because he's my kid he's the cutest baby on earth....past ,present or future.

We like him a bit...we may keep him.

A Very Big Week

This week Robbie turned four months old and, if that weren't enough, he started cutting two new little teeth on his bottom gums. And if that weren't enough, he learned to roll over...but that part was more traumatic than the teeth, I'm afraid.

This morning I put him down in my office on a couple of his baby quilts that I usually lay him on to play for a while when I am working. I ran upstairs to see Toby off to work and heard him crying. I thought it was just the usual "how dare you leave me alone, woman?" crying so I didn't run immediately downstairs. When I did get down there about 30 seconds later I was so surprised to see him face down on my plastic floor mat (the kind that protect the carpet from chair wheels) that I said "Oh My God!"

Unfortunately Toby hadn't quite left yet and he heard me say it. He came flying down the stairs thinking who knows what (that I'd left the baby on a high surface and he'd fallen, maybe). It was funny to me, but it took him a minute to put his stomach back in the right place.

Rolling back to front is no problem...but apparently back to front uses a different skill set.

Sweet Pea Siesta

siesta2
Originally uploaded by Robbiekins.

He loves his vibrating chair....only slightly less than he loves being bare foot...only slightly less than he loves being outside. Put them together and you've got a winning combination.

Ace Ventura, Pet Detective

siesta-kitty
Originally uploaded by Robbiekins.

You know that scene in Ace Ventura...when he comes into his apartment and all the animals flock to him and the music comes to a crescendo...

I feel a little like that when I work outside. I sit on the patio with my laptop and the baby...and the cat stops by...then the dogs sneak onto the patio and soon I'm surrounded by small creatures who seem drawn to me by some magnetic force. Or, maybe its just because they all recognize me as the bringer of chow.

Livin' La Vida Loca

Robbie in Hammock
Originally uploaded by Robbiekins.

Life is tough for me as a baby. So much eating, sleeping, smiling, being carried everywhere. It's enough to wear a guy out. So, at the end of the day I have to spend a few minutes relaxing in mom's mother's day present - the hammock. It's a tough life, but little moments like this make it all worthwile.

This is getting to be ridiculous

I'm sure if he could talk he'd tell me to stop dressing him up like my personal play thing. I'm sure if he had the articulation of an adult he'd have a lot of things to say...like:
1. Milk is good and all...but how about an Oreo now and then to go with it?
2. Bath time is good...we should do that more often. Like every other hour. But why don't you turn the heater on so that when you get me out, the air is a toasty 85 degrees?
3. I don't need socks. I know you think I do, but I don't. If my feet get a little cold, I'll deal with it. If the dogs lick my feet, I'll deal with it. Actually, I like that last part. You should let the dogs in the house sometimes.
4. That hammock you brought home is nice. Just prop a bottle in my mouth and put me out there in the morning. I'll be good to go for at least an hour.
5. I wish these darn arms would do what I want. I could get all kinds of things in my mouth then. I've got my eye on that bluetooth headset.

This little piggy

piggies
Originally uploaded by Robbiekins.

With feet that pink and cherubic, it's almost a crime to make him wear socks.

Where's The Baby?

camoflage
Originally uploaded by Robbiekins.

If ever I cannot find my son, or (heaven forbid) I accidently step on him, it will be because the clever kid blends in with his environment.

I guess really he can't take all the credit...some of it has to go to me, the person who dresses him in these ridiculous outfits that blend in with the surfaces he naps on.

Puppy Dog Leisure Suit

puppydog-suit
Originally uploaded by Robbiekins.

When else in life can you get away with wearing an outfit of matching prints, top and bottom? Perhaps in senility...but in either case some one else is dressing you and having a good laugh at your expense.

Jeepin

jeepin
Originally uploaded by Robbiekins.

Yesterday we went to The Gateway (an outdoor shopping center and condo community) to shoot some Senior pictures of Toby's cousin and a friend of hers. We took Robbie with us and Toby wore him in his little Jeep chest carrier. It was very sunny, so Toby's Aunt Karen bought Robbie a little Tiggr hat at Gymboree. Toby was shooting over Robbie's head and I happened to turn around and take this shot of Robbie peeking out from his papoose.

Bathtime is Funtime

bath2
Originally uploaded by Robbiekins.

He is definitely the child of two people that each shower twice a day, a father that scuba dives and a mother that can read in the tub until she turns into a raisin.
He loves a bath, provided the temperature doesn't dip below comfortably warm and I don't take too long getting him dry.

The Flirt

Flirt
Originally uploaded by Robbiekins.

Need I say more?

You're not my mother!

Ewwww
Originally uploaded by Robbiekins.

As I mentioned before, he doesn't last long with dad before he realizes he's been tricked. Sometimes it's gratifying to be liked but the rest of the time it can be a little exasperating not to get a break.
Apparently it is just as frustrating to dad. The other day he looked at Robbie and said "You know, son...some day you're going to want to go fishing, ride motorcycles and do cool things with me...and I'm going to remember this."
When he's the favorite and I'm cut glass, somehow I doubt that he'll remember the crying.

I think he hates me

Yuck
Originally uploaded by Robbiekins.

The boy is definitely a ladies' man. He loves his mom, his granny, his grummy and his "Aunt" Shannon. He doesn't last long in the arms of a "mere man" however. Here he is with his father. Again this is part of the "feed me" expression, but it quickly turns into "WHERE IS MY MOTHER?!"

Razz

Razz
Originally uploaded by Robbiekins.

My son, the future model. I set him down on my photo table in between shooting candles and this is the face he gives me. It is part of a more complex expression that means "more food please" but caught in a split second it looks like he's saying "Yeah, well this is what I think of that!"

We sometimes call him frog boy. This is because, like most newborns, he tucks his little legs up by his waist, kind of like a frog. This is especially apparent when we take of his clothes before a bath. Maybe it's just the cold air that makes him do it, but when one of us is holding him to our chest on the way to the tub, he looks just like a little frog. This is the outfit that goes with the name. Froggy colored pants a shirt with lots of little frogs on it.

Big Son.
Wee Man.
Robbiekins.
Robbie.
The boy.
Frog Boy.
Sweet Pee.
Sunshine.
Señor Poopie Pants.

He goes by many things, but one thing remains constant: he's changed our lives completely.