The Youngest Younger

Fall pictures

2011-12-16T04:19:00.000-08:00

Hey y'all!
So...like many New Years resolutions, the updating of the Youngest Younger Blog resolution lasted only until the end of January of 2011. SO...seeing as Christmas is a primo picture taking time, we thought we'd post a few highlights from the year to whet your appetite for the Christmas pictures that are soon to some. Here are a few of my favorite moments from Fall 2011:

Fall is my favorite season, and here are two pics from the pumpkin patch:

And of course, I turned THREE in October!
I had two parties - one in Baltimore with all my cousins...

And another party in daycare with two of my ladies...

One of my favorite pictures of me with my friend, Baby Rory.

Check back soon for Christmas Photos!!

Peace,
Rory

Holiday Festivities

2011-01-29T19:38:00.001-08:00

Hey y'all,

This year we spent the holiday in Oklahoma City at Grannie and Grandpa's house. AND my Grandma came from Baltimore too. It was a good time. All my ladies enjoyed my company, as I did theirs. Here is a picture I took of Mom, Grandma, Granne, Auntie Bebe and Aunt Joss.

And I gave Grannie some piano lessons in exchange for a story or two.

Everyone kept asking me about some dude called Santa, but I've never met that guy so I wasn't really expecting to see him. The Mom thinks I'll be waiting for him next year. And I'm sure to recognize him since my Grandpa had so many Santa Claus statues for me to look at. Some of them even talked. Grandpa and I sat out back and played with them for many hours. Here are a few pics - check back soon for the video.

Peace,
Rory

Happy Holidays!

2011-01-29T18:10:00.000-08:00

Hey folks,
Good help is hard to find. Especially in these tough economic times. And here in the Younger Crib it is no different. Every year of my entire life a card has been sent out to you, my fans, wishing you a Happy Holiday and a wonderful New Year. But THE most important part of these holiday greetings has been a picture of Yours Truly in adorable holiday attire. Alas - this year is a pimple on the perfect complexion of my holiday history. To make up for this blemish, below I have included photos that were in the running for the holiday card.

This was in the Dad's top five because of the Christmas balls,
but I vetoed it because I look miserable.

This was The Mom's fav.
Hello, Tiger Beat magazine? Am I your cover this month?

And this one was even uploaded to the Christmas Card maker . . .
so close, yet still so far away.

Another of my favs. I like the ones with only me. Just sayin'.

The mom wants to be in some pics,
but since she's usually the one that TAKES the pics,
when she's in them . . . they look like this:

Last but not least, this one is my personal fav of all time.
Perhaps it will be on the cover of my new album,
entitled, "Better than You."

Happy New Year, family and fans.
Peace,
The Roar.

Calling Dr. Rory

2010-11-07T05:40:00.000-08:00

Hey folks,
It was October 31st. And I received the call - a page to the ER!
It didn't look good. This patient had several broken legs and his color didn't look good.
But I gave him an aspirin and a pep talk.
He started looking better immediately. His heart rate was back to normal.

Being able to help in an emergency is the reason I love what I do.

And my patients are so grateful.

It's all in a day's work, when you're Dr. McRory.

Click play to view the compelling Post Op documentary:

Pictures

2010-11-03T12:25:00.001-07:00

Hello again,
Here are a few pictures of The Roar and his family. Uncle Greg and Auntie Joss come for a visit, so pictures were taken. We had a great time!!Peace,
Rory

Birthday Cupcakes!

2010-11-03T11:54:00.000-07:00

Hey y'all,
I know it's been a while since I blogged, but I've had a lot going on. Most importantly, the celebration of my double trouble birthday on October 11. Yes, that's right - I'm 2!
And - if I have learned ANYTHING in this second year of life, it is that the best way to celebrate a birthday is with CUPCAKES! Last year I wasn't so sure about the cupcake thing (if you don't remember, see the FIRST BIRTHDAY BLOG POST BY CLICKING HERE.)
But this year? I had "Ca-Cas" in New York, and more "Ca-Cas" in Baltimore.
Here are a few pics and a video off all this cupcake madness.
Peace,
Rory

Pick Me Up!

2010-09-13T18:04:00.001-07:00

Tiger!!

2010-09-13T17:41:00.000-07:00

Waiting for Dad to come home

2010-09-06T17:17:00.000-07:00

Hey folks,
Here is a movie about me and my mom chillin' at the crib, waiting for my Dad to come home. If you can't see it, try clicking this link:
http://youngestyounger.blogspot.com/
Peace,
Rory

Fourth of July Haircut

2010-07-16T06:18:00.000-07:00

Hi Folks,
I have some scary news. One of my best features was trimmed over the holiday weekend. It's too tramatic to even talk about, so I'll let these pictures tell the story. Thank goodness for the kindness of strangers - you'll see the old guy in the mall who talked me down off the ledge and made me realize that I have many, many other cute features to compensate. I'll write more later when I've had time to recover.
Peace,
The Roar

Catch me if you can

2010-06-22T19:07:00.000-07:00

Hey folks,
Sorry I've been out of touch recently, but life is hard when fans are swarming you, even on your day off. For the Mom's birthday I took her to one of my favorite spots, Central Park. The paparazzi, they followed me. I tried to run away, (and I do run really fast, the Dad calls me "Flash") but one nice lady paparazzi, she was on me like honey on a honeycomb. Hmm, that sounds good. Her name was Claudette Ginter, by the way, and she sent these pics.
Enjoy,
Rory

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T19:59:00.001-07:00

Hey folks,
Happy Easter!You may have already heard of my egg hunting triumph, but now I have the pictures to prove it. There were quite a few so the mom is attaching the whole lot here as a slideshow. And, as a bonus feature, there are some shots of me trying to escape the paparazzi on Easter Sunday morning. There are no days off when you're famous like me.

Peace y'all
Rory
PS. If got this in an email you may have to click here to see the slideshow:
http://youngestyounger.blogspot.com
Remember to click the little arrow at the bottom left, Grannie.

Welcome students!

2010-04-01T09:04:00.001-07:00

The shirt says "Hero in Training"
In training? I could teach a class!

Wanna Bite?

2010-04-01T08:28:00.001-07:00

Rory discovered English Muffins

2010-03-30T05:08:00.000-07:00

Hey folks,
So the Mom started her own blog - I think she wants to be like me. (I try to be a role model.) She says it's not going to be all about me, but three of her first posts are ALL about me. She can't stay away. So, I thought I'd help her promote her blog here. If you wanna check it out the address is:
http://vanessasy.tumblr.com/
But I'll paste the three entries that are about me below.
Peace y'all,
Rory

Egg Hunt

Today my husband and I are taking our 17 month old son, Rory, to the park for an Easter Egg Hunt. Should be interesting since Rory has recently discovered the attention getting power of The Temper Tantrum. I can’t WAIT until some poor unsuspecting kid goes for the same egg that Rory wanted and Rory does a pavement body slam and shrieks to the gods. This week Rory was given a helium balloon by an unsuspecting do-gooder. He obsessed over the balloon, refusing to let it go so I could put him back in the stroller. Sucker that I am, I let him walk along side the stroller so he could hold the balloon and all would be happiness and laughter. Ha. About a block or so into this little stroll, Rory let go of the balloon and it floated right out of his hand. Tragedy! Rory screamed, arched his back, kicked his arms and legs, laid on the ground (a crowded NYC sidewalk, naturally) and, in all, made a complete spectacle of the two of us. Please note that while this show of displeasure was going on, the balloon was TIED to the stroller, not even a foot over his head. All right, chicken soup for the soul, I get it; there’s a lesson in that for me too.

Egg Smackdown

My son met the 2 egg limit at the Easter Egg hunt astonishingly fast. I have to admit, it made me proud. Granted, most of the other toddlers were more interested in sticks and dead leaves than pastel plastic eggs filled with choking-hazard-prizes. But not my boy! He shoulder blocked a little girl in pink and nearly tackled a runny nosed boy in a parka. Once he had his Two, he held them up over his head and slammed them on the pavement several times. I think to prove what a simple task it was for one such as He.

Mittens

Every day Rory has a new obsession. Today it is the paw mittens that only a few weeks ago he refused to wear. I pity the fool who tries to take them off!

My Crib

2010-03-09T07:34:00.001-08:00

Hey folks,

Since it's been so cold out lately, I've been hangin' out at the crib a lot.
Here are some behind the scenes pics of My Room . . . The Wall of FAME

Warming up for my gig on the big white Bongo

Where's Rory? . . . Where's Rory?

I keep this next to my Grammy.

No monkey business

Genius at work.

And here are two super short videos:
the first is of me exercising my vocabulary,
the second is of me exercising my physique. Enjoy.
Peace out y'all,
Rory

Happy Holidays!

2010-01-12T14:51:00.001-08:00

Hey folks,
I know the holidays are over, but you can't expect a busy guy like me to be on time with my holiday greetings . . . right? See, I took a trip around the world over the holiday. The picture above is in front of the Ball Tree in Oklahoma. I'm holding a "Ball" (one of my favorite new words!). Oklahoma was fun, especially when it snowed! My dad earned some activity points shoveling snow while I watched from the front door.

And this my Auntie Joss and Uncle Greg and me, posing in front of the ball tree.

This lady (whom I recently called Ma-Me!!) loves me!

This is Auntie Bebe, then Grannie, then the Mom.

And Dandie, the dog, and me nearer to the floor. We are all dressed up in our Christmas finery.

Then back to Baltimore to spend some time with Grandma!

This is Hunter, my cousin. He taught me about trucks and guy stuff like that.

And these are all of the Younger Men!

Egg Nog Ice Cream!

Matching with Daddy!

This one was taken much earlier, back in NYC, when I was only 14 months, not 15 months, like now. We liked it so much we put it on our Christmas card.

Christmas delivery!

The holidays are stressful. It's natural to have a lover's quarrel.

As long as you make up in the New Year! Hubba Hubba!

Back in NYC, we partied hard for New Year's! This is me at a place called Chuck E. Cheese. Do you know they sell gold coins there? It's fun to drop them on the floor, then pick them up.

Of course, some people play games. I was just along for the ride.

This is Auntie Anna. She inspired the Chuck E. Cheese trip. And she wears red shoes, too.
I love her.

Now I've got to go - I have new toys to play with.

Peace out y'all,
Rory

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-21T16:49:00.000-08:00

Rory Younger's Top Ten List of Things to be Thankful For:

1. Lambie-Pie, my favorite nighttime lovey since I was a baby
(April, 2009)

2. Pacifiers! I just can't kick the habit.
(January, 2009)

3. My laptop, so I can post to my blog.
(With Auntie Joss, May, 2009)

4. Food!! This is a new favorite, now that I have so many teeth. My favorites are
Strawberries! Chicken! Mac n' Cheese! Cupcakes!
(October 11, 2009...my birthday!)

5. A Good Hat
(Last Thanksgiving, 2008)
6. Going ANYWHERE in a stroller!
(Halloween, 2009)
7. The swings at the park..Weeee!
(October, 2009)
8. Books!
(October, 2008...I was about 3 weeks old here, before I discovered the joy of turning pages!)
9. My Grandparents!
(October 2008)
10. Walking practice! (November 2009. See video below)

Baby Steps

2009-11-04T18:56:00.000-08:00

Another video....I think this one speaks for itself.
Peace,
Rory

A Roaring Halloween!

2009-11-01T06:40:00.000-08:00

Happy Halloween, Everyone!

Below is a video (actually a slideshow of pictures) of my Halloween festivities. I spent the day with a lovely little bee named Amelia. We strolled on over to a party together at The Little Gym.

Enjoy!

Peace,

Rory "The Roar" Younger

I'm Number ONE!

2009-10-12T13:54:00.000-07:00

That's right, I'm officially number ONE now. An important milestone, to be sure, and Grandma, Grannie and Grandpa took me out for breakfast to celebrate. They were all very excited, so I played along, but really I think it might be a little overrated. Here are a few pictures of our Sunday afternoon celebration...

And below is a video that the Mom took of me eating a cupcake. Poor sap. You see how much I have to put up with!

More soon -

Peace,

Rory (1 year old!)

On the Eve of my BIG DAY....

2009-10-10T05:03:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow the paparazzi will be following me all day, so before the pictures of my birthday festivities take over, here are a few candid shots I've been meaning to share.

First of all, here is a picture of me and my Dad. I'm not sure how he got in this box, but the Mom thought this was a cute picture.
And no blog post would be complete without a picture of me and my Belle, on a date in the park. (Those two in the back are our chaparones.) I took this picture myself (yet another skill I've learned this year)
Not a baby to be tied down, I also had a date with another pretty girl named Amelia, who happens to be just one week older than I am. Here I am showing her how to play with her toys. She needs me.
And last of all, this is me hangin' in the club with my man, Les.
Stay tunes for pictures and videos....

Peace,

Rory

The best medicine.

2009-09-04T07:28:00.000-07:00

I made another video to share with you, of me enjoying some kisses.
Hope your weekend is as good!
Hugs & kisses,
Rory

My new digs

2009-08-24T10:17:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone,
If you haven't already heard, we spent the past several weeks moving into a more spacious pad. That's why I haven't posted since July. Moving is hard work; no one pays nearly enough attention to you, the best toys get left in a box until the very last, and its hard to remember where anything is. Especially for someone with a short term memory, like myself. But on the flip side, there are lots of good boxes to bang on.

Let's see...since my last update, I had my 9 month baby visit with the doctor. Here are the stats:
Weight: 22 lbs, 1 oz. (80th percentile!), Height: 29 & 3/4 in. (90th percentile!!) and HEAD CIRCUMFERENCE: 49 cm. (97th percentile!!!!!). That's right - ain't no stoppin' this head!
This picture is of the Mom in Boston, where she went for a film festival. Not sure why she wanted to pose in front of that thing. But...back to me. I've been hitting lots of what they call "developmental milestones" since we last spoke. For instance, I now suck on chicken bones...

I also got my drivers license...

And....the moment you've been waiting for...I started crawling! This is a video, so remember that you have to click the arrow at the lower left side. Since it's in my contract not to do nudity, I made the Mom edit some stuff out. But feel free to use your imagination!

Until next time...
Peace,
Rory

Hot Summer Days!

2009-07-22T05:58:00.001-07:00

Hi folks,
All work and no play makes Rory a dull baby. So, for July 4th weekend we took a quick trip to the land of Oklahoma to visit Grannie and Grandpa. But, even on vacation, I get hounded by paparazzi. I don't mind, really. With legs like these you can't hide them under a bushel. Here are a few stolen shots of me at the beach. I was doing a swimsuit photo shoot. Enjoy.

Cheese!

I don't know what this is, but it smells tasty!

Whoa! (Not so tasty)

A word I heard a lot was "OFF." Which I had to agree with.
Too much cuteness in one picture is never a good thing.

With my athletic prowess I'm sure it comes as no surprise that I am an excellent swimmer. I can't believe some people have to take lessons in this!

Enjoy the summer, folks.
Peace,
Rory

Me & my music

2009-07-22T05:09:00.001-07:00

Hi Folks,

June and July have been full of all kinds of new musical opportunities. I've been exercising my vocal chords A LOT - really working to express my true feelings. My favorite times to practice are 1) before those two are up in the morning, 2) whenever they are trying to talk on the phone, and 3) randomly throughout the day, or night.
Some of my original songs include "Aaoow", "DaDaDaDa" and "Bzzzzzt." Here is a picture of me and Grandpa working out some of my jams on the keys... And on the drums....But those pictures are just for you, my fans. I have to keep a cool persona for my public, as you can see from the picture below. It was taken at the last Rick Younger Show, and I'm chillin' with my bodyguard, Marc Theobald. It actually marks my New York City stage debut and the picture was taken by fan club chairperson, Auntie Robin, whom I love so much.

Peace,
Rory "The ROAR" Younger

Time with Dad

2009-06-27T18:29:00.001-07:00

Hey folks,

In honor of my Dad's first Father's Day, I thought I'd put up a bunch of pictures of the great week we had together. Being a Dad is underrated, and I'm here to tell you that this guy puts in a lot time with his favorite baby (me).These two pictures were taken on Father's Day, when I took him out to brunch before showering him with gifts. I'm generous like that. In the one below, I'm doing my imitation of Dad watching a game on TV....pretty good, no?!

And the pictures below were taken on "Show Day" - the last day of my "Bugs" class at the Little Gym. We got to invite people to come and watch us do the gymnastics we'd been learning for the past 5 months. Since Little Gym has been a Me & Dad thing every Monday, we invited the Mom, who took these pictures with her cell phone. Enjoy!

"LET'S GO TEAM!!"

My floor exercise entitled, "THE BACKWARD CRAWL"

The Amazing Rory's Back Handspring

And he sticks the landing!

Dance on over Shawn Johnson

Check out that form and those bulging muscles

The orange balls are my favorites

Walking up to receive my medal....

Coach Amy gave a speech...she called me Happy Feet, and said she
enjoyed watching me learn to sit up so straight ...at times.

I was overwhelmed with emotion as I looked at my medal.
I've been dreaming of this moment for over half of my life.

Dad drove me home. What a workout!

Peace,
Rory

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

2009-06-21T05:26:00.000-07:00

I know this is a week late, but...oh well. Happy Father's Day. Dad's are really important and really cool. I love my Daddy very much. In fact, just last week the mom went to Philadelphia for a couple of days so my Dad and me got to spend some quality guy time together.
Happy late Father's Day to all you Dads out there, all my Uncles and practically Uncles, and of course my Grandpa and Pop Pop. And you Daddy. Here is a picture of us having some good times together.
Peace,
Rory

Calling Dr. Love....

2009-06-05T10:43:00.001-07:00

Hello fans,
It's been long time since my last post, but as you will see, a lot has been going on. I'm sure you want to hear the facts about the trip I took to the hospital. Celebrity gossip being what it is, I figured I better set the record straight.

Last Saturday I noticed a new beauty mark on my upper lip. Well folks, that beauty mark kept growing until it was not so beautifying. On Sunday, it was beginning to interfere with my handsomeness, and on Monday it was downright ugly. So naturally I went into hiding, only venturing out to the Doctor first thing Tuesday morning, who sent me straight to the hospital. Though I tried to stay out of the media, the paparazzi did capture this photo...As you can see, the swelling made my right cheek very hard and VERY painful. The Parents were especially concerned because the redness went up to my eye. I do have nice eyes, but I was mostly frustrated because I couldn't flash my winning smile at those foxy nurses.

But not for long! Once I was admitted, they tortured me by getting a lot of green, globby stuff out of my upper lip, then they stuck a needle in my hand to give me antibiotics. Modern medicine is amazing. Before the day was out I was able to smile again, especially when one of my groupie nurses led me to what they call the "playroom." There was a music area in back, so naturally I worked out a few of my jams.

The doctor did tests and stuff and said that I had a staph infection. But it was just a regular staph infection, and not a big scary one. Since I am responding so well to the antibiotics, after two nights in the hospital, they let me go home on Thursday afternoon. The Mom or Dad has to give me cherry tasting medicine four times a day for a week. And they are craziliy cleaning and disinfecting everything around the apartment. How did I get such an infection, you ask?

Who knows?!

But I am very thankful to all of you who prayed for me and were thinking about me. The parents were scared for a minute. Everyone kept reminding them that all the blood vessels in the face go into the brain, and that the infection could go there to...you can imagine how that went down. So thanks for your concern. And thanks to the foxy ladies at Emergency Skills, who covered for the Mom on their busiest day of the year. I got to flirt with them last week. Don't worry ladies...I'll be back. Here are a few other foxes that I've been hanging around with...
This is Cynthia and Courtney, and they came to see me with one of my favorite ladies, Robin, last Saturday (that was when my beauty mark was still beautiful, as you can see). And congratulations to Courtney on her dance scholarship this summer! (Maybe you can be one of my dancers on my next tour?)
And this is The Mom...my favorite lady (okay, she made me write that, but why not? She's been through a lot this week.) And the next two are pics of my cousin, Marin.
See the look I'm giving her? That's how I work my magic. Watch and learn, fellas....

(Marin says, "Is he always like this?)

And this is another picture of me with Belle, my love. Yeah baby!

You can see by the look on Belle's face the effect I have on the babes. They can't stay away...who can blame them?

Thanks again everyone.
Peace,
Rory

2009-05-22T10:55:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone,
I'm back from my weekend trip to the land of Mississippi. My aunt & uncle live in Jackson so we (I took the Mom with me) went out to spend some quality time together. This is my aunt Jocelyn, and I'm showing her how to use my new laptop (a gift from my new girlfriend, Lori, Jocelyn's Mississippian friend!). Let me tell you something about Mississippi, folks...it's hot! I mean the temperature of course...and the people! It gave me a chance to debut a few of my summer outfits and get a little sun on my legs. This is Uncle Greg & me, chillin'....
One of the highlights of my trip was a visit to a Mississippi swamp. Yup, a swamp. The Mom was a little paranoid and covered me in mosquito repellent after tucking my pants into my socks. So embarrassing. While she kept a close eye out for alligators (someone has been in the city too long!) Aunt Joss, Uncle Greg and I took in the scenery. I think these last two pics speak for themselves.

Peace out y'all,
Rory

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-14T07:04:00.000-07:00

Hello Ladies,
So, I'm a few days late, but I wanted to say Happy Mother's Day to all the special ladies in my life. I already gave some love to the Mom, of course, but here's a shout out to my Grannie in Oklahoma and to Grandma in Baltimore. And to Auntie Joss in Mississippi, whom I am traveling to see THIS weekend!! And to Auntie Bebe in Oklahoma City too, who sends me & the Mom all that fan mail. And to all my Aunties and lady-fans, too many to name... (so many ladies, so little time - story of my life!)...You know who are are:
Happy Mother's Day!

Here's a little video of my roll over trick, just for you ladies. It was taken a few weeks ago so I'm even better at it now. There I go, bragging again. Excuse me for a second....
(Grandma & Grannie: the thing below is a VIDEO. If you click on the little arrow on the bottom left corner of the picture, sort of like this: ">" , it will make it play. Call the mom if you have questions)
Enjoy all. And have a great post-Mother's Day weekend while I'm livin' it up in Ole Miss!
Peace,
Rory

More Roar Lore...

2009-05-02T21:15:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone,
Lots of "Firsts" for me since my last post.
The first of my firsts: Swinging! People, I am ready for swinging at a professional level. I don't mean to brag, it's just the truth. Perhaps the doggy bib created some superior wind velocity. No, it didn't. I was just trying to be modest. The second of my firsts was being dedicated at church in Baltimore. The pastor prayed for me, then he commissioned my family and friends to grow me up knowing about Jesus and how to act right. Stuff like that. A bunch of my Dad's family came and the pastor held me up over his head for everyone to see. That's when I cried. But, now that I'm a dedicated Christian baby, I'm trying to maintain a positive attitude, as you can see in this picture on that day with Robin. She makes me smile!The third of my firsts was a trip to Times Square with my Grandma, who came up to visit me the following weekend. I'd never been to Times Square, but I'd heard about someone called "The Naked Cowboy" who stands around in his underwear and people give him money. So, what's not to lose? Since it was my hottest day (another first) I asked Grandma to take off my pants. Besides, I'm very fond of my legs, as you well know.
The fourth of my firsts: I wore a bathrobe! Not exactly a milestone, but pretty noteworthy considering how it shows off my handsome physique. Granted, it SAYS it's for someone who is 6 months old, but I don't know WHAT my parents were waiting for?
The fifth of my firsts: my first date with Belle! She's darling. Our mother's were doing so much talking that I knew I had to fight to get a word in. So I decided to impress her with my James Brown impression. You can see from her appropriately amazed expression what a hit I was! Eat your heart out, ladies.
A sixth first: I have become a Master of the Art of Rolling Over. I don't have a picture for this, but I promise to upload a video one day soon so you can all study my technique. Just email me if you need tips in the meantime.
And my seventh and final "first" isn't really a first, but, whatever. My top two teeth came it! I'm still very protective of them, so please, no paparazzi yet. But soon I'll be ready to give my public a glimpse of my two new pearly whites.

I hope you all are having lots of firsts today!
Love,
Rory C.

EASTER GREETINGS!

2009-04-12T16:55:00.001-07:00

Happy Easter!

The Easter Bunny came to our house this year, right after we got home from church...what a handsome guy. Here are a few Easter pictures of him:

When Rabbits Attack:

And here are a few more pictures of our trip
two weeks ago to Baltimore so celebrate with
Grandma and Pop Pop, who have been married 45 years now!

Happy Easter everyone.
Later,
Rory

Happy Half-Birthday to ME!

2009-04-11T11:06:00.001-07:00

Happy Half Birthday to Me!

Today I am HALF! Yes, just six months ago today (a Saturday no less) I made my loud and grand entrance into the lives of my superb parents and wonderful family. It has been a pretty good life so far. I've been told I'm an amazing baby, not that I like to brag. But I'm already 21 pounds and over 27 inches long. (I get an A+ for size.) And I'm working hard on my sitting up and standing. I have almost mastered rolling over...just that pesky arm gets in my way sometimes. But I've found that when you get stuck you can begin complaining loudly and someone will come over and give you a little shove to help you get the rest of the way.
Words to live by, no?WOW! Who is this handsome fellow!
Pictures of this guy are all over my house.
I'm starting to think my parents know this kid. (Should I be jealous?)

"So, how long since you quit pacifying?"

Even though I'm already half, I'm still my Mama's little baby.

The past few weeks have included lots of family events that have taken us down to Baltimore to see family. Last weekend it was Grandma and Grandpa's 45th Wedding anniversary. That means they have been married for a long, long time. Even longer than I've been alive!
Here is a picture of the whole family celebrating with them.

We also recently went down for funeral services for Mrs. Viola Boyd, a very dear lady who brought music into the lives of lots of people at my Dad's church. It was a sad occasion, but it brought me and my three first cousins, Ryan, Cydney & Hunter, all together for the first time.
Even though I'm already HALF, I'm still working on being a generous cousin, especially when it comes to sharing the spotlight!

Finally, I'm sure by now you've already admired me in those smokin' bunny ears my Oklahoma Grannie sent. (If you haven't, scroll down - I put an even bigger picture of them up for your viewing pleasure.) Well, I'm a baby who wears many hats. And here are a few more. Not sure WHY nobody has given me a BIRTHDAY hat...I've been hinting, but these two, they just don't get it.
With six months of love,
Rory

Call me P. Cottontail!

2009-03-24T17:46:00.001-07:00

Grannie & Grampie sent these cool ears from Oklahoma. Maybe this will catch the eye of a certain girl baby I've got my eye on...

Getting in shape!

2009-03-24T10:08:00.000-07:00

Since I met that lovely little girl last week, I decided it was time to firm up some of my twenty pounds. So I joined the Little Gym of Harlem with my Dad. We are learning all kinds of new exercises. Below is a video, so you can workout with me at home.

And don't forget to include some cardio in your workouts, people. Check out this video for pointers:

More exercise tips later,
Rory.

Oh boy, it's a girl!

2009-03-20T19:16:00.000-07:00

Hey folks,
I met my first girlfriend today. She's only 4 days old (I like younger babes) and she's home from the hospital with her mom & dad, Karen & Joshua. My mom took some pics:
I was reminiscing about my first week at home...ah, rockin' out until the wee hours of the morning...drinking until I passed out...twenty four hour surveillance...ample bosoms ....bloodshot eyes....Those were the days.
Here's a video too, so you can see how lovely she is. Be still my heart...
Until next time,
The Roar

2009-03-15T15:46:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone. I know, I know...when I took over this blog I made this promise: "I, Rory C., will post pictures and news more often than that lady ever did!" But, well, I'm a busy baby, folks. Since my last post, over a month ago (I know!) a lot has been going on. First of all, I'm now five months old. Five months! Can you believe it? Times flies when you sleep as much as I do. Last week at my 5 month appointment (before I got tortured with more shots! Grrr!) I measured at 27 inches and 19lbs. All muscle, baby!This guy they call Daddy likes to read to me, and so does the lady. Since I'm sitting up now (okay, with help), I'm enjoying fine literature more and more.
Speaking of reading, I got to read to my grandparents in Oklahoma a few weeks ago. That's right, I'm a world traveler. I don't know where Oklahoma is, but its very far away. You have to go down this long hallway, then get into a crowded, noisy room they call "airplane" and sit still for about four hours. Then you're in Oklahoma. I slept through most of it.
Oklahoma was great. I met lots of new fans. Like Bebe - she's been sending fan mail for months. It was so great to finally have a chance to sit on her!
And this is me with my Grandpa at the dinner table. We had a good time together. Oklahoma has big comfy chairs and creatures that bark. Grandpa was my tour guide through this safari.
This is my Auntie Jocelyn, and in Oklahoma we got to meet for the first time. I've been hearing a lot about her, and she's been hearing a lot about me too (I mean, who hasn't!) We had a great time together, Auntie and I!
And we took some good naps together too. With a busy schedule like mine, you've got to take time to relax on someone you love. After I woke up from these naps, I said goodbye to Grannie and Grandpa and promised to see them again in the land of Oklahoma again sometime this summer. Since I've been back home, I've been enjoying some new experiences! Like solid food!
No, not cake, silly! I'm way too careful about my figure to risk eating sugary food. But the Daddy had a birthday recently, and this is his cake. Apparently there was a big show to celebrate. I wasn't allowed to go, so it must not have been too much fun.
Anyway, back to me. Below is a picture of me modeling a new onesie the lady's friend sent in the mail. It's my favorite. I hope this picture isn't too provocative, I really should have put on some pants. But I'm very proud of my legs. They're one of my best features.
And below I'm modeling my new high chair! Remember when I said I was enjoying solid food? Well, apparently, once you start eating it, you get to sit in a fancy chair like this.
Solid foods are amazing! Since I only have my two teeth on the bottom, everything is still pretty slushy. And they don't let me have it as much as I want. Pears are my favorite, then bananas. Next week will be sweet potatoes! I can't wait!
Well, that's the update from The Roar. I'll be better about my posts from now on. The tour to the land of Oklahoma really threw off my posting schedule, but now I'm back, and I've got things to say!
Until next time,
Rory.

Happy Birthday to Me!

2009-02-10T21:00:00.000-08:00

Yep, I'm now a four month old, and, ya know what? I am much, much wiser than when I was only three months. It's true. For instance, at three months I thought life was pretty easy...I slept through the night, took naps during the day, wore those handsome outfits and sat on laps. Life was good. But now...well, things have changed, folks. For one thing, I have my first cold. The doctor confirmed it yesterday - Bronchialitis. That MEAN doctor, who sent them home with a torture devise they make me inhale medicine out of 5 or 6 times a day. Mean, mean, mean. But don't worry, I make sure they know how I feel about it, let me tell you.

And if that wasn't bad enough - I have a TOOTH! Yes, a pearly white is poking its head up just behind my bottom lip, and another is just under the surface of my gum right next to it. Nobody told me that teeth came along with a four month birthday, and I would have appreciated a little warning. People, whatever you do in life, try to keep from growing teeth! It is no fun and very uncool. I'd show you a picture of my tooth, but I haven't allowed the press to cover this breaking story yet. The tooth and I would like to spend a little time together before we reveal it to the public. I'm sure you understand.

On the flip side, since no one around here is getting any sleep, we've all been on a diet. The dude has lost about 18 pounds....and I'm up to 18 pounds...and that lady's lost about 12 pounds. I have to say, I think we're looking pretty good. Especially me! I've really been trying to tone my physique. Below are some pics for your enjoyment...
I'm going to send this one to "Muscle Magazine", along with my weightlifting tips...check out those pecs and quads, ladies!

I'm not so sure about this one though. I mean, I like the way my hair is styled over my bald spot, but I worry that this onesie makes my butt look big. What do you think?

Random pics

2009-02-10T20:25:00.001-08:00

Like I said before, that lady took WAY too long to write about the many adventures of Rory, and I have a lot going on, people! So I'm gonna get you caught up so we can move on to more important matters....like my month-birthday coming up tomorrow!
So here we go, folks. This is what I've been up to lately:
A couple of weekends ago we made a weekend trip to Baltimore. It was cool hanging with Grandma and Pop-Pop again. But the highlight of the trip was that my Uncle Kip put ice cream on that thing I suck on all the time. Whoa! It was amazing!! I was trippin' y'all!
A valuable lesson I've learned that I hope you can all apply to your lives: If you cry loud and long enough, a lady will come along and pick you up. Works every time. Apparently it's hard on the wrists of the person doing the lifting, especially when you're almost 18 pounds of solid muscle, like me!
We hung out at a party to celebrate the Inauguration. Yep, that's how I roll: No bedtime, no curfew...nothing to cramp my style. I even did some ad placement for my favorite live show (coming again soon on March 8th!!!)
Another one of my fans came to see me - Robin. She took a bunch of these pictures. I'd autograph them for her, but I can't hold a pencil so well. BUT I really like reaching up for my mouth and trying to find the pacifier with my hand. It's fun. Sometimes I get it and I just hold it up over my head, like the trophy that it is. OK...that will have to do. I have birthday news to share, but I wanted to let everyone know of all these exciting activites. If you find yourself busy like I am, just make sure you get around 15 or 16 hourse of sleep everyday. It really makes a difference.

Check back tomorrow,
Rory

The Roar is taking over!

2009-02-05T13:30:00.000-08:00

This lady takes too long between posts, and I'm a baby with things to say. So from now on, I'm taking over this blog. Check back soon for more insights from me, Rory "The Roar" Younger.
In the meantime, please enjoy my blogger acceptance speech....

Keeping warm!

2009-02-03T18:24:00.001-08:00

It's been pretty cold up here in NYC this winter. Thankfully Rory's been keeping warm in some stylish numbers given to him from a few of his fans...This stylish bear suit was sent all the way from California from my dear friend Pamela. It came just in time too - at 17lbs, 9 ounces (I know!) Rory (now 3 1/2 months old) is apparently the size of an average 6 month old. I guess it's time to stop squeezing him into the 0-3 clothes he's been wearing since he came home. Ah - some room to grow~!And Melissa gave us this hat to keep the big noggin warm! Ah the noggin, still growing and still incredibly heavy for little Rory to lift. Hopefully he'll master the skill before he goes to college.

Sitting up

2009-02-03T17:37:00.000-08:00

Hello all!

Sorry it's been a while since the last blog post. I have no excuses, just trying to keep up with, well, life with Rory. But naturally I've found time to take pictures of this little fella enjoying his new pastime - sitting up. No, not spitting up...at least that's not his favorite. You'll see that it takes some assistance, but being upright has given him a whole new lease on life!". . . Wha? . . . What? . . . . "

"Aw Shucks...Me?"

Just cruisin' in my little red chair.
"Hey ladies, I'm diggin' the scene with a gansta lean...Wanna ride?"

Hey?...Where'd Rory go?

Hello 2009!

2009-01-05T13:15:00.001-08:00

2009 is a brand new year - full of promise and a great time to start fresh!
As a two and a half month old, Rory has some pretty serious resolutions this year: more tummy time, more smiles, some sitting up, less spitting up. The list goes on and on, but most importantly, he plans to spend more time with family and friends this year than in '08.

Rory spent some quality time hanging with his Pop's friend Joe while watching the Ravens win on Sunday. Go Ravens! Rory says, "Cw-kaa! Cw-kaa!" (his Raven call)

Goodbye 2008 . . .

2009-01-05T11:53:00.000-08:00

This year we celebrated the holidays in Baltimore with Rick's family. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed introducing Rory to all of his Baltimore kin. The four-hour drive went remarkable well - Rory slept almost the whole time. With only an hour to go, he woke up hungry, wet and mad about it. So our little family made our first ever visit into a "Family Restroom" at a Rest Stop - who knew such a thing existed? And it wasn't even scary. Now we are closer than ever . . .

As you can see from the cute PJs, these pics were taken the night before Christmas. Rory doesn't believe in Santa Claus, but he wore the outfit because the long lines are so flattering.

Rory got to meet his cousins over the holiday. Above is Rory with Ryan, the oldest of his four first cousins. And to the right are second cousins Sihara, Mackensie and Miles with Rick's cousin Lynn. The Younger's are a big family, so we're not testing Rory on any of these names just yet.

The Younger men - Roy, Rick and Rory - spent had fun hanging out together, doin' manly stuff like sitting around in their underwear and passing a bottle around.
Rory says, "Life is good, man."

Merry Christmas!!!

2008-12-23T11:31:00.001-08:00

The Youngers are headed to Baltimore to celebrate with Grandma
and Pop Pop and a bunch of relatives that Rory hasn't met yet.
It's our first road trip with a baby. Should be a fun time for all!

Two months old!

2008-12-11T13:15:00.000-08:00

RORY IS TWO MONTHS OLD TODAY!

Rory has been all smiles for about a week now, but we were finally able to catch a few with the camera. He was really impressed with this new outfit from his friend, baby Alessandro.

Giraffes are just cool.

We are celebrating Rory's birthday by trying out some new diapers, said to be 70% biodegradable. They are as rough as sandpaper on the outside, but seem soft enough on the inside, which is the important part. And, of course, there is no sweet powdery smell. But we want Rory to have somewhere to throw his trash when he grows up, so why clod the landfills with his poop?

Happy Birthday Rory!

Hunting Wabbits!

2008-11-28T08:49:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! We truly have a lot to be thankful for this year, especially one big and happy baby! Rory was 11lbs 6 oz. at his 4 week appointment. Now 7 weeks old, he is 13lbs on our bathroom scale! A Whopper! So he thought he should forfeit the dressing and pumpkin pie this year, and decided to go Wabbit Hunting ....

Hunting is hard work! Rory has been sleeping about 4 hours at a stretch during the night now, so Mom & Dad are finally getting some sleep.

Rory didn't have much luck at first, so he practiced his Rock 'n Roll songs, to attract those cute wabbits . . .

Then he sang the Blues...

(Shhh! What's that?!)

Wabbits!

Post Election Post

2008-11-10T19:11:00.000-08:00

Rick and I took Rory to vote with us last Tuesday. Though he wasn't allowed to vote, he urged us to vote for a candidate that understands his experience as the son of a black father and a white mother. Needless to say, the Youngers are thrilled, moved, and filled with hope that Obama was elected as the next President of the USA! Rory, you can be anything you want to be!

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T10:41:00.000-07:00

Post from Rory:

Hello people,

Apparently, because I practice my vocal exercises in the wee hours of the morning, my mother is under the assumption that she is excused from updating this, my fan site. (She has no idea what it's like to be a three-week-old "Rock Stah-rah" with the vocal stylings of James Brown . . . so I try not to judge.) So, I've decided to take matters into my own hands and give you, my adoring fans, a few pictures whet your appetite.

Since those embarrassing pictures posted almost three weeks ago, a lot has happened. First of all, tomorrow I'll be Three Weeks, which is a very distinguished number. And, despite their tricks, I have no intention of sleeping through the night - After all, I was born to Par-tay! I'm even thinking of crashing the Halloween parade in the Village tonight. Here's a teaser:

Happy Halloween!

All my grandparents came to see me the day after my one week birthday. They passed me back and forth a lot and, since it was daytime, I pretty much slept through it. And my Uncle Kip was here just before that. He's cool.

I've had some

other visitors too - after all, I'm always available for my public. Here are a few pictures of a couple of groupies, Sherry and Karen. (Get in line ladies!)

My style consultants have been putting me in a number of high fashion outfits. I'll include a few pictures of my favorites below. And the mother and father finally put together some things for me to do. I'm way to cool to actually let anyone SEE me playing yet, but I like sitting in the Bouncy Seat and staring into space, and laying in the Rain Forest Gym with my Dad. Yesterday I reached out and grabbed the apple mirror someone was dangling in my face. This was cause for another photo shoot. (Whatever.) Sometimes I get put on my belly and they get all excited when I try to lift up my enormous head. (I tell you, these people are easily amused.) And, I regret to report, I have been subjected to a humiliating experience called the Bath. The details are too traumatic to recount for you, but you should avoid this experience at all costs, my fans. That baby smell is overrated!

These are a few of my favorite outfits! Oh Yeah!

That's all I have time for. I'm late for my second-mid-morning nap. Gotta make up for all the sleep I lost jamming with the band last night.

Peace out, y'all.

Rory

Rory Younger

2008-10-17T10:36:00.000-07:00

Click here to share our pictures of Rory's first week of life!

Rory's Homecoming

2008-10-14T13:47:00.000-07:00

RORY CLIFTON YOUNGER

October 11, 2008, 9:09pm

8lbs 6 oz., 21 inches

Thanks to everyone for all your sweet calls and emails! Since being able to text/call/blog as we waited in the delivery room - we were in a dead zone in terms of cell & Internet service during the rest of our hospital stay. No fun when there is such exciting news to share.

Rory's delivery went like this: big pain, then epidural, then no pain, then lots of waiting, then some pushing and Voila, a BOY! Overall, pretty much as expected. Our hospital stay on Sunday was filled with lots of tests for little Rory and therefore not much sleep for anyone else. And, after solving the mysteries of the Car Seat, we arrived back home on Monday evening - sleepy, sore, frazzled and clueless.

Rory is doing beautifully! The pediatrician came to the hospital on Sunday and poked and prodded him, then left praising what a wonderful and cute baby we have. We obviously chose a gifted medical professional!

We have our first doctor visit on Wednesday afternoon, where we are hoping for a similar report. And of course - the news you have been waiting for - our tracking of his enormous poos and pees confirm everyone's suspicion - this is a truly gifted baby (and I'm not biased in any way!)

Thankfully Rick's mother came up from Baltimore to help us get settled and she has been a godsend! We're still wiped out, of course, but it's amazing what a nice three hour stretch of sleep will do - Go Grandma!!

Here are a few pics below taken from our cell phones - expect the ones taken from an actual CAMERA in the next few days.

Meet Rory Clifton Younger

2008-10-11T22:11:00.001-07:00

We've been waiting. So we're pleased to introduce you to . . .

Rory Clifton Younger
Born Saturday, October 11, 2008 at 9:09pm, 8.6lbs

Waterworks!

2008-10-11T12:33:00.001-07:00

This morning at 4:41am I awakened to the strangest sensation I have ever experienced. As I my sleep-fog cleared and I realized that I hadn't been strattling an open fire hydrant, I began shaking Rick awake - no easy task as a gig in Long Island kept him up until 2:30am. Finally he awoke, by then I'd turned the light on, and I said, "I think my water just broke" ... "fer real?" was his memorable reply. (We have these kind of fascinating exchanges in times like this) Of course there was no doubt in either of our minds as I stood up and we surveyed the water damage to my side of the bed while a second flood drenched the floor where I was standing.

So, long story saved for later, here I am at the hospital, 1¹hours later, FINALLY enjoying the supreme wonder of the epidural ((after having many more hours of contractions than wimpy me had hoped for) just waiting for my body to do all those things it must. And writing this from my iPhone to pass the time. Check back soon!!!!!

What I've been doing while waiting.

2008-10-02T21:40:00.001-07:00

Since I've got some time on my hands, Rick and I have been playing with Rory's toys. This adorable "baby faces" book was given to us at the baby shower - and we don't know from whom? If it was you please let us know. It has already brought much enjoyment.

Nesting!

2008-10-02T19:46:00.000-07:00

Right now it's just a waiting game. October 14 is less than two weeks away(!!!)

Will the baby come early? late? on time? Only Rory knows. He's kicking up a storm, and keeping both of us awake all night. Needless to say, we're eager for him to come out and play! In the meantime, we've been doing some nesting, arranging and rearranging, folding little clothes and playing with little toys . . .

Stay tuned!

Baby Shower! Sept 8th, 2008

2008-09-21T12:29:00.000-07:00

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL THE GREAT SHOWER PICTURES!

On Sunday, Sept. 28, Vanessa's sister, Jocelyn, came up all the way from Mississippi to throw us a WONDERFUL baby shower!

It was at The Irish Rogue here in NYC and it was a great time. The place was adorable, we got to catch up with so many of our family and friends, and there was even football. What more could you want from a baby shower?!

This is Jocelyn (above) making sure Andrea is wearing a very cute name tag!

Thank you so much to all of our friends and family who came and showered us with so much love and excitement. Vanessa's parents, Floyd & Joyce Shealy, came up from Oklahoma City, and Rick's parents, Roy & Deborah Younger, came from Baltimore. So we had both sets of grandparents there - and it was Grandparent's Day!

And special thanks to Jocelyn & Greg McGee, and my friends Janet Dunn, Anna Oldham (who made the "diaper cake" above) and Tom Johnson for all your help!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL THE GREAT PICTURES FROM THE SHOWER!!

Belly in the City

2008-09-19T13:20:00.000-07:00

Being pregnant in New York City in the middle of the summer . . . Ah the glamour.

Belly Pics Again.

2008-09-13T17:55:00.000-07:00

As I approach pregger week number 36, I thought it was time to include an update with some staggering pictures . . . the belly gets bigger everyday! The baby is kicking up a storm and I haven't seen my toes in weeks!

Sneakier Belly!

My favorite place - in front of the air conditioner!

The Poll . . .

2008-09-13T07:51:00.000-07:00

Last weekend my sister Jocelyn threw us a great shower here in NYC (pics and details coming soon!) and when people responded to the Evite they could participate in a Poll . . . These are the comments. We'll see who wins!

How much will the baby weigh?

Althea Johnson - 8 lbs. 2 oz.
Emily Barratt - 6lbs 8oz
Melissa Attebery - 8 lbs. 7oz.
Bethany Murdaugh - 7lbs 11oz
dpowell - 7lbs 6 oz
Sherry Fennessy - 7 lbs 10 oz
Sarah Crest - 7 lbs 2 oz
Emily Paige Ballou - 8 lbs.
Ballenlaw - 7lbs 7oz
Michael David Bryson - 8 pounds, 4 ounces
Annie Richardson - 7.2
Jaye Ballard - 333 lbs
Joe Seifers - chubby
Amy Snyder - 9 lbs
Vanessa Shealy - 8lbs 1 oz.
Robin Perry - 7.2lbs
Andrea Dionne - 8 pounds 11 ounces
Nichelle Rashid - 6lbs 7oz
Greg & Jocelyn McGee - 7lbs 5 oz
Bebe Dotter - 7 lbs. 2 oz.
Darryl Boyd - 8 pounds - 4 ounces
Karen Wight - 7 lbs 4 oz
Joanna Briley - 6lbs 9oz
Katherine Sanderlin - 7 pounds 6 ounces
Sarah Gillen - 7lb 13oz
Jerry Miller - 14 lbs

How many inches long will he be?

Althea Johnson - 18
Emily Barratt - 21in.
Melissa Attebery – 14.5
Bethany Murdaugh - 21.5 inches
dpowell - 22"
Sherry Fennessy - 19 inches
Sarah Crest - 19
Emily Paige Ballou - 20
Ballenlaw - 20
Michael Bryson - 21.25 inches
Annie Richardson - 14.1
Jaye Ballard - 36
Amy Snyder - 22 inches
Vanessa Shealy - 20
Robin Perry - 20 in.
Andrea Dionne - 19
Nichelle Rashid – 18 inches
Greg & Jocelyn McGee - 12
Bebe Dotter - 21
Darryl Boyd - 17 inches
Karen Wight - 21
Joanna Briley - 18in.
Katherine Sanderlin - 19.5 inches
Sarah Gillen – 21 inches
Jerry Miller

Will he look more like Rick or Vanessa?

Althea Johnson - Rick
Emily Barratt - Rick, with curly red hair!
Melissa Attebery - Rick...in an all red suit!!
Bethany Murdaugh - A combination of both
dpowell - Vanessa
Sherry Fennessy - I am certain he will get the best of both!
Screst - Rick
Emily Paige Ballou - Rick
Ballenlaw - Rick
Michael Bryson - Vanessa. But with a penis.
Annie Richardson - Rick
Jaye Ballard - Nessy Bear
Joe Seifers - Rick: although Vanesa is much better lookin, I think Ricks got the stronger genes!!
Amy Snyder - Rick
Vanessa Shealy - Ricky
Robin Perry - Rick (The youngers have strong genes...LOL)
Andrea Dionne - He'll look like a great combination of Rick and Vanessa.
Nichelle Rashid - Vanessa
Greg & Jocelyn McGee - Rick
Bebe Dotter - Rick
Darryl Boyd - A premium mix of both
Karen Wight - Rick
Joanna Briley - Rick with Nessa's eyes
Katherine Sanderlin - perfect combination of the two
Sarah Gillen - rick
Jerry Miller - Rick

When will the baby be born?

Althea Johndon - Oct. 16
Emily Barratt - 10-9-8!
Bethany Murdaugh- October 17, 2008 at 2:48
pmdpowell807 - October 12, 2008
Sherry Fennessy - When he is darn good and ready!
Ballenlaw - 9/24/08
Michael Bryson - 12:17 PM on his birthday.
Annie Richardson - On due date 10/14
Jaye Ballard - on his birthday
Joe Seifers - Whenever he wants to be!!!!
Robin Perry - when it's ready
Nichelle Rashid - October 9
Greg & Jocelyn McGee - October 3rd (Greg's Birthday!)
Darryl Boyd - When God says so! :)
Katherine Sanderlin - October 11
Sarah Gillen - October 30th
Jerry Miller - Trick question

Great Expectations.

2008-08-06T08:01:00.000-07:00

This week we've been doing quite a bit of nesting. We rearranged our bedroom and decided where the baby will sleep. (We're staying in our one bedroom apartment until March, so things will be a little crowded for a few months.) We got a storage unit . . . no, not for the baby! Rick's friend Marc helped us put some of our extra stuff in it to make room for baby!

This is Rick with some sneakers for Rory! They're so cute. We get them out and play with them everyday.

Babies Galore!

2008-07-30T07:42:00.000-07:00

Babies!!

We've been spending good baby time with some other babies . . . getting some practice in before October! And who doesn't love baby pics! I mean, really!

This is cousin Maryne (and her mother Michelle, Rick's cousin) last weekend in Baltimore.

And this is baby Cooper and his parents Lauren and Brandon, who Vanessa worked with at Emergency Skills. They recently moved to Florida, so Rory will have to have a penpal instead of a playdate with Cooper.

Then there's baby Elah, daughter of the Ocklers, demonstrating some scoot-crawling!

What a cutie!

And this little guy is Austin spending some quality summertime with his Dad, Todd, at the pool!

So much baby cuteness!

Belly Pics . . .

2008-07-30T07:08:00.000-07:00

These were taken last week . . . the baby belly's growing!

Sneaky Belly!!

Profile Belly!!

Baby Shower!

2008-07-14T06:43:00.000-07:00

Rick and I had our first baby shower in my hometown of Oklahoma City, OK on Sunday, July 13. Thank you so much to all of you who came, and to all of you who could not attend but sent along such darling gifts!
Rick and I (and Rory) are very blessed!

It was such a lovely afternoon! Two of my family's dearest friends, Anna Stewart and Bebe Dotter, were our hostesses, and they decorated Bebe's home with a Peter Rabbit theme. So sweet!

We were showered with lots of love and so many wonderful things: adorable clothes, bath things, a bouncer, a diaper bag, a lamp for the nursery, cute musical toys, stuffed animals, blankets, a stroller, a stroller cover, toys, bibs, picture frames, Boppy pillow, a baby carrier, Snuzzler, thermometer . . Wow! And a beautiful photo album with the name we've chosen "Rory Clifton Younger" embossed on the front! We were overwhelmed!
My mother gave me a beautiful quilt made by my grandmother, whom I was very close to, and also an adorable child-size wicker chair that was hers as a child. My sister refurbished it and did a great job - its wonderful!

Birthday!

2008-06-12T06:41:00.000-07:00

My birthday was June 11 and a small group of my dearest friends had dinner with me that night. It was fun - and the first night I got a lot of attention because of my growing belly. Plus Rick got me a camera - so expect more and more pictures soon!

Zee gendah!

2008-05-26T06:23:00.000-07:00

These ultrasound pictures were taken in late May, in the middle of the second trimester. This appointment was our long awaited "anatomy" appointment. Our ultrasound technician was a very short, Slavic sounding woman who never smiled. Which was fine, because we were doing enough smiling for all of us. The baby was moving A LOT while we were watching - kicking and moving its arms. The lady was doing her thing and making sure all the organs looked good, etc., so we watched quietly and let her do her job.
Finally she said, "Do you vant to know ze gendah?"
To which we chorussed, "Yes . . . "
A long pause. "Is a boy."
Then I said, before I could help myself, "Are you sure?"
She replied, "I vill take a picture." Which she did - it's the one with his little "twig and berries" in relative close up. I'll let you play "Where's Waldo" and figure that out for yourself.

Grandparents!

2008-04-02T06:15:00.000-07:00

We waited to tell friends and family until after the first trimester - which was very hard to do. Especially for Rick. We were like kids waiting for Christmas. So we called our parents and told them first at 11 weeks. This will be the first grandbaby for my parents and the fourth for Rick's parents. Needless to say - they were very excited.
This ultrasound is from our First Trimester Screening, so I guess it's an "official" ultrasound (taken at the hospital as opposed to in the doctor's office). The baby is bigger in the picture and you can see it's profile if you use your imagination. But, most importantly, he looks healthy and strong!!

Growing!

2008-03-15T06:12:00.000-07:00

This picture is from our second visit to the doctor. Now at 8 weeks along, the baby looks like a little gingerbread man. Heart still beating everything looks good!

Yup!

2008-03-01T06:04:00.000-08:00

So we made a doctor's appointment for a few weeks later and it was confirmed: Six weeks pregnant! Much to our surprise, we got to see the baby and see it's little heart beating! Wow!

We're having a baby!

2008-02-16T18:19:00.000-08:00

Decided to start a blog to share this experience with our friends and family in lands far away. So, might as well start from the beginning . . .

It was Valentine's Day and Rick had no idea that we might be having a baby. I went with him to a Comedy Cures event and waited until afterward to tell him. We were stunned. It wasn't the teary excitement you see on Lifetime movies. After several moments of a riveting conversation: "Are you sure?" "Well, no, but I think so . . . maybe". . . we both decided that perhaps home pregnancy tests are very often wrong, so we better just wait to get too excited until we make a doctor's appointment. That way we'd have an official declaration. Never mind that I was three weeks late and had taken two pregnancy tests that turned positive the second a drop of pee fell on them. So, skeptics that we are, we celebrated the rest of Valentines Day in a numbly thrilled haze with sappy smiles on our faces.