Baby Bird (Ain't Lee Sweet!)

         Trisha from Word + Stuff decided to host her first ever blogfest--the Baby Faces Blogfest, and I'm joining in with a few of my baby pictures and some words to go with them.  This blogfest was irresistible for me.  Trish also has a bit of a contest going on.   For details on the contest and the list of other participants you can visit Trisha at her blog.


Baby Bobby Lee

      It just so happens that a couple years ago my mother sent me an album of my baby photos.  Finally I get to do something with them.   

        I was born at 1:52 AM on January 30, 1951.   According to my mother, the postpartum recovery period at that time was nine days.   During that period, my mother developed a serious blood clot in her leg which led to an extended hospital stay.   For this reason I became a star among the nurses who cared for me.   They called me "King of the Nursery".  Thus began my delusions of grandeur.

          The first thing that strikes me about this photo besides my mother looking so young (she's about 21 in this picture) is her long hair.  I don't remember her wearing her hair like this.  She must have gotten it cut when I was still a baby.   She's always worn her hair short as far back as I can remember.  The other thing that catches my attention are the old furnishings and draperies.  I don't know exactly where this photo was taken--probably their apartment in Cleveland, Ohio--but I think it looks so cool, so antique.

          This was always one of my favorite baby pictures.   My dad worked all day so he probably didn't relish having to wake up in the middle of the night to take care of me.  But, after all, I had been King of the Nursery and I still demanded attention.   I'm so glad that my mom captured this gem of a picture.  It shows me a gentle caring side of my dad.

         Not sure what I was crying about, but it wasn't because I dropped my juggling clubs in the middle of my act.  I didn't learn to juggle until I was at least ten years old.  I loved looking at and playing with my father's juggling props.  He must have been practicing in the living room when this picture was taken.  I never tired of watching my parents juggle and entertain.   When my father would get home from work, he'd eat dinner and then practice juggling.   Usually they only performed their act on week-ends.   Sometimes they'd take me along, but usually if they were playing a nightclub they'd leave me with a baby sitter.

       Here the happy couple poses with their first-born child--me.   There were four more children that came over the following ten years.   This photo reminds me of a happy moment in a film-noir B-movie.   I guess that's because I like those kinds of movies and this is about as close as I come to being in one.  

        I hope you enjoyed this little slice of my life.   I enjoy looking back on those times that seem so long ago.  If I had a time machine I'd love to go back to see what the early 50's were like since I don't remember them all that well.  At least I have some wonderful photos to take me back to a simpler day.

         Now let's see some more babies at the Baby Faces Blogfest.