So, it's been a loooong time since an update. We, my dear Rocky Blog reader, have a lot of catching up to do!

Let's see...Since we last met, Winter has passed entirely, and with that passing came Easter. We spent Easter at a dear friend's place and celebrated the holiday amongst many children, and a whole lot of adults in various stages of inebriation.

Rocky and his pal, Towa, kept the cerveza fria, and checked IDs.


Rocky dug the festivities, but dug his Easter Bunny ears even more, as this photo is evidence of.


Now, please know, I'm no Easter-Hater, in fact, if anything, I'm an Easter enthusiast. This sad-sack pic of dear old Dad was taken not on Easter but soon after - a couple days into Rocky and Jen's trip to Florida...If you've always wondered what I look like when there is no anchor at the port, well...this is it.

But, Rocky, on the other hand, was having a delightful time visiting Grandma and Grandpa McDavid, and a whole bunch of the Florida-family contingent.

Over at Margie and Kenny's place, The Rock had a blast bouncing on the trampoline, and...

Going for a spin on the Seadoo with Uncle Eric, and...

A boat ride with Grandma!


But, as they say, all good things come to an end, and soon it was time for Jen and Rocky to return to the greatest place one Earth™, Los Angeles...

Once back in LA, Rocky's gymnastics classes got back under way. Marvel with us as we see Rocky's expert tumbling skills in action...

Amazingly, even though it doesn't often snow in Los Angeles, Christmastime still seems to come every December...Almost like clockwork. Who would've thought? I know, I know, it's crazy to think that an area totally devoid of the most reliable indicator of 'Christmastime' could actually partake in the jolly fun that the rest of the country experiences, but it does happen...And, here we have the photographic proof:

Rocky sitting, quite unhappily, on Santa's lap.

Were it not for the balmy breeze pushing through the palm trees just outside Santa's shack, you could've fooled us into thinking we were sitting pretty, smack dab in a snow filled, twenty-below zero, winter wonderland.

Soon after the new year, the family high-tailed it to the Big Apple for a whirl-wind four day trip. Rocky did a fine job piloting the plane as this picture is evidence of. Yes, we initially overshot JFK by about 50 miles, and, yes, the landing was a bit bumpy, but we got there in one piece and had a helluva time anyway.

Back in the abysmal wasteland of modern urbanity that is Los Angeles, Rocky enjoyed himself at the park by exposing his belly to any and all passer-by.

Strangely, the Rock lost a pound and a half after falling ill late this winter, so, per doctor's orders, the little man was put on a temporary high-fat diet. Here we witness Rocky enjoying his first ever chocolate shake, courtesy In N' Out Burger.

Rocky and his momma, at the Grove. Who could ask for more?

Here's Rocky and me sitting in front of a tiled wall at LAX that I mistakenly thought served as the backdrop to a pretty famous photo of Brian Wilson and his friends, circa 1967 or thereabouts. Look it up on the intertubes. I was wrong.

Rocky and his puppy, Lupe. Two peas in a pod.

Rocky at the zoo.

Rocky and Mark Gifford (that's the actual name the genius known as Xavier Roberts bestowed upon this particular cabbage Patch Kid), chillin', in a box, and looking pretty content to boot.

Fall & Winter '09!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, holy moly, where does the time go? My apologies to our loyal followers out there - those of you that have this page bookmarked, desperately hitting refresh again and again to no avail. We're sorry. We understand that you want, need even, your Rocky news fast and up to the minute, and we've failed you. Maybe if he'd just stop growing so damn fast we'd have a chance to catch our breath and could do something useful like updating this here blog type thing...

Anyhoo, until we figure out a way to safely slow Rocky's growth (all suggestions, recipes, and potions are welcome) here's a look back at the last few months round these parts.


What autumn would be complete without a trip to 'Ye Olde Overpriced Useless Gourd Pile'? If nothing else, when Rocky grows up and looks at this picture he'll think to himself, 'They paid $5.50 for a f***ing gourd???'


Of course, autumn wouldn't be complete without Halloween, and Halloween not without costumes! Yes, Super-Rocky was born! Shortly after this photo was taken Rocky saved a school bus full of children from falling into the Grand Canyon, nabbed a couple of would-be bank robbers in Manhattan, AND found time to take Lois Lane out for a drink. (Rocky had an O'Doul's, natch)


Soon after Halloween, Aunty Victoria and Grammy Joanne breezed into town, and a good time was had by all!


In this pic we see Grammy Joanne feeding Rocky some bread...AND the last photographic evidence of Grammy Joanne's beloved right hand.


Aunty Victoria and Rocky became fast friends at the park, and apparently even developed a couple private jokes between the two of them. Here's to hoping none of those jokes are at the expense of Dad.


Rocky loves his Grammy Joanne.


And then there was Thanksgiving. This photo is to serve no purpose other than to illustrate how nicely I can set a table...Does EVERYTHING have to be about Rocky?? Sheeeeesh.


We ate, we drank, we made merry - and then this happened. Not sure exactly what Uncle Dylan and Rocky are up to here but it looks vaguely ceremonial, and now I'm worried that Rocky has been made some sort of 'Grand Poobah' in a cult. Never, I mean NEVER, again will I invite Uncle Dylan to Thanksgiving.

And, while abbreviated, that pretty much brings us up to speed. Stay tuned for a Christmas 2009 update, likely posted sometime in late 2010.

Summer, '09 - RECAP!!!!

Ah, 'tis bittersweet...Summer has ended, but boy, what a summer it was! It was positively packed to the gills with all the trips, visits, firsts, and all other manner of kooky hi-jinks a one-year-old can possibly handle. So, pour yourself a white wine spritzer, kick your shoes off, and enjoy a breezey recap of the summer that was...

Late spring/early summer saw us settling into our new apartment (1 of 27 we've had in the last 5 years for those of you keeping score), and enjoying some quiet Saturdays at home with our rapidly developing son.

The good news was (and remains) that no matter how advanced Rocky gets, no matter how much he walks, or starts to talk, he LOVES to be naked, and, quite honestly, we love it when he is - I mean, look at him! If I was this cute naked, I'd be showing up to work in my birthday suit.

(just in case anyone needed more proof of Rocky's cuteness whilst au naturale - see above)

Early summer saw Grammy Linda swoop into town and spend a little QT with the little man.

And yet, throughout all this effervescent frivolity, Rocky remained calm.

Smack dab in the middle of summer we went to Chicago to see pretty much all of Rocky's immediate family, wish Angie & Steve and their brood good luck on their move to Malaysia, and get some good visiting time in with friends and family we don't get to see as much of as we'd like...

(if the above is a run-on sentence, I certainly apologize)


Two Grammy's at once! Yahoooo!

Obviously, Rocky very much enjoyed seeing his cousin, Fatima.

And he loved seeing Al & Mag...Those crazy artists! They must of spent a fortune on that Franz Kline hanging in the background!!

But, soon enough we were back in Los Angeles and it was Rocky's first birthday, which saw the arrival of his cousin Mata, and a little champagne consumption by a minor...Sounds like a party to me!

Of course, no party is complete without three kinds of cake, balloons, and enough champagne to slow down even the strongest ox (i.e. Dad).

Yes, Rocky knows how to party.

To be quite honest, the whole family knows how to party, ESPECIALLY Aunt Amy and Aunt Lupe.

And, sometimes things get a little out of hand, as this photo of Mama's bruised eye (blackened at the hands of a celebratory and toy wielding one-year-old who shall remain nameless) so painfully proves.

But the Moran/Tyre clan is NOT the kind of family that let's a black eye slow them down, particularly when cousin Mata is in town, and summer is in full swing - No, we soldiered forward and introduced Rocky to some of our celebrity friends!

Mama has always been a fan of Mr. Pierced Bronzenned...She says she likes his charismatic nature and excellent posture...I say I don't wanna think about what she really likes about him.

Whereas me and my special pal, Britney, connect on a wholly intellectual level.


Soon after Mata flew back to Chicago, we were visited by Rachel & Tim from New York, and their adorable daughter, Eleanor.


All in all, it was a very packed summer that has left us pooped. We're very much looking forward to a quiet autumn and the 110 degree heat that comes with it.

Chi-Town!

So, July found us heading to Chicago in order to celebrate two birthdays: Our beloved nation's 233rd, and our beloved baby boy's first! Behold the glory that is photographic evidence of the best 4th of July in history...

(Big thank you to Uncle Jamie and his always fantastic photos)