A boy and his Cucumber

When Julian was a tiny thing, we struggled to get him to attach to something - anything. He gave up the pacifier suddenly at 4 months old, refused all blankets or loveys and had no interest in stuffed animals. The closest thing he has had to Linus's blanket is his boppy pillow (which he sleeps on.) Until recently that is. For his 2nd birthday I went scouring the internet for some fun Veggie Tales toys and came across this 'mix-up' Larry the Cucumber. Essentially, Larry is a lot like Mr. Potato Head - he comes with his own little outfits (from various V.T. shows and movies) and you can mix and match to your little heart's desire. Julian was in love...and Larry hasn't left his side since. Larry comes with us many times to the grocery store, to play dates and even just outside to play. Due to this, he has suffered some wear and tear (including a rock that somehow became trapped inside and will most likely never comes out.) He gets fed at meal times, he gets his teeth brushed and he even gets blamed for things sometimes. He is my boy's best friend.

(And don't think for a minute that I'm unaware of the irony....my son, nicknamed "Pickle" in the womb, is obsessed with a singing cucumber. Who woulda thunk?)

I took the camera out during one of our afternoon adventures a week or so ago. What started out as me getting some practice turned into a set of photos that I absolutely love of my little one and his favorite toy.

This would be his "Larry Boy" outfit. Larry Boy is a super hero, which seems fitting for what he's about to be put through.

Slide? Check!

Wow, Larry goes fast!

That had to hurt.

Luckily someone is right there to pick him up and get him on his feet again (or you know, the slide...again....and cucumbers don't have feet.)

Larry playing model as I practice some back lighting. He is just about the only model that will hold still for me these days.

Yummy light.

Julian rescues model Larry from yet more back lighting torture....

And puts him on the swing.

Larry weathers the swing about as well as the slide.

On to bigger and better things!

Mom....enough already.  (just realized I never finished editing this photo.)

My sweetie.

Wherever Larry goes, Julian is right behind.

Thoroughly exhausted and in dire need of a costume change, Larry patiently awaits his ride back to the house where  there will be hotdogs and bubble baths and maybe a few tantrums because his hat won't fit quite right....but either way you look at it, this plastic pickle is very loved.