Photographer Justin Tsucalas captures colorfully grotesque moments every parent will recognize in his series, <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Flookatthismessybaby.tumblr.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">"Look at this messy baby."</a> This was taken when his son Oliver started eating cereal Os, one of his first finger foods. "Needless to say, they didn't all make it into his mouth and Michele and I started finding them everywhere: in our bed, hidden in his onesies and buried in the carpet. They would explode under foot and so we affectionately coined them 'baby land mines.' "
Photographer Justin Tsucalas captures colorfully grotesque moments every parent will recognize in his series, "Look at this messy baby." This was taken when his son Oliver started eating cereal Os, one of his first finger foods. "Needless to say, they didn't all make it into his mouth and Michele and I started finding them everywhere: in our bed, hidden in his onesies and buried in the carpet. They would explode under foot and so we affectionately coined them 'baby land mines.' "
Justin Tsucalas
Oliver's teeth are key characters in the photo series, starting with the bottom two and quickly filling up his mouth over the next year.
Oliver's teeth are key characters in the photo series, starting with the bottom two and quickly filling up his mouth over the next year.
Justin Tsucalas
Tsucalas didn't realized how useful this type of bib was until it caught a homemade smoothie as it dripped slowly from his son's chin.
Tsucalas didn't realized how useful this type of bib was until it caught a homemade smoothie as it dripped slowly from his son's chin.
Justin Tsucalas
"Oliver never turned down a meal, even when he was having a 'no pictures please' moment," Tsucalas said.
"Oliver never turned down a meal, even when he was having a 'no pictures please' moment," Tsucalas said.
Justin Tsucalas
This picture was a turning point in the series, Tsucalas said. "A subtle smudge of a banana slice is somehow just as messy as a face full of pasta sauce."
This picture was a turning point in the series, Tsucalas said. "A subtle smudge of a banana slice is somehow just as messy as a face full of pasta sauce."
Justin Tsucalas
"Never underestimate the artistry of a face full of pasta sauce."
"Never underestimate the artistry of a face full of pasta sauce."
Justin Tsucalas
"This was an unsuccessful attempt at escaping from this kind of bib. Velcro latching bibs gave way easily when he pulled on them, but these just got tighter as he tugged. He ended up getting it wedged between his mouth and nose, spilling the trough full of food over his neck and back. Good try, bud."
"This was an unsuccessful attempt at escaping from this kind of bib. Velcro latching bibs gave way easily when he pulled on them, but these just got tighter as he tugged. He ended up getting it wedged between his mouth and nose, spilling the trough full of food over his neck and back. Good try, bud."
Justin Tsucalas
"My father has an unsavory habit of using his index finger to corral any remaining sauce or meat juices that might have escaped him during the meal and then licking it off his fingers at the table. Over the years this technique has rubbed off on my mom, sister, brother and myself ... This is the moment Michele and I began to wonder if it might be genetic."
"My father has an unsavory habit of using his index finger to corral any remaining sauce or meat juices that might have escaped him during the meal and then licking it off his fingers at the table. Over the years this technique has rubbed off on my mom, sister, brother and myself ... This is the moment Michele and I began to wonder if it might be genetic."
Justin Tsucalas
"Oliver's mullet had become a talking point between his grandparents, who all agreed it was past time to get his first hair cut."
"Oliver's mullet had become a talking point between his grandparents, who all agreed it was past time to get his first hair cut."
Justin Tsucalas
"It was around this point when Oliver began feeding himself. I adjusted to my new role of short-order cook, simply preparing and delivering food to Oliver's tray table on demand."
"It was around this point when Oliver began feeding himself. I adjusted to my new role of short-order cook, simply preparing and delivering food to Oliver's tray table on demand."
Justin Tsucalas
Tsucalas says, "This picture is very meaningful to me. It was taken on the day after Christmas and by this point Oliver had reached another milestone; he was eating whatever we were eating. I prepared both of us the same lunch and we sat next to each other and ate it together."
Tsucalas says, "This picture is very meaningful to me. It was taken on the day after Christmas and by this point Oliver had reached another milestone; he was eating whatever we were eating. I prepared both of us the same lunch and we sat next to each other and ate it together."
Justin Tsucalas