Day 19

Today I'm going to post a picture of my favorite childhood toy! This was an easy thing for me to choose. Finding a picture however was not an easy thing to do! My parents are packing to move to the town I live in to be closer to the baby, Seth, and me. So all of our baby pictures are packed! I promise that when we are able to get Mom moved & unpacked, I will post a picture of me with this toy.

"Favorite Baby"

So this is a picture of my favorite toy as a child. I got this doll when I was sick in the hospital with kawasaki disease. I was probably around 18 months old then. I don't remember a whole lot about that time in the hospital. I remember for the next several years every time I went to the doctor they had to check my blood. Finger sticks every time you go to the doctor aren't a fun thing for a little kid, but I got used to them. Anyway, someone gave me this doll while I was in the hospital in OKC. I carried her with me everywhere. She was my "best friend" and I LOVED this doll. She had hands that really moved. You would squeeze her belly and her hands would "grab" your finger like a real baby. Well, my sweet dog decided he would chew the hands off so then she just had these little white "cups" for hands. I didn't care. I loved her. Her hair eventually stood on end and was kinda fried, and my sweet little brother would try to make her talk and eventually her mouth cracked in between her lips. None of this mattered. I adored this doll! My Daddy even pierced her ears so she could be like me.

Mom and Dad decided once that they were going to get me a new Favorite Baby because the one I had was so ragged. I remember them presenting her to me. "Look Denisa, it's a new Favorite Baby!", said my mom. She handed her to me and I took her. I held her up to old Favorite Baby and said, "New Favorite Baby, meet old Favorite Baby." and I threw new Favorite Baby on the ground and took off! I didn't want a new Favorite Baby. The Favorite Baby I had was perfect in my eyes. I was so attached to her. My parents decided then that they would just change out the heads on the dolls while I was asleep. I would have probably freaked if I knew they changed anything about her.

I had this doll for so long. I still have her. She's in storage at Mom & Dad's. They bought me a new one when I was probably a senior in high school. She doesn't look like my Favorite Baby. And all these years later I still remember all the things I loved about that doll. I loved that she had freaky hair. I loved when they would wash her and when she came out her head had this weird feeling. I can remember sitting there and scratching at it. I know that sounds weird. It's what I did though. I can remember holding her "hands" up to my face and feeling the air come out of the little cups when I squeezed her belly. I have so many memories of that doll. Most people think she's hideous. Still I see her like I did when I was little. She's beautiful to me.

I promise that when I get a picture of the original Favorite Baby, I will post it. Just no comments on how freaky she looks. It hurts her feelings and really makes me mad......even though I'm almost 30!

Day 18

Today I'm supposed to post a picture of my biggest vice. So I looked up the definition of vice. I already had an idea what I wanted to post as mine. A vice is something that is supposed to be sinful, a little immoral. Out of all the things in my life that could be considered a vice. This is it......

I have a love for music, you all know that by now. The only thing I can think of as a vice would be my love of rap music. Eminem in particular. I enjoy his music. I know, I know, some of you are sitting there right now wondering what in the world I see in his music. Well, I'm not sure. I have always enjoyed his music. It's catchy. And his raps have told a story from the beginning. I've listened to him rap about his struggles with drug use, marital issues, and so much more. This last album was about his recovery. His attempt at finally getting himself together. He's gone through recovery, lost a close friend, and made a come back as a rap artist. I think he is finally getting his life together. Maybe the story line is what draws me in. I'm not sure....but this is it. The one thing in my life that is a vice. Don't judge....we all have a vice. Some worse than others.

Day 17

Day 17. A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently

There a tons of things I could post on this one. The one thing that came to mind is......

My baby. I am expecting him to arrive sometime in April. I'm excited, nervous, and sometimes completely terrified. I can't wait to see what he's going to look like, me or my husband. Will he be tall, loud, shy, good athlete? Will I do a good job as his mother? Will I be able to teach him how to be tough and stand up for what's right? Will I be able to instill good values? Am I really ready? This child doesn't even know how loved he already is. From the moment I found out I was pregnant, my life changed. I know that in April when he gets here, my whole world will change. I'm looking forward to being a parent. I'm excited to see his cute little face. I can't wait to have him here. I just can't wait. So  today I'm blogging about my unborn baby. He is what has made the biggest impact on my life recently. The last 28 weeks have been a roller coaster ride. I'm looking forward to the time I have left in this pregnancy. I'm looking forward to meeting this little guy who has stolen my heart.

Day 16

So I guess you probably all noticed that the challenge has been on hold for the last few days. My week has been a very hectic one. My BFF's grandpa passed away Sunday and I've spend a lot of my time trying to be there for her. Plus I have had a week full of doctor appointments. Good news is, I finally passed my glucose test!!! Then Wednesday Daddy had another heart surgery. They went in and repaired the stint that they put in when he had his heart attack. He got a great report from the doctor and is home recovering! So that brings me to today......I will resume my daily photo challenge now. Today I'm supposed to post a picture of someone who inspires me. I've thought and thought about this one. I could easliy put my brother, mom, or BFF on here. I am going to choose someone famous though. I've blogged about them before.

Duncan, Dave, Johnny, & Ben from MTV's The Buried Life

So today I'm going to once again blog about The Buried Life guys. I have watched this show since it started on MTV. Now I don't watch much on MTV because I think it's mostly crap now days. But this show, it touches my heart every single time I watch it. These guys are all in thier early 20's and they have this amazing mission in life. They have a list of things they want to do before they die. And for each thing they cross off of thier list, they help a stranger cross something off thier list. The show is amazing. They want to help people. And not just people they know. They want to help people they don't know. Perfect strangers. How many of us would help a perfect stranger? I know that now days it can kinda be dangerous to help strangers. But these boys reach out to people they don't know. They help them in so many ways. It's amazing. So once again, I'm going to once again tell you that if you haven't seen this show, you are missing out on something amazing and inspiring. I have never been more inspired as I am by this show. It makes me look at my own life and the things I could be doing to make a difference. I'm truly inspired by their desire to do good. In our world, you don't see that often.

Happy Birthday!

So today is my best friend, Shawna's, birthday. I wanted to take a few minutes and just wish her the greatest birthday. So Shawna, here's to you.

Shawna is one of the greatest people I know. She's always around when I need a shoulder to cry on or when I need to just scream and yell. She's just amazing. I've had many friends in my life and none of them have ever come close to the friendship I found when I found her. She's amazing and such a sweet person. She makes me laugh when I don't want to. She knows how to keep me grounded. She is just the greatest friend I've ever had. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have her. I know I finally found that one friend who will always be there. Someone who won't judge me when I seem to be losing my mind. Someone who accepts me for me, faults and all. I'm thankful to have her in my life.

Aside from being the greatest friend I've ever had, she is also the most amazing mother. She has the most adorable little boys. Alex & Logan are so funny. They are sweet and loving and just amazing. They adore her. She teaches them all kinds of great things. She reads to them, helps them with all their homework. Takes them to do fun things. She always puts them ahead of herself. Alex has a lot of speech and sensory issues. Shawna takes him to all of his apointments & therapies. She never complains. She just does whatever Alex needs. She works with him constantly to help him improve his motor skills & speech. She goes above and beyond to do what her children need her to do. She's just an awesome Mom. Those boys are very lucky to have her.

Shawna has been the greatest blessing in my life. She inspires me to be the kind of mom she is. The patient, fun loving, all sacrificing mom. She has helped to make me realize that it's okay for me to be myself. She encourages me and helps me. She's just such a great person. So today my blog is dedicated to the amazing woman I'm fortunate enough to call my best friend. So, Shawna, happy birthday. I hope that this birthday is at least half as great as you are, because if it is, it's going to be a great birthday. I love you very much.