.Day 18.

Day 18 - A Picture of Your Biggest Insecurity

I'll work on a picture tomorrow for you guys.  I'm going to be brave.  It may just be the first step in changing the way I see this insecurity.

These days I am terribly insecure of my thickened middle and the stretch marks left behind from my pregnancy.  Not that they're the worst (they're not the angry red kind, but still), but they're there and they're all I see on my loosey goosey tummy.  I've always had a slight insecurity about my tummy and wanting to keep it trim, but now that I'm at the biggest I've ever been it's a little worse.  I would jump at a chance of a mini tuck and some laser therapy, but, you know, that requires a little more expendable cash-on-hand than currently available... so maybe we'll save those for later.. ; ). 

Check back for a pic... you know you're on pins and needles... I know I am! ; ) Ha!

.Day 17.

Day 17 - A Picture of Something That Has Made a Huge Impact on Your Life Recently

Really??  Have you been paying attention to this blog???  This has been an impactful year.  Seriously.  But at any rate, here we go:

A walk down the aisle...

We bought and proceded to renovate our new home
(while I was 8 months pregnant!!)

And then there he was.  The gift that erased any
negative there had ever been.

.Day 16.

Day 16 - A Picture of Someone Who Inspires You

Well, I have to do it again... sorry folks. 

That little face.  That smile.  That giggle.  The way he holds my hand.  The way he lights up when he wakes up in the morning.  The way he gets so cuddly when it's time to go night-night.  The changes every day.  The way he learns things and does something new.  That sweet, sweet little face.  It all inspires.  It all inspires me to be a better person tomorrow than I was today.  It all inspires me to love more deeply, cherish more completely, and enjoy every small thing in life.  

.Day 15.

Day 15 - A Picture of Something You Want to Do Before You Die

Ohhhhhhh, Australia.  It's just a trip that I have to make before I die.  Have to.  It's so hard to plan though because, besides the expense, I really think you need to be there for at least a week.  I mean, you have a massive time change after a very long flight, and the country is so big with so many different things to see and do that you have to give yourself the time to take it all in without rushing through.  I hope this trip comes sooner rather than later, but at any rate it's the trip I've been dreaming of since I was five.

.Day 14.

Day 14 - A Picture of Someone You Could Never Imaging Your Life Without

Really?  This challenge, if completed by married mommies, has got to be the most boring monotonous things to read.  Seriously.  I think I've been doing a pretty good job of trying to change it up a bit and not make every day about my hubby and baby boy, but c'mon... I can only stretch the "truth" so far. 

Words just cannot describe.  My boys.  My family.  My everything.

.Day 13.

Day 13 - A Picture of Your Favorite Band/Artist

Yikes!!  This is a toughy!  I absolutely, positively love music.  Love it.  On top of loving it, my tastes are so sporadic and changing that it's hard for even me to keep track of.  My iPod looks like it has an extreme case of ADD.  But the one artist who has been featured through time, the one I get as giddy about today as I did when I was six issssss..........

Oh, Garth Brooks.  You made me want to play the fiddle (because I was one day going to play in your band; are you accepting applications??), I break out in your songs at random, I make everyone in the vicinity "Shhhhhhhhhhhh!" when your beautiful gruff voice breaks through on the playlist/radio, you in concert is on my bucket list, I've been counting down the days since you left and making sure that each of your kids were getting through high school so that you could come back, and I. love. you. 

Okay, embarassing as that should be, I'm done with my little love fest for Garth... for now.



.Day 12.

Day 12 - A Picture of Something You Love

Okay, I could do the totally predictable (and easy) thing here and post a picture of my boys because they are, in fact, two "somethings" I love very much - more so than anything else in the world.  But, since this is a "challenge" I'm going to go outside of that little box and pick something else.

No, not masks.  For those unfamiliar, this is "comedy & tragedy" - the representations of drama/theatre.  I am a theatre nerd.  I looooooooove the theatre and being a part of shows.  I haven't done a play in a very long time, butI miss it terribly and I hope to get back in a theatre locally now that our little family has finally settled down for the long haul.  (You'll have to keep tabs on that in future posts!)

.Day 11.

Day 11 - A Picture of Something You Hate

Hate is such a very strong sentiment.  It takes a lot of passion and a lot of energy to hate something, not to mention the energy it takes to hate someone!  I chose this picture because it is actually an image I used in a National History Day performance I did in high school (nerdy, I know but I loved it!) in which I portrayed both of the main girls in the photo - Elizabeth Eckford, one of the "Little Rock Nine" and Hazel Bryant, the girl shouting at her.  I remember the emotion the photo evoked in the very depths of my soul when I first saw it.  To this day, it makes me cringe.  If there is something that I hate with complete passion and complete energy, it's racism.  It's a dirty dirty word, in my book, and one of the most unattractive traits anyone can have.  And if there's one thing I can instill in my son, it's that he see no color, and likes (or dislikes for that matter) based purely on merit - or lack thereof.  I could write a book with the passion I have against racism.  It's not cute or funny... in fact, it's a disgusting, ugly plague on a personality.  Period.

.Day 10.

Day 10 - A Picture of Someone Whom You Are Constantly Talking To

Well... if this is referring to whom I talk to the most without him knowing what the heck I'm saying.  It would be this little dude.  We spend a lot of time together, and so now instead of talking to myself he gets to put up with my daily verbosity.  Can't wait until the day he and I can exchange conversation (even if his side consists mostly of "Why's").

But in the world of adult conversation, most of that takes place with my hunky monkey.  I should note, because my husband would insist, that I do my share of talking to my mom as well, buttttttttt he can get over that. :)  Our conversations don't always make perfect sense, nor do they always have a lot of relevance, but I enjoy them all (even the more heated ones that I win). 

.Day 09.

Day 09 - A Picture of the Person Who Has Gotten You Through the Most

My mom and I practically grew up together.  Despite all the hullabaloo some critics make of "be the parent, not the friend," my mom somehow managed to become the best of both.  She is one of the strongest people I've ever met (I would say physically, as well) and she taught me everything I know, just about.  She's fiercely compassionate, sometimes to a fault.  She may be a little "crunchy" for some tastes, but she owns who she is and she taught me to do the same.  I only hope that I can be a fraction of the influence in Jackson's life as she has been in mine; if I succeed he's going to be one lucky boy.

.Day 08.

Day 08 - A Picture That Makes You Laugh

He just may kill me for putting this up, but I'm willing to chance it because, if it makes me laugh, it may as well make you laugh today as well. (You're so welcome.)  I love this man, part of that is for the fact that he makes me laugh everyday.  You try staying mad at a face like that.... come on.  I don't know whether this is his "Zoolander" or he's giving me his best fishy face... I would rather not recognize that he may - just may - see this as his "sexy" face.  No.   I choose not to believe that. :)

.Day 07.

.Day 07 - A Picture of Something You Treasure

My family is, above and beyond, my most treasured "possession."  I can't put a picture of all of my family, but I think it suffices to put this picture, simply because it embodies the culmination of the love of the families that extend before us.  It's no secret to anyone, I don't think, how very close I am to my family.  They are such an incredible support system with love that abounds unconditionally.  I thank the stars for them everyday.  My new little family is what I have been searching my whole life for, & I couldn't have done any better than what I have done... it's simply, perfection.

.Day 06.

Day 06 - A Picture Of Someone You'd Like to Trade Places With for a Day

Susan Downey.  I am o-b-s-e-s-s-e-d with Robert Downey, Jr. and he is most definitely in my "top 5" (If you have to ask... don't. : P)  Love him as an actor, think he's pretty colorful as a person, and pretty darn steamy if you ask me.  :)  So glad this whole 31-day thing had room for some comedy... I took the liberty of "inserting" myself into Robert's life. (Thank, you Photoshop!)

.Day 05.

Day 05 - A Picture of Your Favorite Memory

The moment he said "I do." 

At the risk of making every day a picture of Jackson, I went with another equally great and moving memory.  A steamy hot southern day, but one of the greatest days of my life.

.Day 04.

Day 04 - A picture of your favorite night  

The night that we brought our son home.  By far the best night of my life so far.  I've had great nights, but this.... this was pure magic.

.Day 03.

Day 03 - A Picture of the Cast of Your Favorite Show

So cliche, I know.  But I gotta do it.  I practically grew up on Friends and I was so so sad when it went away.  I was actually part of the trifecta that was my mom and I's Thursday nights - on the sofa with dinner in hand  **memories... sigh** - of Friends, Will & Grace, and ER.  It's still one of the only shows that I can watch 2 or 3 episodes tonight and laugh out loud at the same banter I've probably heard 4 or 5 times before.  There was so much honesty and so many true-to-life facets in their relationships.  I think any true fan of the show, at one time or another, wished that they could pop in to lounge in the recliners at Joey's or sit around the table at Monica and Rachel's (then Monica & Chandler's) or grab a cup of joe at Central Perk cafe while Phoebe played Smelly Cats at the mic.  Oh, happiness. : )

.Day 02.

Day 02 - A Picture of the Person(s) You've Been Closest to Longest

I don't think any one of us loves our look in this picture... for whatever reason.  But, there's no way I could pick one of these people above the rest.  I don't know that I'll ever be able to quite get across to them exactly how big the impact they have each had on my life is.  They are my sisters, more blood than not.  I would walk through fire and take down an army for any one of them and all of them.  Annie, Courtney, and Kelly... if any of you read this, Through thick and thin, good and bad, across distance and time; I love you, each, from the depths of my soul. 

.experiment.

    So, I must admit I'm a facebook junkie.  Moreover, I've become intrigued by this "31 Day Challenge" thing that so many people are doing on it.  Just as a way to reflect on my life through photographs, I think I'm going to take part.  Not on facebook... on here.  So, read it or don't ... either way : )


Day 01 - A Picture of yourself with ten facts:

1. I was born in San Antonio, TX
2. My mama is my very best friend.
3. I broke up with my first boyfriend because
   he see-sawed with another girl... we were in kindergarten. :)
4. I'm a sucker for macaroni 'n' cheese
5. I've wanted to go to Australia since I was 4 years old.
6. I LIVE for the ocean, river, pool... WATER.
7. I love to write... I currently have 3 unfinished books
   waiting on my computer.  I'll get to them... eventually.
8. I also love to act; becoming an actress professionally
   has been my dream since I played Scout in To Kill A Mockingbird
   when I was 8 years old.
9. I LOVE animals.  Cartoon, real... doesn't matter.  Hurt one
   and it breaks. my. heart.
10. I was a beauty queen at one time, and I hardly ever
    admit it.  I don't know why.