I don't know if any of your remember Liam's very favorite stuffed puppy Baba. He used to carry Baba everywhere. Baba was the first toy he really took too and the first one he ever named. He said Baba before he even said mommy or daddy! The day he named Baba was epic. It was during a Bright Start visit and we were using the stuffed dog to get his eyes to follow it around as well as reach out for it. It was one of the only toys for a very long time that he was willing to hang on to and hold.
He had looked at the stuffed puppy and worked himself up to say "baba". All jaws dropped. WHOO HOO!! It was awesome. I had been on the verge of tears, trying so hard to keep those from escaping. I was so happy. He was showing signs of improving and this day was huge. Since then he's always called that stuffed puppy Baba. When we moved July of 2012 Baba went missing. I had been so careful throughout the move to keep Baba close to Liam but somehow he went missing. It wasn't until August of 2012 that Baba (or baba's twin brother) returned home to us. You see after 2 weeks of looking for Baba I gave in and bought a new one off Amazon. I just couldn't keep this little boy away from his puppy, and I couldn't imagine anything else soothing him during his hospital stays. He needed his puppy.
Baba was ingrained into our lives. It felt like he was a part of Liam because everywhere Liam went that puppy went too. Baba was buy his side while recovering from several surgeries, countless hospital stays and many days spent sick in bed. Baba offered just as much comfort, or maybe even more, than he got from me. At the time Baba went missing he had been with Liam for 6 months. 6 months was a long time for the adventures he went through.
Baba stayed by Liam side through so many hospital stays.
His smiling face and soft patchwork body always helped Liam feel better.
Liam's 11 month pictures were taken with Baba by his side.
Where is Baba now?
Oh he's around...and so is his twin brother that also goes by the name Baba lol. We keep them by Liam's bed afraid to loose them again. They still provide lots of comfort and love. He still chews on their ears and tails and plays with them. Sometimes he makes barking noises and acts like Baba did it. He also likes to pretend Baba is licking him and he will laugh and say "OOOh puppy your funny" and "stop licking". It just more proof that a bond between a boy and his puppy cannot be broken.
