Celebrating Birthdays

My talented friend and fellow illustrator, Claudia McGehee, posted the artwork on her blog that she created for her daughter's birth announcement in honor of her birthday in October. I wanted to give Claudia props, because I'm totally copying her thoughtful idea.

Here's the artwork I did for my little girl's birth announcement (although you can see by her size and weight that she has never really been "little"!). I scanned this from a printed piece. I know the original lives in a drawer somewhere as a cut-up, glued down, dog-eared hodge-podge of pre-computer typesetting.

 

Today my daughter turns 17--- 

Happy Birthday to my lovely girl!

Teenager

Happy Birthday to Will.

My baby is a teenager today.

I did a post a while back when I first started my blog. I thought it relevant and am re-posting again on this wonderful day...

Tiny, precious, baby feet. 

I know they grow up. 

I know they get taller and that they out-grow their cribs--- out-grow their clothes.

I know that strings sprout from their ears and carry tuneless music to their souls.

I know that things that used to matter don't and things that never mattered do.

I get all that. 

They grow up. 

They become bigger. 

They morph into teenagers.

But I wasn't prepared for the feet.

The big grown up feet that appeared literally overnight.

The feet that stole away the cute little piggy toes.

The man feet that will carry my tiny baby into his future.... 

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh...

Happy Birthday, Will--- We love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sweet (usually) Sixteen

She's turning 16 this weekend. A beautiful young woman. Smart, headstrong, confident, a force to be reckoned with.

Happy, happy birthday Eliza! 

We love you.

xoxoxoxo

A Baltimore Necklace

Happy Birthday to my Mom today!

If you like my jewelry, then it's good news if I'm your daughter.

If you don't, then you're doomed to a life of jewelry you dislike. 

Here is the necklace I made Mom for her birthday. It's an old medal from Baltimore--- her birthplace. 

The eastern shore holds a lot of meaning for her family, me, and now my family, too. 

 Happy Birthday, Mom...

with love from the luckiest girl in the world.

A Happy Birthday

Today is my birthday and I love my birthday. 

I don't just love my birthday, though, I love everyone's birthday. 

What a brilliant concept? 

A day that is all yours, to celebrate you being plopped on this planet? 

I have, as of yet, not seen my birthday as a day marking my wrinkles, nor my creaks, nor to mourn my age. Instead, I see it as a day to appreciate my life and the amazing people who make it worthwhile. I count my blessings, and am grateful for the abundant love surrounding me. 

Thank you, to all of you, family and friends---

It's a Happy Birthday!