Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Don't Blink: They Grow Up So Fast

I hope you will indulge me today while I get a bit nostalgic.  My first-born son turns fifteen years old today, and I really cannot believe how fast the time has gone.  It feels -- well, maybe not quite like yesterday -- but like just last year, that I held my beautiful baby boy in my arms for the first time and felt myself bursting with love for him.  I remember that moment so clearly, whereas I can't tell you what I had for lunch yesterday or where I left my keys this morning.  My mind can't quite wrap itself around the fact that it has been a whole fifteen years since then.  Of course, I've gotten to know him better over the years as he's grown into a wonderful young man, and I love him now more than ever.  So I really can't come to grips with the fact that he will be going off to college in just three and a half years -- which I know will pass in the blink of an eye.  I'm trying to treasure every moment. 


Anyway, so instead of writing the blog I had in mind for this week, I thought I would share a few photos of some of the murals and furniture I painted for him when he was little.  His current bedroom is a typical teenager's room with rock posters on the wall, and not a thing made by mom.  ;-)
I painted the "Owl & Pussycat" nursery while I was pregnant, inspired by the classic children's poem by Edward Lear.  I happened to find the Laura Ashley border paper just as it was discontinued.  The "pussycat" is a portrait of our beautiful cat inaptly named "Stinky" (courtesy of my husband).


For my son's first birthday, I painted him
this table and chairs set.  It held up to 
lots of abuse and still gets use when 
the baby cousins visit.  I still love the 
tortoise shell pattern on the seats.



For his second birthday, I painted my son this circus rocking chair.  The chair was inspired by a trip to the Circus World Museum in Baraboo, Wisconsin as well as my son's love of his toy circus trains.  This chair in turn inspired the theme for his "big boy" room, two years later.

My son's "big boy" circus room, from about age 4 to 7, had wide-striped circus tent walls, hand-stained two-toned furniture, vintage circus posters, and miscellaneous hand-painted items such as shelves, wood finials, and of course, the rocking chair that started it all.




17 comments:

  1. What a delightful blog! I'm following you thru Linky Followers & I hope you'll join my creative community as well!

    Have a wonderful week!

    Ramona
    http://create-with-joy.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. wow...you have a wondeful talent for decorating! the rooms belong in a magazine!
    I am your newest follower...pls follow back if you can.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much! I love interior design and will be sharing lots more of my current home. I hope you'll check back.
      I'm following you now too!

      Delete
  3. Love the circus room!! Visiting from the Linky Party Hop!! I hope you’ll visit – www.LaughterandGrace.com – and follow back.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Jennifer! I'm following you now too!

      Delete
  4. Thanks, Mary! I'm following you now too. I hope you have a great day!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Following from Cheri's Linky Follower Party Hop! I'd love for you to follow me also at The Design Confidential - http://www.thedesignconfidential.com/

    ReplyDelete
  6. My son also just turned 15! I have so many of the same feelings as well. You put all of those feelings into words perfectly.

    I am following through Linky Followers. Hope you will visit and follow back. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Angie,
      You don't look like you have a 15-year-old! I'm glad you could relate -- thanks so much for letting me know.
      And thanks for following me. I'm following you too. :-)
      Jill

      Delete
  7. You do some beautiful work! I found you on blog hop and I'm now a linky follower. I would appreciate you following me. Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Sherry. You do beautiful work too. I loved your blog, and I'm following you now too.
      Jill

      Delete
  8. Your painting is just lovely! Found you via the Linky hop and have become your newest Linky follower. Hope you have a chance to visit and perhaps follow me back.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I'm following you now too.
      Jill

      Delete
  9. Wow, for a lawyer you're super creative! Love the mural! And you put me to shame. My boys' room is a disaster!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Sandra! It's great to "meet" a fellow fiber artist. Your tapestries are beautiful!
      Jill

      Delete