They Grow

I got my contributor's issues of the latest Stitch magazine the other day along with the return of the project I made for the issue. While shooting pictures of the project this morning I though about how interesting it was that today I was going to post about making a baby book.



On Saturday, my first baby won't officially be one anymore. She's turning 18. I've thought about this off and on over the past weeks, but I haven't really delved into what it all means. I tend not to deal with emotional stuff until it's right in front of me.
For instance a few weeks ago we were at synagogue for the end of Yom Kippur. For those that don't know, this is a seriously solemn holiday and most of it is spent at services. We were finally coming to the end and I was feeling that relief I always feel when I know that there's a full year's worth of days before I have to deal with Yom Kippur again. As we turned to leave the sanctuary, my girl was standing behind me and, when I saw her, I started to cry. Not, little tears, but all out weeping. Partly it was because I realized that this was it. Next year she'll be away at college and she probably won't be able to come home for the holiday and the other part was a sense of stupidity on my part. How could I have gone through Jewish New Year the previous week and now all of Yom Kippur and not thought about this until just this moment?
I hugged her and she seemed to know that I wasn't just happy to see her. She knew that this was a bittersweet moment and probably one of many to come in the next year.



When my girls were little I used to get a kick out of making books for them. They weren't fancy, usually just collaged pages with or without words. The books never lasted long, often becoming torn or stained, but that didn't matter. The fun was in the making. Actually, that's usually the case.



From the moment I thought about submitting a design I knew I wanted to make a baby book. The idea came to me almost fully formed and I knew it was meant to be.



I'm so glad I had the opportunity to share this idea and I really hope it will inspire others to make books for their kids. It's like chocolate and peanut butter, two great things together. You love crafting for your children and they love, love, love books.
You can't go wrong.