Tonight as I was setting the table for dinner, I reached up to grab a cup and plate for my little one, and there....so suddenly, my heart did its familiar little flip flop as I realized how thankful I am to have her sweet, mismatched, butterfly and heart shaped, banged up and dropped on the floor, faded rainbow of colors, dishes in my cupboard. One day they will be gone...my cupboards will be empty of the childhood signs...she will be too grown up for such things, and that day will come too soon for her mama, but they symbolize something to me. In my mind, I find myself preparing my heart that I will only get to experience motherhood once...that these fleeting moments with Sierra at different ages and stages are just that...fleeting...and I want to soak in every little bit....even the stack of plastic plates in all of her favorite colors...her favorite dinosaur cup that we toted home from a fast food joint...the plate that has been dropped so many times it has cracks in it...what special little treasures they are to me. So what I'll do with these memories, as I do with so many others, is to hold onto them and squeeze them so tightly, that they just become a part of me...so lucky to have her.
I don't mean to be sappy tonight...I am sappy but happy :) Enough chit chat...most likely you're here to find out the winner of Viola Mahr's custom, shabby, blog banner! I wish I could give away 100 of these...you all deserve one you know...
My husband selected a number randomly, which led me to our winner tonight.....and she is...
Natalie Deaver!
Thank you to each of you for giving it a go, and thank you to Vio for sharing your beautiful digi skills with us. She has a couple of lovely, vintage banners up in her etsy shop now.
]
Another Gathering Kit to share with you tonight....using Papertrey Ink's Button Boutique stamp set and Button Card and Doily Details Collection dies.
Night friends.
Melis
But someday when you hold your grandchild that mother love will spark again. I have 2 grandsons and I feel for them as I felt for my 3 daughters. The joy in every smile, smell, bottle and yes even that change of diaper. You'll have too many cups sitting around, snacks to eat and more love then you knew you had. Enjoy this time and dream of the days to come.
Posted by: Teresa B. | March 02, 2011 at 09:50 PM
Yep, they are growing... They change every day.. You can see it in their eyes in what they say in how they dress. And yes, it is hard sometimes to let them do this :) We still want them to be tiny sweet babies..
Posted by: kissinia | March 02, 2011 at 10:33 PM
There is something magic in every child and it's so lovely to watch them growing up. From tiny baby clothes and bottles with babymilk to gallons of milk and juice to jeans and lots of food. (I have 2 sons; they can eat só much:) Time flies but the upcoming years will give you more precious memories. It's hard to see them grow up so fast. And it's good to soak up every moment. One of my sons already lives on his own but I am lucky to have a heart and a mind that's filled with tons of warm, loving, heartfelt, sweet and wonderful memories. And when he's home for dinner, just a visit or what so ever it's just like the "good old days". And these moments are even more special. Being together, sharing together and loving each other as a family. Awe....that's the miracle of life and being a mother....I know exactly what you mean...
And your handmade kits? They have a place in my heart too....that's pure beauty!
Posted by: stella | March 02, 2011 at 11:19 PM
I'm so thankful for your word about your motherhood. They make me look at my children a little different.
Congrats to the winner!
Your kit is full of shabby beauty. Love it.
Posted by: Yana | March 03, 2011 at 01:15 AM
I have the same sentiment as you… I am a mother of one sweet little girl too and I thank god for her. She’s every thing to me!
Love your pin cushions, they are lovely!
Posted by: Sharon | March 03, 2011 at 01:24 AM
I too was blessed with one child ... God's greatest gift to me ... I LOVE to hear that you drink in each day instead of wasting time thinking of what might be or what will be ... only God knows what will be ... just enjoy!
Beautiful creations too Melissa ...
Posted by: Ros Crawford | March 03, 2011 at 02:08 AM
Love your shabby projects Melissa! Enjoy your happy time with your little bean ;)
Posted by: Ruth S | March 03, 2011 at 02:41 AM
What a touching post, totally brought tears to my eyes. I have 2 boys...6 and 3...those thoughts go through my mind daily!
Posted by: Amy Baldwin | March 03, 2011 at 05:01 AM
You do such a great job of putting into words the thoughts and feelings we experience as mothers every day. Your reminders of how to slow down for a moment, take in all of the little sometimes taken for granted things, so that we can cherish this time that will be gone before we know it, are priceless and I thank you so much for them. When we focus on these things, I think it even makes the challenges roll off of our shoulders a bit easier, makes them seem smaller. Thanks for sharing that :) Gorgeous gathering kit too!
Posted by: Jennifer Schmidt | March 03, 2011 at 05:41 AM
You always amaze me at the neverending beautiful ideas you come up with! Always makes me feel good to look at your sweet creations. Congrats to the winner! I have just one child, too, and he is fast approaching 21 years! He has three random plastic lunch-size plates from when he was little (wild type of patterns on them), and he loves them! Told me never to give them away. Sierra will probably feel the same way about her's as she gets older.
Posted by: Patty O'Malley | March 03, 2011 at 06:21 AM
Such beautiful creations as always!! Melissa you make the most beautiful things if you arent already you should create a beautiful album for each year and journal your thoughts and special happenings or words that take place so that not only you can capture all those precious memeories for you to review but for her to have in the future as she becomes a mom. My friend is having her first grandchild soon and she moved to be close to him yesterday. I made her an album for the first year. As a grandma I wished I had done that for my children but did for my grandson. The journals are worth more that gold and so much fun. :)
Posted by: Davi | March 03, 2011 at 08:05 AM
Yes, I agree...someday you will be a grandmother and It is the best that their is! My heart just swells thinking about these precious babies!!! And you can save the plate for them :-)
Posted by: Char | March 03, 2011 at 08:21 AM
My girls are 2.5 and 9 months, and I've already told them that they had better give me grandbabies some day so that I can deal with them growing up. It's exactly as you said; we only get to do this once, and that one time goes by far too quickly (I can't even think of the days when they'll be trekking off to school!!!). What an absolute joy it is to have plastic dishes in the cupboard, and dolls in the living room, with a stuffed animal hiding in my own bed some nights... I love all the signs of little ones afoot, and I will dreadfully miss them when they are gone!
Posted by: Meredith | March 03, 2011 at 09:13 AM
Such sweet, sweet words and so truly spoken! But, God willing, you will experience all this again, when your little bean has a bean of her own! I adore my two grands, one almost 6 and the other 3 on the 17th!! I keep them every day so Mama and Daddy can work and I soak up each day!! So now we have mismatched plastic plates, princess dolls and Star Wars Legos, drawers with little clothes in them and all around little sweet messes!! And loving every minute!!!
Your creations are just heavenly!! Love to visit you!!
Hugs,
Teri
Posted by: Teri Suliks | March 03, 2011 at 10:47 AM
You re one of the best mothers i know.Way better than many biological mothers i know.I hope i ll be the kind of mother you are
Posted by: eleftheria | March 03, 2011 at 01:38 PM
i still have my youngest sons little bear cup.and he's 25! we never stop being mothers even when our kiddos are grown. Keep each minute in your mind and heart. thank you for the sharing that you do.
Posted by: sarita | March 03, 2011 at 03:32 PM
Congratulations, Natalie. And thanks, Melissa, for being a gracious hostess!
Posted by: Karen Letchworth | March 03, 2011 at 07:56 PM
It's never sappy when you speak from the heart *smiling* and you're a wise woman and mommy to understand that childhood is fleeting. Win her heart now and keep doing it -- no matter how hard it seems in the future (and it will). When last we talked I think we knew we felt the same about many life issues. I've just posted a birthday post that probably seems sappy too. I think you'll enjoy the story.
Beautiful items today Melissa. Always beautiful.
Posted by: Susie | March 03, 2011 at 10:15 PM
What a great post! You illuminate my life, too, Kim! I am ALWAYS brightened by your blog and seeing your beautiful decor and way of looking at life. Thanks for the continued inspiration!
pilipalagaga 0304
Posted by: handbags wholesale master | March 03, 2011 at 11:22 PM
this is why i love reading your blog, Melissa! you share such sweet and precious moments in your life and it's always so heartwarming. i hope time slows down a bit, so that you get to enjoy your days with your girl more! =) beautiful project, too! have a lovely weekend! =)
Posted by: Alice W. | March 04, 2011 at 12:47 AM
It's funny you should mention this-I have noticed recently that since my children have grown up and are out in the world, I have had to repurpose my life. My days were once filled with all the things that being a single Mom can bring, and never enough time it seemed. Now all I have is time. I am sad sometimes that those days are behind me, but each stage of life brings new experiences. I have learned to slow down a bit and spend more time on what I need, rather than only the needs of others. Recently we welcomed my first grandchild, a little baby boy. I am excited about spending time with him, and watching my daughter as she experiences all the love and wonder that having a new baby brings to her life. I used to define myself as somebody's MOM, and that's pretty much all I knew. Now I have had to develop other sides to me that I didn't have time to do before. It's hard sometimes, and lonely sometimes, but I have my memories to look back on, and the future to look forward to. (And I have the little plastic plates in a special place in my china cabinet, to use when my grandson visits!)
Posted by: ReNae Allen | March 05, 2011 at 05:19 AM
Hi Melis! I've been away last month so I'm just catching up on your blog now :) LOVE all the projects and pure inspiration! They are all amazing :) I know what you mean about these fleeting moments with our kids too. Time is moving far too quickly!!!! Hugs to you all xxxxx (missing you!!)
Posted by: Rachel Greig | March 05, 2011 at 12:34 PM