prismacolor markers
Another letter to Baby Chomiak: She will never say “I love you, Daddy”.
Hello my little one…. it’s me.
[We will teach you about Adele when you grow up a bit!]
I can’t even believe you are already 28 weeks along, and growing so strong inside of Mama’s belly. Wow, you are doing so great little bean!
First let me thank you for a precious gift you have already given me. [Truthfully I think you and God were in on it together.] A few weeks ago, your Mama and I were putting the Christmas tree up, and decorating it with all of our ornaments. Your Mama said she felt you moving around inside, and to come and see if I could feel anything on the outside. I hadn’t yet. I put my hand on her belly, and we waited there for a minute, in the silence of the twinkling lights from the Christmas tree.
All of a sudden we both felt a huge BOOM from inside – a direct hit to the palm of my hand, and my heart skipped a beat! I heard you, little one! Blinking back tears, I realized how real this journey is. This is happening – you are coming into our lives, a kicking, screaming, laughing, thoughtful little being. You, my little girl, are my miracle. I already thank God daily for your existence; for being allowed to witness this sort of love in my life. I am in awe.
Now, little bean, I have been thinking about something else I wanted to share with you.
As you will learn, there are many different types of families. Some families just have a Mommy. Some families just have a Daddy. Some have two Mommies or two Daddies. Some are raised by a grandparent or an aunt. Some – maybe most – will have a Mommy and a Daddy. The love is still the same, my sweet one.
I grew up with a Mommy and a Daddy. I was very lucky that they were [and are] both around for my whole life, spoiling me and loving me as I grew up. And if I am being honest, I was definitely a Daddy’s girl. My Daddy is very generous, very funny, and one of the true heroes in my life. I know I can always count on him to be there, fix anything, or make me laugh. I have always thought, even as I am now a grown-up, that I have the best Dad. (He will be the best Grandpa to you, I know it. 🙂
And as you get bigger and bigger in Mama’s belly, I realize that you will never say those words: I love you, Daddy.
My Evangelical Christian upbringing wants me to feel guilty about that. I want to say that I am sorry that I have chosen a “lifestyle” that omits a Daddy from your life. And I admit that it was one of the fears I had when I was struggling with becoming a Mama myself. How can I withhold anything from an innocent child?
But, my Sweetheart, I won’t apologize. Because I have chosen love, and love is something we never apologize for. My heart is too full of peace and gratefulness to be sorry, little one. No, you won’t have a Daddy in the traditional sense. You will have two Mommies instead. Two Mommies that already love you so entirely, it is hard to properly put it into words. So we will show you. We will show you with every hug, with every tear we wipe away, with every cuddle, with every crust we cut off your bread, and with every moment of sleep we lose when you cry or are sick. You will be so absolutely loved.
I believe to the depths of my soul, that this is the path God has chosen that has led you into this world. I believe that God knows what He is doing, and He isn’t scared that you will be coming into a family “without a Daddy” – but that was His plan. God does not make mistakes – He makes miracles.
So maybe one day you will be with your friends and they will be talking about their Daddies, and it will hit you: I don’t have one. And maybe you will wonder why. And I hope you will come to us with all of these questions, and more. And above all, I hope that your heart and soul is just so surrounded with love that you won’t feel like you are missing anything – but have everything you need. That is my prayer for you, little one.
We are counting down the days until we can stare into your beautiful little face. 🙂
A whole mess of MO-sketches!
Another catch-up post with a bunch more Movember sketches! Drawing to a close, but what a month it has been!
Day 23 – Commander Hadfield – the first Canadian to walk in space! That’s pretty sweet indeedy. Brush pen on moleskin.
Day 24 – Brother-in-law request – Smokey and the Bandit! Brush pen on moleskin.
Day 25 – Had to do Hook! I reffed the Dustin Hoffman version from the live action Disney film. Great movie! Brush pen on moleskin.
Day 26 – A donor request – Frida Kahlo! She wore her stache proudly, gotta give her props! Brush pen on moleskin.
Day 27 – A friend who donated asked if I could sketch their Bulldog, Lando, with a moustache. Here’s what I came up with! Digital sketch.
Day 28 – Jim Henson! What an incredible man. I have and always will love the Muppets! Brush pen and markers on moleskin.
Just two left to go! I know who they will be, I just need the time to do it…. 🙂
Movember sketch-up catch-up!
Alrighty, somehow I am managing to keep consistently one day behind… but given my schedule, that’s actually not bad!! Here we gooooooo!
Another reminder to pleeeeeze donate to this great cause – 11 DAYS TO GO!!
http://ca.movember.com/mospace/8179729
Day 14 – Clark Gable in “Gone with the Wind”. Done in pencil.
Day 15 – Request from a donor who is also a fellow Movember-Bro – he asked to be drawn wearing a smoking jacket, and drinking scotch. I live to abide. 🙂 Drawn with Prismacolour pencil crayons.
Day 16 – Another donor request – Ron Burgundy from “Anchorman”. Claaaaaaaasic. Brush pen and pencil crayon.
Day 17 – Couldn’t resist drawing another Muppet! Swedish Chef drawn in Copic markers.
Day 18 – Dali has got to have the most recognizable art – and ‘stache! Done with brush pen and Prismacolour markers.
It’s actually been really fun for me to push myself to try different styles in different mediums. They seem to look better in my head than the final product, but the life of an artist is an ever-evolving one. I must give myself grace and encouragement to keep going, one drawing at a time!
Okay let’s keep ‘er going and finish this marathon of drawings!! Hmm. Drawing for a cause. Wish I could do this more often.
My Grandpa for Movember 11.
Today is Remembrance Day in Canada. We stop to remember all the veterans, past and present. I am still fortunate enough to have my Grandpa in my life, who this year is 92. He was a pilot in World War II, and flew the massive Lancaster planes. I will never understand what he experienced or went through in the war, but I can do my absolute best to never forget, and never stop being entirely grateful.
I love you Grandpa!
