A special baby gift

15 years ago

Here's a picture of my daughter Gillian, then a senior in high school, with a display of her artwork. The piece at the top was done in pastels. Sometime after she died (at age 25) I had it archivally framed and put away to wait for the occasion of my son's first baby. As you know, that occasion arrived last month. I gave the baby's parents the gift, and then we wrapped it back up to wait for the completion of their new house. It should be finished some time this year, and then Jill's painting will hang on the nursery wall. She was very close to her brother, and loved children, so I know this is something she'd want.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (20)

juellie1962
15 years ago
Oh my goodness; what a special gift! It is so beautiful; your daughter really had a talent. What a perfect piece for a baby's room!
I'm sorry you lost your beautiful daughter; has it been a long time?
Marilyn Sue
15 years ago
What a wonderful gift for the new baby, very nice.

Sue
Related Discussions
OT A special Mother' Day gift.
Q
Comments (14)
Kylie,no wonder the mom had a hard time the baby was half as big as her,so cute. Barb,that sounds like me I am always some where other than with my camara when I need it,this morning we had 5 baby Carolina Wrens come off the nest and I missed it with the camera,because I did not want to miss the babies myself,oh well I might be able to get them before they leave completely because the nest box is on my back deck. Bonnie
...See More
My very special cooking-related Christmas gift
Q
Comments (12)
I'm sorry about the link... let's try this one. The Apron Book It's very special indeed. Part of the reason for posting about it here is to honor her thoughtfulness and time she put into this gift. She has sewn some curtains and pillow covers but really doesn't care too much about sewing. And that just adds another dimension to the specialness of the gift.
...See More
That One Special Gift, that you Can't wait to give.
Q
Comments (24)
Most of you know my mom died just two months ago, and we are all still devastated. I dug out my old home movies---some of them 30 years old---and made DVDs for my sisters, their children, and my mom's sister, all of whom spent countless hours with us at the hospital during Mom's last week. The videos include footage of my mom...and seeing those old video has been very helpful to me in the grieving/healing process. I also bought each of them an ornament and printed them the below story, which I'd never shared with anyone. MY NOTE TO THEM: About this time of year in 1987, Mom sent me a letter. She and Poppy lived in Florida at the time, and she wanted to explain about a Christmas ornament that accompanied her letter. Funds were extremely short that year. There was no money for Christmas gifts, but she wanted to send me something. She explained that she had lots of Tiara, but that "pretty things, clothes, etc., go away or you tire of the color or whatever, and they are gone." She was also feeling very sentimental because of losing her own mom earlier that year. Mom's letter read: "I was thinking of the little gifts Mom sent us each year that always meant so much to me and the other girlsÂthings we still cherish. So I decided to send you something that you could have from now on (and on and on), and every year you can hang my ornament on your tree and say, ÂMy mom gave me this.Â And maybe youÂll always feel me and Dad are there with you whether we are here or somewhere else. IÂve have had this a long while. I donÂt know why I bought it and never used it. But it just seemed like a little memento I wanted you to have. I feel it is a little treasure IÂve buried and put in a safe place. I know it will be guarded and loved. You wonÂt use it enough to tire of it, and I (and Dad) will always be remembered for a long time to come." So every Christmas for the past 20 years, I have read her letter (and cried) and hung that ornament on my tree (and cried some more). This year was no differentÂexcept I cried a little harder and a little longer. Now I know just how badly her heart ached for her mama. I bought you a little ornament this year because I know thatÂlike meÂyou love and miss ÂBÂ so much. Maybe youÂll drag it out once a year, hang it on your tree, and remember meÂand remember herÂand remember that little things mean a lot, but our loved ones mean the most. And I hope the DVD brings you as much joy as it brought me when I put it together for you. MERRY CHRISTMAS WITH LOVE, Rita December 2008
...See More
Gift for a baby
Q
Comments (27)
For my DGS's first birthday I had a star registered in his name. I figured he'd get a ton of presents but they'd be put away or otherwise forgotten but the star would be forever. It came with a nice certificate I had framed plus a guide to finding it in the galaxy. Nerdy, I know but I liked the idea of having a star named for him. I'm going to do the same when it's my new granddaughter's first birthday. On a related note-when my grandson was born I bought myself a ring with his birthstone. I just got myself another with my granddaughters birthstone. Had I thought about it I'd have gotten the first one that could be stacked, since I now have to wear two different rings, but my friends all thought that was a cool idea, having grandkid birthstone rings.
...See More
gemini40
15 years ago
Oh what beautiful piece to have handed down to your grandson. That will be a cherished family heirloom for generations to come. Nice job. How sad to lose such a beautiful , talented child.

June
lydia1959
15 years ago
Jill was a wonderful artist! That is a very special gift and I am sure it will be cherished.
linda_in_iowa
15 years ago
What a beautiful gift for the new baby. Your DD was very talented.
maire_cate
15 years ago
The art work is indeed amazing and it will be the perfect piece on hang on Joey's wall. That is truly a family heirloom to cherish. Jill certainly inherited the family artistic genes and it must be comforting to know that her presence will continue to be there to watch over your grandson.

Maire
socks
15 years ago
What a special moment it was to present the gift to your son and DIL. Do you recall what motivated Gillian to do a pastel of that nature? I wonder if she had an idea it would be on her or her brother's child' wall.

Did you give the turtle rug yet? Actually, that rug should be hung up not walked on! I might be confusing things here; maybe the rug was for someone else.
joann23456
15 years ago
What a wonderful, thoughtful gift.
lynn_d
15 years ago
Susan, that made my eyes leak. What a wonderful gift from her hands, through your heart to your son's family and new grandchild.
patti43
15 years ago
That is such a touching gift. I imagine there will be tears involved, but the picture is perfect for a baby's room. What a wonderful thing!
sleeperblues
15 years ago
Beautiful. And I am very sorry for Gillian's loss. She was lovely.
Jamie_LA
15 years ago
Beautiful! Jill was a great artist. That is so special.
alisande
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks, everyone. Juellie, it's been ten years; Jill died on Memorial Day 2001 from a dangerous combination of drugs prescribed by a physician who lost his license over it. When I first came to GardenWeb I joined the Grieving Forum and saw that Lulie had lost her daughter six years earlier. I couldn't imagine such a time span for some reason, and now here I am, ten years later. I'm happy to say I still feel strongly connected to my daughter.

Susan, you remembered correctly......I made the turtle rug for this baby. I finished the hooking in time, but had to leave the edges unbound. I haven't rushed to do that because it will be hung in their new house. That gives me a few months. And yes, I agree it belongs on a wall. It's small, for one thing. For another, they have two cats who would love to pull out the loops, I'm sure. :-)

I just ran across this picture of my two daughters taken back in the 1980s. (You can tell from the hair, right?) With them is Holly, a lab mix we rescued from a nasty situation. I mentioned Holly last night when I posted on Vetaal's thread.
sleeperblues
15 years ago
I remember Lulie Wayne and her DDs tragic story, killed while rescuing her brother's dog. Her website is a very beautiful tribute. I can't imagine losing a child and my thoughts and prayers go out to all you on this site who have gone through this tragedy. I am sure your surviving DD misses her sister greatly. They looked so close.
socks
15 years ago
I remember Lulie too. I think she pops up once in a while.
Lindsey_CA
15 years ago
Susan, your children are all beautiful; and Gillian certainly was artistic! That is such an incredible gift for little Joey. I know it will be very special to him.
maire_cate
15 years ago
Susan, I don't ever remember seeing that photo. I know I've told you before that your family has strong resemblances to each other. But in that photo they could be twins. Joey must have been so touched to receive it. It really is a special gift in so many ways.
juellie1962
15 years ago
Oh, I wasn't aware of your/your daughter's story. I'm so sorry. Your daughters look like twins!
jannie
15 years ago
Such beautiful daughters. I have two daughters also, but they are different as night and day. I am so sorry for your loss.
gardenspice
15 years ago
Aw , Susan, that has to be the smost special baby gift I've ever heard of. As Gemini said, that is now a heirloom.

A special baby gift

Comments (20)

juellie1962

Marilyn Sue

Related Discussions

gemini40

lydia1959

linda_in_iowa

maire_cate

socks

joann23456

lynn_d

patti43

sleeperblues

Jamie_LA

alisande
Original Author

sleeperblues

socks

Lindsey_CA

maire_cate

juellie1962

jannie

gardenspice

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

A special baby gift

Comments (20)

Related Discussions

alisandeOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

alisande
Original Author