August 11, 2008

Today was my daughter's 19th birthday. This year's presents included Penn State clothing, red toaster, red blender, weekend trip to Pittsburgh and a day at a local spa. We had some nice together time which I enjoyed as I haven't seen her but coming and going all summer. In two weeks she's moving into her first apartment (12 minutes away).

Last year I painted H.B. Birthday to commemorate her 18th birthday. It is made of three small canvasses framed together, each canvas telling the story of a stage in her life: nursing-baby years, Meagan dancing in her ballerina tutu and my version of me and her shopping at Urban Outfitters.

Meagan has been a subject in many of my paintings and it's like looking at a photo album for me to see the stages of her life represented on canvas.

August 8, 2008

On Monday my one and only child will celebrate her 19th birthday. Those of you who have kids will know what I mean when I say that my daughter has grown in a heartbeat. Meagan is a gifted dancer, has great style and a flair for the dramatic.

This weekend my daughter, her friend Carrie and I will be going to Pittsburgh to accomplish three goals: Have Ethiopian food, shop at a great consignment shop in Squirrel Hill and pick up her Gluten-free birthday cake from Gluuteny (a gluten and dairy free bakery in Pittsburgh).

On the actual day of her birth my daughter and I follow the tradition of "birthday spa day" which we do twice a year on her birthday and mine. She will be having a manicure, pedicure, facial and I most likely some waxing. I on the other hand am looking forward to a long massage. We began this tradition of "birthday spa days" several years ago when no one was around for her birthday. Summer birthdays are difficult in that people tend to travel in the summer and tend to be away in August.