I’ve been including Annie in the decorating decisions for The Acrobat’s room. I think it will be easier for her to accept all the changes if she is actively participating in them. We’re putting the baby in what was formerly our guest room, so last weekend, my cousin Leah and her fiancé Ted came and took the bed. I let Annie say goodbye to the bed before it left forever.
Ted and Leah, I never said the bed wasn’t jumped on.
After the bed was gone, Annie and I went to pick out some paint for the walls.
She was very possessive of the paint sample.
Unfortunately, she thought we were going to come home and immediately paint, and was Extremely! Upset! when that didn’t happen. She didn’t let it go, either – every morning the first thing she says is, “Are we going to paint my baby brother’s room today?” Someday, when she and her brother are screaming at each other, I plan to remind her of how enthusiastically she anticipated his arrival.
My mom came up with the excellent idea to have Annie paint something else for the baby’s room, and she brought over a canvas and some paints. Needless to say, Annie was thrilled.
She was very into the different colors, and spent lots of time thinking about which color she wanted to switch to…you know, before she swirled it all into one giant greenish color.
She was globbing the paint on…and she didn’t exactly have the most gentle touch.
After she smeared paint around for a good ten minutes, she said, “Mama, I think I’m done. No…wait.” And she got down close to examine her creation.
“Annie, what are you thinking right now?” I asked her.
“Rainbows!” She replied. Of course.
She added a few more squiggles.
“Annie, what’s your inspiration?” I asked her.
“Rainbows!” She replied. Of course.
After dabbing at it a bit more, she declared it done.
I can’t wait to put it in his room.
Sinead says:
That is adorable and such a great idea.
Panni says:
So special!
Auntie_M says:
That is precious! I love how much thought & energy she put into her painting! What a special masterpiece to hang in the Acrobat’s room! Yay for Grandma’s brilliant idea!! (Make sure you date the back of the canvass after it dries!)
And just think, someday there may be a family fight over who gets to keep that work of art: the proud parents…off-to-college-Annie….or the Acrobat for whom it was painted. Fun times coming up in about 15 years or so!
Janet says:
Your mom is AWESOME! I love it!
Elizabeth says:
I love Annie’s art! We got our daughter involved in preparing for her baby brother and I swear it made a huge difference. Knock on wood, but we have never had any jealousy issues.
Kimberly says:
So cute. Am I the only one that sees a dolphin?
Natalie says:
I can totally see that now that you mentioned it! Awesome!
Rachel says:
I see the dolphin too!
Wendi says:
i see a dolphin too! and janet is right… your mom is totally awesome!
itsmemishmeow says:
I see a dolphin too, Kimberly!
That is an adorable idea! I’ve seen another blogger do something similar. I think you should set the acrobat up with some Annie’s Room colored paint and a canvass, when he gets old enough, so he can paint one for her. Birthday gift maybe? Just a thought.
Heather says:
Great idea!
TamaraL says:
That is lovely!!
Kathy Shipstad says:
I see a dolphin in there! AWESOME!
Kirsten says:
I love that idea!!! I kind of feel like since we don’t know what we are having, we haven’t been able to come up with many ways to involve our son with preparing for this baby. I hope you don’t mind if I totally steal this one – I think it’s a great way to make him feel like a part of things! Can’t wait to hang an Adam original in the baby’s room!
Heather says:
No, DO IT! I think it’s such a fun way to get the older kids involved.
Valerie says:
LOVE it, and ohhhhhhhhhhh, how amazingly cute is your AMBEDEXTROUS (sp?!?) Annie!!!
Stephanie says:
I see a dolphin and a bird. Toucan, maybe?
So cute, can’t wait until Annie has a brother to interact with.
My brother and I are 13 months apart, just us, and he is the best friend I could ever ask for.
Jeanie says:
There’s probably an artist out there getting a whole buncha money for something just like this. I like it!
Miriam says:
That is amazing – what a wonderful way to connect Annie and the Acrobat.
Molly says:
There are five of you in the picture…one is overtop looking down…please tell me other people see that immediately, too? What a special girl.
noe says:
it looks like a papagallo!!! (sorry i don’t know the word in English).
Go to Youtube and search ‘papagallo’ and then when you see the italian song… that’s what i thought when i saw her art!
BEAUTIFUL!
Katrina says:
It’s a dolphin!!
I say you go with a sea theme now, to go with that picture!! How awesome would that be?
Sue says:
What a great idea your mom came up with, Heather!! Tell Annie that I think her creation is just beautiful!! Does she know how to print her name at all, and date it? That would be a special little touch!
Heather says:
She isn’t quite there with her pen skills, but I wrote her name and the date on the back with a sharpie!
Catherine says:
Love this! Do you happen to know where you got Annabel’s shirt? I think it’s so cute!! Would love to get one for my niece, Charlotte!
Heather says:
yes! I got it for her second birthday party from Ty’s Toy Box: http://www.tystoybox.com/
Amanda says:
What a great idea! That is really cute that she was so into painting.