Happy Birthday Clay and The Craft's Meow!

Today is my third son Clayton's 17th birthday. Happy Birthday Clay!!! Of course, he would be absolutely mortified if he knew I was writing about him on my blog. He's at that stage where everything I do embarrasses him. Ha!

Clay was my best pregnancy and easiest delivery of the four. He was the most beautiful baby...and I really mean that... perfect in every way. The best part about Clay's birth is that I shared it with my mother. She was there at my side, cheering me on, when Clay was born. She even cut the cord. It was the last best thing we ever did together... soon after, her cancer returned and claimed her life before Clay turned one. When I went back for the memorial service, many people came up to me and told me how thrilled she was to be there when Clay was born... how she loved to tell the story of how she "birthed" that baby. This is, and will always be, one of the most precious memories I have of my dear mother, who was the best mother and the best grandmother anyone could ever hope to have. I miss her terribly. If I'm any sort of good mother, it's because of her.

I have Collin scanning all my negatives for me (he's gotta do something besides sit around until he finds a job), but so far there are only a few of Clay as a baby. Here's one:

And here's a picture taken on Easter last month... terrible quality, but I have a terrible camera, and Clay is not the most cooperative subject.

That's my boy! He loves golf, working out at the gym, the Penguins, the Red Sox and mimicking people... which is really rather rude, except he's so good at it, it makes you laugh. I love him, even if he is a Terrible Teen! {LOL}

Anyway, this also happens to be my Second Blogaversary! Yep, I started this blog two years ago today, and featured this card that I had made for Clay (who loves penguins).

Isn't that funny! When I look back, I see how much my art has evolved. I remember when I first started out, I dreamed of being picked one day to be on a design team. I only had a handful of followers, but they were faithful to me. And then came followers who became dear friends to me... and now my cup runneth over! I am so lucky to be on several design teams, but mostly to have made some of the best friends a person could ever hope to have, all over this big world. It's fantastic!

So, of course, we must celebrate! Since it's my second Blogaversary, I have two prizes to offer:

First prize consists of the following stamps/stamp sets:

Kitchen Logic by Unity Stamp Company

Two adorable bear stamps by Ladybug and Friends

Best Fishes by Gina K Designs

Christmas Ornament Lala, Love Note Rosie, Running Clover,

and Lotus by La-La Land Crafts

Lottie and Gussie Gabalot, and

Georgina Glamourpuss by Stamping Bella

Second prize consists of three adorable stamp sets by Stamp and Smile.

For a chance to win one of these prizes, all you have to do is leave a comment here before 9:00 pm Pacific on Monday, June 14th. That's it! I won't bribe you to become a follower, although I'd love it if you were. I won't require that you post my blog candy on your blog, although I'd love it if you did. I want this to be fun and free wheeling. I'll announce the winners on Tuesday, June 15th.

Oh, but how about this... tell me what gift you'd like to receive on your next birthday if cost were no object... something you'd really love to have. I'll start by telling you mine: a new camera! One of those cool Nikons that Ashton Kutchar advertises. Now that would be heaven!