Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Sleeping Baby

The other day Emily gave us a CD of pictures she and Cayo have taken of Sofia. As I was looking through them I noticed how many were pictures of Sofia sleeping. Sleeping babies are so beautiful, so innocent and peaceful. I think we are all drawn to that image. The photos reminded me of a linoleum block print that I made many years ago just before Emily was born. I was taking a printmaking class and was struggling with a subject. I think I had brought sketches to class of mountain goats, because I liked the texture of their fur, but I wasn't sure I had ever seen a mountain goat in the flesh. The teacher looked at the sketch and she said, very gently, "draw what you know." At that time I knew babies. Andy was just 2 and Emily was on her way. I used a photo of Andy and me for inspiration, but he had no hair, so I added hair to the baby. (I was still interested in that "fur" texture!) When Emily was born she had hair that looked just like the baby in my print, (so does Sofia) so I have always thought that the baby represents both of my children.


Here's one of my favorite pictures on Emily's CD. Sofia sleeping on her Dad's shoulder.

7 comments:

  1. Anonymous7:31 PM

    Oh, that is a wonderful picture! I have always been charmed by the image of a daddy with his baby. And I know what you mean about sleeping babies. When mine were that age I'd think, "Oh, I wish he'd hurry and go to sleep--I have a million things I need to do!" But when he'd finally drift off, I'd hover just watching him breath and crinkle his nose and stretch and curl up... So sweet!

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  2. Anonymous10:52 PM

    Sleeping babies are sooooooooo sweet.

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  3. Sleeping babies are angels. My niece had the first formal picture of each of three children done when they were sleeping. What special photos they are as is the one of Sofia and Cayo.

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  4. ahhh, that is so precious!

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  5. Anonymous9:55 AM

    Awwwwww! I love that feeling of a baby asleep on your shoulder.

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  6. I think you may want to sketch your son-in-law and Sofia now, eh? A matching print to go with the original.

    Sofia is precious. Loving the baby photos and I bet you are loving being a grandmom!

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  7. Nothing is better than watching a baby sleep. My son was born last year and I was allowed to bring hime to work until he was 6 months old and I spent many a hour just watching him sleep.

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