Some Help for Big Brother From Eloise Wilkin...Bringing Home The New Baby!

Today was the day!  

My new little grandson Edward came home!  

And I had the perfect book for his Big Brother Peter...

We read Esther and Eloise Wilkin's The New Baby together several times before Mommy and Daddy arrived.  The little girl in the story has a doll named "Baby Dear" (more about that at the end of my post).  

My grandson showed the book to some of his favorite stuffed animals...

Just like the little girl in the story, he was in full anticipation of 

The Homecoming...

He had practiced being gentle with his stuffed animals so he could hold Mommy's new baby, just like the little girl we read about...

I think Big Brother did a pretty good job!

Welcome home, Edward!

Fun trivia bout this book: 

• Eloise Wilkin (1904-1987), who illustrated more than 50 books for Little Golden Books, often illustrated the titles of her sister, children's author Esther Burns Wilkin (who married Eloise's brother-in-law).
• Eloise often used her own children as models for the children in her books, and later used her grandchildren as models.
• In 1960, Vogue Dolls, Inc. launched the first doll designed by Eloise Wilkin. "Baby Dear" came in 12 and 18 inch-sizes and sold for $6 and $12 respectively.  
• In all, Eloise designed eight dolls for Vogue and Madame Alexander. 
• Baby Dear and So Big, both written by Esther Wilkin and illustrated by Eloise Wilkin, feature the Eloise Wilkin dolls.

CHRISTMAS IN A (LITTLE GOLDEN) NUTSHELL!

Fun for nostalgic adults, this Everything I Need to Know About Christmas collection of Little Golden Book illustrations is full of cheery reflections about the season.  (I'm pretty sure St. Nicholas is bringing me a copy.)

Did you know you can find old-fashioned fun and the Gospel Nativity, all under one golden cover? My personal favorite is The Christmas ABC, with vintage illustrations by Eloise Wilkin...

Christmas Innocents

It's settled. We're in love.
Me, my husband, my daughter, her husband, his parents:  our whole family is in love.

With the darling baby boy who's inside this shirt!

If you've wondered why I haven't been writing quite as many posts as usual, blame my new baby Grandson and Christmas: 

Baby's Christmas, by Esther Wilkin, illustrated by Elioise Wilkin
Photo credit:  Cindi Rose

the smiling, decorating, photo snapping, rocking, baking, shopping, ordering, photo snapping, cooing, listening, nuzzling, singing, photo snapping, oo-ing, aahh-ing, gift wrapping, diaper changing, errand running, card addressing, photo snapping, praying, remembering, laughing, crying, hugging...  

The busy-ness, but also all the emotions that come with my first Christmas season of not only enjoying my Grandson, but missing my Dad.  

And even more emotions while still contemplating the families missing their children after the horrible shooting and tragic deaths of so many innocent souls at Sandy Hook Elementary School last Friday.

Today I read a beautiful poem for those Innocents, that is attributed to someone named Cameo Smith (it's all over the Internet, but I could not find the original source.)  Here it is...

"I AM STILL THE LIGHT" 

Baby Jesus in the manger From "The Christmas Story" ,
a Little Golden Book, 1952; Janet Werner, Illustrations by Eloise Wilkin.

Twas’ 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38

when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven’s gate

their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air. 

they could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there. 

they were filled with such joy, they didn’t know what to say. 

they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day. 

“where are we?” asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse. 

“this is heaven.” declared a small boy.

“we’re spending Christmas at God’s house.” 

when what to their wondering eyes did appear, 

but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near. 

He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same. 

then He opened His arms and He called them by name. 

and in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring 

those children all flew into the arms of their King 

and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace, 

one small girl turned and looked at Jesus’ face. 

and as if He could read all the questions she had 

He gently whispered to her, “I’ll take care of mom and dad.” 

then He looked down on earth, the world far below 

He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe 

then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand, 

“Let My power and presence re-enter this land!” 

“may this country be delivered from the hands of fools” 

“I’m taking back my nation. I’m taking back my schools!”  

then He and the children stood up without a sound.

“come now my children, let me show you around.” 

excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.

all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can. 

and i heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight, 

“in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT.”