Growth Chart Art Review

8/11/2013

When I think about my "baby" turning three last week, it nearly kills me. When I think of bringing home that tiny little baby {9lbs 3 oz. 21.5 inches long} and I look at him now {35 lbs 3.5 ft tall}, I am amazed. I think back to all the little milestones that have happened from then 'til now... His first bath, first tooth, first haircut, his very first steps on his first birthday, the first time he used the potty... all these things and more are very well documented on my computer and on Facebook.

See, I'm a crazy, sentimental picture taker... Yes, I'm that Mom. Everywhere we go, I have to snap a few {hundred} pics. I feel these pictures are a way to re-connect with the feelings and emotions I felt when I took them. I have 10 or 20 blurry pics of Steven's high school graduation, they were blurry because I was so excited, I couldn't focus the camera right. I can't bear to delete them, even though you can't tell who or what it is supposed to be. It was the emotion I want to remember.

I also like to keep small mementos of special occasions. On my birthday last year, the boys took me to my favorite park and we fed the ducks and just hung out together, it was really nice. Before we left, Steven, 18 at the time, picked some tiny little pink tea roses from a bush and gave them to me. I still have them in an envelope in my nightstand.

I like to remember the things the boys do or give me, because one day, all to soon, I know it will all be over and they will have lives and families of their own. So, when I was thinking about gifts for Micah's birthday, I wanted a gift that would mean something, a gift that would still be around, even when all the batteries are dead and the small pieces of toys and games are lost, this gift will still be relevant.

While hunting for a useful and meaningful gift for a boy who has everything, I came across the most amazing growth charts ever and I knew I had to have one, so I reached out to the amazing owner of Growth Chart Art, Ellen and she agreed to send me a growth chart for the purpose of this post. These are not your typical, bland, medicinal, doctor's office growth charts. They are fun, funky and beautifully decorative pieces of art.

Growth Chart Art was founded by designer and artist, Ellen McCaleb. She was trying to give the old "pencil mark on the door jamb" an upgrade and boy, did she! These growth charts are not only useful, they are also totally decorative. You can even hang them as a piece of artwork in your home. The growth charts are available in several different styles, ranging from fun and funky to traditional. There's also the popular vintage surf board growth charts and the guitar growth charts too, but my favorite was the Growing Tree growth chart design. It comes in several different colors and can also be personalized with your child's name. The growth chart is made by hand, in the USA using only environmentally friendly materials, eco-friendly inks and formaldehyde free wood. All growth charts are guaranteed for life. Ellen donates 10% of their proceeds to children's groups. It feels good supporting a company that is truly making a difference, one growth chart at a time.