Around mid-February it occur ed to me that it was the 2nd birthday of this blog. I thought about posting something to commemorate the big event but let it slide. We had just returned from Puerto Rico, the SCBWI conference, and Texas and I was a bit under the winter blues.

It has been in the back of my mind for a few weeks, rattling around and bumping into my consousnous occasionally. Yet, I still didn't feel like posting anything about it. Then I realized why. I am a bit depressed about this anniversary. It doesn't seem like very long but I really hoped to have something to show by this date. I had wished upon many stars, tubes of watercolor and broken pencil leads that I would be published within two years. When I said this out loud to the hubby last night (in different words) he pointed out that this has been a part time venture balanced with raising the pud. He also pointed out that it usually takes longer than two years to be rewarded in a normal work environment. True but damn I just knew that I was meant to illustrate children's books (maybe even editorial) and why couldn't I make any head way on this? Lord knows, I want it badly enough. I go to conferences,send our postcards, e-mail editors and agents, try and create new work and push myself to the next level. I rejoice in my colleagues good news about signing agents and getting published and man am I ready for my turn.

Then this morning I was digging around for drawing pads to complete the final version of the grump book dummy when I found this drawing. It is about 3 and a half years old. I was working on while pregnant with the Pud. I looked at it and realized that I have come a long way. This drawing marked a leap forward for me. I realized I love to draw weird people and I knew how I wanted the colors to look, I was just using the wrong medium. (pastel and colored pencil)

So, I guess two years isn't so bad. I do wish I had someone to pay me for doing what I love to do but at least I can see that I am making progress.