Piper

 When I was a senior in high school, I became friends with a girl named April.  We had been going to school together for years, but we never really knew each other.  She sat in front of me in Economics, and we became fast friends. By the end of our senior year, she was my best friend.  Life takes twists and turns and we drifted apart when I moved to another state.  Thanks to technology, we were able to catch up a number of years later.  By then, she was a single mother to a toddler named Piper, and I was a single mother to a little boy named Chandler.   We were eventually able to get together in person again, and meet each others kids.  I thought Piper was the most beautiful little girl I had ever seen.  She had beautiful brown hair and the brightest eyes.  She was just stunning to me.  

I think that because I missed real Piper's baby years, when I decided that I wanted to paint doll Piper, I did it with real baby Piper in mind.  This meant dark hair and bright blue eyes.  And this is where the hurdles started.   I could have sworn I ordered blue eyes.  Apparently not.  I could have just ordered some blue eyes and waited, but that's just not who I am.  I'm a "right now" girl.  So, I used the French Grey eyes that I did have.  Turns out, French Gray just looks like Green.  I got them in, and went to apply the lashes.  I encountered more issues there.  And more and more and more.  By the time I got them to look ok, I was so over it.  OVER IT!  And now, Piper just looked like a boy!  Sure, fine, whatever.  I just wanted to finish the doll at this point.  So, I got him dressed and took some pictures, and posted him in my nursery.  Whew!

After a few days, I settled down, and took him down from the site.  It wasn't right, and I knew it wasn't right.  I needed more time to think about it.  I was out shopping one day and I found the cutest little girl outfit.  It was a little pink top and some kind of tights that had feet that looked like shoes.  I immediately thought PIPER IS A GIRL!  So I bought the outfit.  

I got Piper back out of her box, and went to put her outfit on.  It didn't fit.  I found some other things that I thought would work.  The minute I put that bow on her head, all was right with the world.  I fell in love, exactly the way I thought I would before I started painting her.  I look forward to meeting her new mom one day.  I hope that Piper is as special to her, as both of my Pipers have been to me.  

Today, April and I are still friends.  Our kids are thriving and are in their 20's.