the birthday dress

I fear being redundant, and therefore sounding insincere in saying this. BUT...I have been so completely touched and moved by the emails and words of kindness I've received in days' past, particularly from those of you who were moved to write after hearing the CraftSanity podcast. What I've received from you is nothing short of beautiful and lovely and amazing, and I thank you -rather inadequately, I know - but I do so thank you. I wish for a way to respond in kind to your energy sent my way, but I do fear that time will not allow for that to happen. Email is a bit of a struggle I have at the moment, and so I just hope for understanding about that. Thanks, friends.

Having our birthdays so close together means that the celebration rolls into a four-day-long party. So much fun. I still cannot believe that my little baby girl is two. Really, now, two?! But she is - and she is so very clear about that fact. My sweet, strong babe. I'm going to stop myself from going on (and on) about her fabulousness here, but I did write it all down in a birthday love letter to her. The baby books' may not be up to date (did I even start one for her?), but I'm hardcore about my birthday love letters.

This is Adelaide's birthday party dress, which thankfully, she loved and actually wanted to wear - even if only for a few minutes of the day. The dress is from Ottobre Autumn 2006, with Joel Dewberry and Heather Ross fabrics. It was my first Ottobre pattern try - and it went okay. The pattern-tracing was easier than I feared (find your color, find your number, stay focused), but the pattern-instructions were a bit more sparse than I thought. Around about the fourth time I ripped out the zipper and neckline, I remembered the Ottobre Yahoo Group. I did see that the group has some helpful tips for individual patterns. I also think it might be a pattern 'language' you sort of get used to - making the next one even easier. I hope, anyway, because I really do think the pattern is quite cute. (I wish I had a picture of the back - with the sweet ties at the waist, and zipper up the back. But I don't, and now the dress is covered in cream cheese frosting and in a heap of laundry. Sorry.)

When I finished I was disappointed to think I had made yet-another dress too big for her. And then her birthday morning arrived, she tried it on and oh my - she really is that big. Two years old, afterall. Oh my, oh my.

Comments

[Anna]

Dear Amanda, thank you for posting :-) I just longed for reading your next post for -what felt like - days. I feel a little bit exhausted by university termpapers and your posts are always a short and very very pleasant retreat from this :-)

[Mary]

The dress turned out beautifully and so perfect for a birthday celebration.

[carol]

such a cute dress! love the panel of fabric on the hem line and the sleeves...

happy day to you and your little girl- what a big day for your entire family! :) I actually remember the day she was born and the days before...that's when I started reading your blog!

also, I had SO much fun listening to your podcast. what a great way to bring the world even closer...technology is pretty cool!

[Kelly]

Happy days to you both...what lovely girls you are! How lucky for mother & daughter to celebrate your Birth days, together...a special time to be cherished...always! Much love & happiness! May the joy continue!

[emily]

the dress is precious, just precious. and celebrating birthdays together - what fun!

i'm listening to the podcast now - bit by stolen-moment-bit - and enjoying hearing your voice (so used to hearing your writing "voice," it's a treat to really "hear" you) and your story. so happy to have found your slice of the world all those months ago now.

[JustJessie]

Happy birthday to both of you! My little guy turned two Saturday, but our celebration isn't until the 24th. Oh, and I do the love letters too! How 'bout that?

[brandie]

that dress is so wonderful! i just love it, and wish i had the skills to make one. she looks just fabulous! hooray for two!

[Sarah]

Happy Birthdays!

[katharine]

Beautiful girl. Two is somehow so big to me, even though the oldest is past that now two always seems significant. I made that pattern for my four year old last year and it was beautiful.

Happy birthday to both of you.

[jean]

oh, how much I love that dress. Please make one for me in a bigger size.

[Rebecca]

Ya, I have been meaning to make that one. Really dig the underskirt. Come join our group. We would love to have you.

[cyndi]

gorgeous dress! yummy looking cake!! happy birthday again to you both!!! omedetou gozaimasu :)

[ramona]

birthday love letter. what a great idea!!!
I made this dress, too :-)

happy birthday to your little one.

[Bluebirdbaby]

Happy Birthday sweet Adelaide! The dress is lovely Amanda. And Rhea (from Alewives) will be so excited to see how you used that wonderful fabric!

[missymey]

happy happy birthday.

y'know, i walked around all day thinking that it was someone's birthday. i looked through my calendar, called my mom wondering if i had missed my brother's day...only to realize at 10pm last night that it was little miss a's day. amazing how blogging weaves its way into out life, eh?

the dress is just lovely!

[Alicia A.]

You both look beautiful and the dress is amazing.

Hope you're having a great birthday WEEK together!

[Claudia]

Happy birthdays to you both! The dress is as sweet as all get out - great job, Amanda! And just look at how long her hair is getting!

[kat nicholas]

oh what a sweet dress! my little fella turned two in august. it certainly seems to be a time with mixed emotions - so amazed and fascinated by the little people they've become and yet a wee bit sad for the realization that they are babies no longer. she's beautiful.

i finally had a chance to sit down and listen to the podcast. a pretty incredible story, reaffirming a belief that there is some sort of meaningful order amongst the chaos in the universe. . . thanks.

[Tee tee]

When I saw your website I squealed-yup-so excited. You know, some days I lose direction, I get worried about silly things, I wonder where I'm going and why I'm dragging all these poor soules with me, then I read your blog and I come back to a sense of simplicity. Thank-you once again for sharing. It's meant the world to me and my house full of soules on the other side of the land.

[Carla]

Amanda, I was struck by the fact that you want to find a way to return the energy that you received in emails. You give so much of yourself everyday in your blog!

Happy birthday and thank you for sharing your adventures with us!

[hannah]

oh adelaide dont grow up too fast because that means that arlo is right behind you. and that means that in a few years there will be no more baby cheeks and feet and giggles in the house... can you tell i am freaking out that these girls are getting older??? *sigh* happy birthday to my two favorite soule ladies!

[Jenna]

Darling dress. She looks beautiful in it. Happy Birthday to both of you.

[Aylin]

Just finished listening to the podcast and wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed it and appreciate your honesty and openness. I have been reading your blog for almost two years now and it continues to inspire me and bring a smile to my face each and every day. Thanks so much. I am very much looking forward to your book. Happy birthday to you and Adelaide!

[brandy]

That is a seriously adorable photo! What a keepsake. The dress is sweet and looks really good on you daughter. Happy Birthday to the both of you!

[melody]

the dress is so sweet... just like the babe.

[Melissa!]

I have been writing birthday letters to my daughters every year (my husband & I write separate letters every year) - the year one turned 11 I skipped it thinking she wasn't going to miss it since they both seemed so consumed with other things...however one night in bed she was crying. I went to comfort her thinking it was a nightmare and she let it all spill out how she collects her cards and reads them at night, every night, in bed and how she didn't get one that birthday (for either parent) and how that made her felt. I was so touched that it did mean something to her and felt so awful that I thought it wouldn't...I will never underestimate the power of a small suggestion as a letter again!

I left a comment in CraftSanity about your interview. Thank you for trusting us readers to dip deeper into who you are. It truly was a special interview! I felt like I was eavesdropping in a conversation at a coffee shop! Although I didn't make myself stop and focus on something else, I listened all the way through! :)

[amy rose]

i love that you write your children love letters.

[Anne]

What a sweet dress! Two is a great age, even though our babes are getting older. Enjoy your birthday week.

[Lisa/milkshake]

Why, oh why do our babies have to grow up? Do you know the song "The One Who Knows" by Dar Williams? This line gets me every time:
"But sometimes I will ask the moon where it shined upon you last, and shake my head and laugh and say 'it all went by so fast'".

Happy birthdays!

[Katherine]

Happy birthday Adelaide, what a gorgeous dress! Still not got broadband back so haven't heard the podcast yet, but looking forward to it!

[Dancer]

Happy belated to you both. What a darling dress. So did you get the shoes you wanted?

[Anna]

Your mention of the birthday love letters has moved me to tears. Thanks for that incredible idea.

[DeerDominique]

Oh! Hearts to you two clever little virgos! Happy Birthday Lady A and Mrs. Soule. Today is my mother's birthday, what a special day for me!
That dress is awesome!

[Melissa Garrett]

Happy birthday to you both ~ how very exciting!! Beautiful dress ;-)

[mary]

Happy Birthday A. She looks beautiful in that very lovely dress.

[carrie]

Happy birthday to you both! My just-turned-two daughter and I have birthdays next door to each other as well, and it is so much fun.

I've been reading your blog for awhile without commenting, but after listening to your Craftsanity interview, I just had to post. Thank you SO MUCH for sharing that with us all. I greatly appreciate your honesty and willingness to share that part of yourself. You are truly inspiring, and you give a new(ish) mama like me so much hope. I can't wait for your book! :)

[elizabooth]

Happy Birthday to your sweet little girl. I know you've been through a couple of two-year-old birthdays already, but there's something so sweet about a two for a a little girl (perhaps I'm biased, having one of my own). I love her dress, and is it just me, or did she suddenly grow a full head of hair over the summer? Anyway, keep up the good work, all of you.

[Tara]

Happy happy birthday, Adelaide! (And a belated one to you, Amanda!) Two sounds so old . . . then I realize that it is only four more months before my own little one reaches that milestone! Bittersweet, for sure.

Love the new website, the CraftSanity interview, your babe's new party dress, all of it!

[fiveflowers]

Happy Bday to you both- can you believe your youngest is that old?
Loved the interview too BTW- one of the reasons I love to read here is that is it like a little bit of beauty in a world full of ugliness. We all need more beauty!

[Grace]

oh my, you two are both so beautiful. really. i haven't written you about your sweet, lovely craftsanity interview, but i'll just say here that i was very, very inspired by it.

[Ashley]

You sound like you've been enjoying your whirlwind birthday week! The dress is precious, much like sweet girl who covered it in frosting! Happy 2 years, Lady A!!

[lori]

Hi Amanda,
I also listened to your podcast as I worked on a special order tea pot cozy...still cant bring to words the encouragment knowing someone else walks such a close path as mine (except the book writing of course-although I have an ABC book in my mind-another time..LOL)....
thanks for taking the time to podcast and for being so personal in it.

lovely dress...lovely..

[Beth]

Look at the hair she's sprouting!!

She is so sweet, growing out of 'Baby' and into 'Little Miss'!

[Beth]

Ah. Happy Birthday and Many Blessings to you both. Two is marvelous fun!

[Rhea]

Hey!!! Nice Fabrics in that dress!!! Nice girl in the dress!!! Happy Bday Amanda nd Adelaide!!!

[Polly]

I love that dress. SO cute. P x x

[Regina]

Yay! Happy Birthday Adelaide!!! Two is so amazing! The dress is absolutely gorgeous! Beautiful job!

[kirsty]

The dress is great Amanda. Happy Birthday Miss Adelaide. I find the Ottobre patterns are fine if you keep your wits about you.

[manda]

Happy Birthday to the ever beautiful Adelaide. It doesn't seen possible that she's two already. I still remember the first post about her and it just seems like yesterday. When Bella was little I didn't understand when other parents spoke of how quickly this all goes, but now I totally get it. Their babyhood is gone in a flash. Oh but each year brings so much new fun doesn't it.
The dress is beautiful too - I haven't been braver enough to use any of my Ottobre patterns yet.

[Helen]

Two beauties, well three actually if you count the cake which looks yummy. Thank you so much for everything you share with us all Amanda. You bring a little ray of light into my living room every time I read your blog and I wish you and Lady A the best of birthday weeks full of love and moments to turn into memories.