a written request
In the interest of keeping it mellow amidst all the other holiday crafting-for-little ones happening around here right now and not overdoing the matchy-matchy, I had every intention of skipping the Mama - babe matching holiday wear this year. Last year's version here and two years ago here (look at those baby cheeks!).
But then ... last week I was working in my studio on a book-related project when Adelaide snuck past the Papa defense line and burst in with a "whatchamakin, Mama?" I told her, and she rephrased her question, "You makin' me a dress, Mama?". No, honey, I replied, as I explained once again what I was making. Then I asked if she wanted to go back downstairs with Papa or work with Mama for a bit. She opted for some studio work -which for her is either moving pins from one cushion to another (endless fun), or drawing. She got right to work with a pen and some paper on the floor with a mission.
And in a minute, she handed me this drawing which was accompanied by, "My draw you makin' me a dress Mama." Pause. And a little bit louder, "You makin' me a dress?"
Be still, my heart. Of course she's getting the dress.
























What a sweetie. Inspired by you, I am making matching aprons for my 19-month-old daughter and me, now that she can "help" at the kitchen counter in her new Learning Tower.
Posted by: Amy | December 10, 2007 at 07:35 AM
Ahh, but are you also getting the dress?
Posted by: annette | December 10, 2007 at 07:38 AM
how very sweet. you are warming my heart on this very frigid Monday morning.
Posted by: kalurah | December 10, 2007 at 07:47 AM
melt
Posted by: Alix | December 10, 2007 at 07:48 AM
Sounds like she knows what she wants, will you match again this year?
Posted by: Stacey | December 10, 2007 at 07:51 AM
So sweet!
Posted by: Jenny | December 10, 2007 at 07:51 AM
oooo, can't wait to see it.
Posted by: jean | December 10, 2007 at 07:53 AM
Awwwww! Yeah, I don't think I could turn down a request like that either ;o)
Posted by: Ram in the Thicket | December 10, 2007 at 08:01 AM
Nothin' like a little toddler coersion! :>
I love that when her words didn't do it, she added a picture to express her wants.
Posted by: Elizabeth | December 10, 2007 at 08:09 AM
You think she's trying to tell you something??
Posted by: qalballah | December 10, 2007 at 08:17 AM
love it! so sweet.
Posted by: cyndi | December 10, 2007 at 08:21 AM
OK, I'm 42, and my guys are almost-9 and 15, and my ovaries are aching every time I see a little girl. I think if you had included a picture of said babe, I'd be looking into artificial insemination or something.
She is blessed that you hear her.
Posted by: Caren | December 10, 2007 at 08:26 AM
I'd be making the dress too:-)
Posted by: Suzanne | December 10, 2007 at 08:35 AM
matching dresses! matching dresses! how can you break the tradition?:)
Posted by: martha | December 10, 2007 at 08:36 AM
Very sweet. Was making my girls dresses last night...
Posted by: Jen | December 10, 2007 at 08:47 AM
It seems hard to resist. Just by reading it I'm almost moved to tears and have goosebumbs all over.
Posted by: Julia | December 10, 2007 at 08:48 AM
That's SO cute! Thanks for this post, it made me laugh : ) Have a good day,
Tere
Posted by: Tere | December 10, 2007 at 08:57 AM
Soooooo sweet! I love that. :)
Posted by: Marie | December 10, 2007 at 08:59 AM
...and we can't wait to see it, little sweetie.
Posted by: colleen | December 10, 2007 at 09:03 AM
reading adelaide's words - even though i have a two year old son as opposed to a daugther, i can truly hear the emphasis on certain syllables, the cadence of the request. absolutely adorable. i'd be making that dress too.
Posted by: kat | December 10, 2007 at 09:14 AM
sweet. so sweet.
Posted by: emily | December 10, 2007 at 09:21 AM
oh sweet persistance! who can resist?! can't wait to see the pictures of the dress she inspired you to make!
and i love the style of your matchingness... very subtle (love your skirt pattern from last year) and so freakin' adorable with the red dress and complete babyness from the first year! :)
Posted by: camerashymomma | December 10, 2007 at 09:23 AM
*so precious!* can't wait to see the dress on your sweet little girl!
Posted by: Heather Wilson | December 10, 2007 at 09:24 AM
Oy. Could she BE any sweeter? I'M practically ready to start making a dress for her!
Posted by: Amy | December 10, 2007 at 09:35 AM
oh my goodness how sweet! Of course you can't say no now! Can't wait to see it!
Posted by: sarah | December 10, 2007 at 09:57 AM
how couldyou ever say no to that? will she pick out that fabric? I love the diagram/ request drawing.
Posted by: Emily/ Five Flowers | December 10, 2007 at 10:03 AM
Best do it now, love, before the inevitable day she stops asking. Hoping you have plenty of time for babe-inspired crafting this holiday.
Posted by: Claudia | December 10, 2007 at 10:08 AM
I get this question ALL THE TIME from my 2.5 year old, especially if she hears the sewing machine during naptime. I'm with Claudia, above...we have to do it while they ask, because some day they'll stop asking.
Posted by: Kate | December 10, 2007 at 10:09 AM
god, that's a beautiful story!
what a sweet and caring daughter you have
it made teary with joy inside.
Posted by: mo | December 10, 2007 at 10:17 AM
completely irresistable
Posted by: heather | December 10, 2007 at 10:18 AM
Dear LORD! That is so cute!!! I can't wait to see what you make!
Posted by: melissa | December 10, 2007 at 10:25 AM
hee hee hee, so I guess you'd be makin' her a dress!!
Posted by: Tee tee | December 10, 2007 at 10:30 AM
Can't wait to see it! What a little love.
Posted by: Beth | December 10, 2007 at 10:37 AM
Is it possible for her to have asked that ANY sweeter? I can't wait to see her in her dress! =)
Posted by: michelle | December 10, 2007 at 10:46 AM
Oh! I've melted a bit! So sweet. See, she does notice the love and care in seemingly simple things as matching dresses.
Posted by: Jessie Bryson | December 10, 2007 at 10:57 AM
My guess is that she is a keeper:) It also amazes me how much more small children are in tune with what is going on around them than we generally give them credit for.
Posted by: Nic | December 10, 2007 at 11:02 AM
Aw so sweet, makes me want to give her a cuddle.
By the way, your cards arrived in Scotland on Saturday and I love them, I may have to frame the knitting on the bed one as I love that image, and then carefully choose the people/occasions that get the others!
Posted by: Katherine | December 10, 2007 at 11:20 AM
Lovely. Maybe I should quit trying to make gifts for Everyone and concentrate on a pink quilt my 3 year old keeps inquiring about.
Posted by: Natalie | December 10, 2007 at 11:29 AM
Awww. How could you not make that dress? That's so sweet.
You know, I don't think Lady A is going to have any trouble getting what she wants in life : )
Posted by: Carla | December 10, 2007 at 11:42 AM
Of course she's getting the dress.
We've had moments like that here too. They are delicious moments to savor.
I have loved your pictures of the snow and the sledding party. It makes me want to move back to Maine.
Posted by: Regina | December 10, 2007 at 12:11 PM
hehehe, oh this made me laugh. She's a determined little gal, isn't she?
Posted by: geek+nerd | December 10, 2007 at 12:17 PM
How can we mothers resist that !
So cute.
Can wait to see the dress.
Happy week!
Posted by: ilse | December 10, 2007 at 12:19 PM
I can see how that's you making a dress. I really can. Her language is really good now, isn't it?!
Posted by: Grace | December 10, 2007 at 12:31 PM
oh, she is such a sweetheart. how could you resist that?
Posted by: kendra | December 10, 2007 at 12:41 PM
Amazing,Adelaide is so precocious!!!!Have fun makin' the dresses!
Posted by: Carrie | December 10, 2007 at 01:00 PM
This is so sweet... made me teary-eyed!
Posted by: julie | December 10, 2007 at 01:37 PM
Of course you make the dress! How could you say no?;-)
When my kids were littler (and sometimes even now), they loved to transfer the sewing pins, too----but the thing that drove me nuts was when they pushed all the pins *into* my wool pin cushion. I don't think they could help themselves from laying their hands atop it and pushing...hard. It's just too tempting!Ack.
Posted by: Amber | December 10, 2007 at 01:39 PM
You know that drawing would look great on her dress :)
http://angrychicken.typepad.com/angry_chicken/2007/08/index.html
Perhaps a nice dark red for the sleeves and bodice and the drawing down below on the dark fabric?
Just thinking out loud. Ignore this temptation. Never mind I was never here. ;)
Posted by: Cindy | December 10, 2007 at 01:42 PM
:) just delightful.
Posted by: Ali | December 10, 2007 at 01:43 PM
Really Amanda, such extreme cuteness is dangerous!
You are doing nothing to aid my "wait two more years for babies" plan.
I'd love to see an Adelaide Talking video - the one you did for your blogiversary was so sweet!
Beth
Posted by: Beth | December 10, 2007 at 01:44 PM