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Thursday, August 23, 2012

A Dress for Baby Olive

On May 12, 2012 a precious little girl was born into the Reuben and Megan Craghead family.  I claim her mother,  Megan, as my baby daughter,  so I just naturally claim Olive Reu as part of my family. Yes,  I realize that I am just a grandmother,  and have no first rights claim on this dear child,  any more than I do on the other 25 adorable,  wonderful adults,  children and babies that I call Grandchildren.  I do however, have one privledge, when granted by  the mommies and daddies of these divine creatures, and that is to make blessing attire for them. I always consult with the moms as to the design, fabric, color etc. of these tiny outfits.  Since Olive"s Blessing is fast approaching, I am in the middle of sewing a special dress for this little darlin'. Megan has chosen "MOM"
as her career. She is good at it. She studies the latest research on health and nutrition for wee ones. She delves into theories of discipline and training. She is up on the latest in educational theory, and she has strong opinion on style.I am proud of her and admire her tenacity and dedication to her job It is amazing, however,  that a mother and daughter who care deeply for one another and agree on so many things, even things pertaining to style, can have such different opinions on the tiny detail stuff like ruffles and bows. I like them both in large quantities. Megan doesn't really love either. I have known this since she was two, when she started dressing herself in her brother's hand-me-down cut-off jeans and T shirts,  rejecting the adorable pink or lavender ruffled and bow covered togs that I and her older sisters chose for her.  So I should not have been surprised that she rejected the gorgeous lace embroidered with bows, or the lace edged ruffle that I attempted to use on the hem of Olive's dress. Ok,  I was not surprised,  but thought I could get by with using them anyway. Megan was  as kind as a kitten as she explained that no. she didn't love the "bow lace", and well the ruffle was just too much. She didn't want me to have to go to the trouble of picking out the stitches from the netting
the dress was made of, or go to the expense of ordering additional lace. "After all in fifty years I'll just be grateful that Olive had a lovely dress made by her grandmother". But, she didn't love those hem treatments, and I want her to love the dress I am making for her daughter.  I love Megan and little Olive, and I respect my daughter as Mom. My hope is that Olive Reu's dress will wrap her in the garb of affection I feel for them both.