Did I mention that my husband and I and ALL of the grandparents thought that this baby was a boy? We chose not to find out the sex when we had our ultrasound, yet I, for one, was completely and totally convinced that we were having a boy.
We did not go so far as to actually go out and buy boy’s newborn clothing, but when I look at the little things we collected from friends and family, since we had passed all of Mira’s and Liev’s baby things to other babies, there is a clear slant toward the boy end of the spectrum.
Imagine our surprise when Miss Genevieve was born, I lifted the umbilical cord up, and found that we had a tiny daughter. We LOVE a surprise! And, even more than a surprise, I have to admit that I love a little trick on myself every once in a while. This included dreams from the grandparents, from friends, and Sean’s and my own dreams always, without exception, foretelling a boy. My mother-in-law, usually very intuitive about these things, was sure by the time she saw me last Christmas time that it was going to be a boy from the way I carrying.
We should have known that we knew nothing….
Because Baby G is indeed a girl, the most wonderful surprise ever, and such a chill baby, I have managed to work out some time to sew some things for her, starting with this little dress from Anna Maria Horner‘s book, Handmade Beginnings: 24 Sewing Projects to Welcome Baby. It was super simple to make, has blessedly few steps, and is very sweet looking. I added a little red sash and a tiny red bow to further highlight the ladybug fabric my mom brought back from Tokyo a couple of years ago.
Speaking of my very sensible mother, she recommends leaving bows like this unattached from the dress you’re making and just safety pinning them on when the child wears the dress so that the garment can be easily laundered. We found this to be a very good idea seeing as Genevieve spit up all over the shoulder about 15 seconds after having the dress on and then pooped 2 minutes later. Such are the perils of sewing for a newborn!
Right now, the dress is swallowing Genevieve a bit. Soon, though, she will chunk up and grow and will be wearing the dress instead of the dress wearing her… her first lesson in fashion.
16/05/2011 at 11:22 am Permalink
Would you wipe your screen clean with a hanky – I have drooled all over. (Sorry, she is too cute. And the dress too.)
I was so sure it was a girl the second time around, that I agreed to Top1 choosing a name if it was a boy, and me choosing a name if it was a girl. (Luckily, it WAS a girl. Otherwise, I would have had a son called Hjort Hjalvard Bohr or something Viking-ish.)
16/05/2011 at 11:26 am Permalink
Great job on the dress and the little socks are adorable! What a gift to have a chill baby!!
16/05/2011 at 11:41 am Permalink
Very cute dress! Sewing for little girls is so much fun.
I was sure #3 would be a boy too!
16/05/2011 at 2:24 pm Permalink
It seems hard for me to believe that in 2 months time I will have a little baby like this. It is easy to forget how little they are! She is adorable, and you are amazing. I don’t know how you find time to sew!
16/05/2011 at 3:13 pm Permalink
I can’t believe how big she is already! Even more unbelievable is that you had the time (and mental clarity?)to make this “between feedings.” Take me to your leader. This is a beautiful dress on an absolutely fabulous little girl.
16/05/2011 at 3:27 pm Permalink
You’re back to sewing already! I think there’s something about picking fabrics and making little dresses for daughters that beckons mothers to the sewing machine – at least that was my experience: sewing pants for boys, and then more pants is a lot less fun! Baby G looks adorable in her new dress.
16/05/2011 at 7:01 pm Permalink
A gorgeous dress on a gorgeous baby! Stunning!
16/05/2011 at 8:21 pm Permalink
She looks gorgeous in her new dress. I have that book and there are so many cute projects in it. I love Genevieve’s little socks, how sweet! I don’t think a handmade baby item is complete until there is milky spit on it.
Happy snuggles with your sweet one. Jacinta
17/05/2011 at 1:29 am Permalink
Oh how wonderful! A baby girl! Congratulations to you and I hope all is well!
Aren’t you a clever girl!
17/05/2011 at 5:52 pm Permalink
She’s just lovely!
18/05/2011 at 11:23 am Permalink
She is a girl and a beautiful little gril, dressed like a princess. I imagine how happy you are !
19/05/2011 at 1:40 am Permalink
She is so beautiful！
And such a precious special dress!!
Enjoy!
♡
23/05/2011 at 9:11 am Permalink
Oh wow, this dress is divine! I want one for me!
I love those newborn skinny legs. But I also love the older baby chubby legs too. Oh squish, I just love babies, and yours is beautiful