Because I can do hard things

So yesterday, after writing that post about my total lack of picture-taking skills, I forced myself to take pictures. Because  weaknesses can become strengths, right? Or at least I can swallow my pride and frustration with the whole thing and do it anyway.

And because this was too wonderful not to document.

So I believe I've mentioned before that my mother is a seamstress. She really and truly is phenomenal. Her sewing skills are not only vast, they are deep. She does many things. And she does them all well.

One of my favorite types of things she sews is heirloom children's clothing. Hand smocking. Piping. Lace. Pleats.So so darling. My childhood was littered with dresses sewn by my mother. To my fifth birthday party I wore a yellow smocked dress... with lace on the edge of the puff sleeves. I thought that lace was so elegant and pretty (even as a five year old). I vividly remember the year we all wore various styles of pale green dresses for Easter (and took pictures in Grandma and Grandpa Snowball's backyard). My first-day-of-school dress in first grade was a purple dress with a smocked pinafore. My favorite doll (also made my mom) had a matching dress (she still wears it). Second grade was a blue dress with a big red apple appliqued on the collar.

My memories of these and other dresses are so tender to me. They are associated with love and the devotion of my mother. I would give anything to have one or two of them back in my possession (anyone know what happened to them all? Mom? Are they in a box somewhere??).

So you can imagine how thrilled I was when my mom called to tell me she had just bought material to make Miss Virginia an Easter dress. Delighted. I held my breath in anticipation.

And oh. my. She did not disappoint. Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present (despite my poor photography skills) Ginny's Easter Dress.

(I love it so much I wanted to cry every time I looked at it on Ginny on Sunday. It is beautiful.)

 (Can you tell she's been crying? I was frantic to get the pictures taken before Raymond woke up from his nap, however. I'm just grateful she's not screaming in these pictures.)

 (Almost a smile. I'll get one with a real smile someday!)

 (If this last picture hadn't turned out blurry, it just might have been my favorite. I adore those big blue eyes and jowls.)