Two years ago I was absent from my blog for a few weeks as I helped our daughter and her husband after the arrival of their first child, a beautiful little girl. I have just returned home after another absence, this time to welcome another beautiful little girl!
The snow is gone, and even the mailbox, battered by the snow plows though it be, looks happy.
For almost three weeks, I cooked, I cleaned, I ironed, I shopped for groceries, I did laundry, I baked, I drove hither and yon as chauffeur, I spent untold fun and busy hours with granddaughter number one, and then I started it all over again – and again – and again!
Just as with their first child, our daughter and her husband chose not to learn the sex of their baby ahead of time, so the arrival of this baby girl was another delightful surprise. Now I wonder if I had a premonition that I would have two granddaughters? In the past two years I have come across a couple of lengths of vintage cottons which appealed to me for their possibilities of being turned into little girls’ dresses.
A strawberry print cotton for two little Spring sisters?
With navy blue sailor collars and red ties?
The plentiful yardage of both fabrics will be perfect for matching sister dresses, although it will be a couple of years until Aida and Carolina are ready for that. But still, I can start to plan . . .
Sewing, of course, was not on the agenda while I was on grandmother duty. But sewing is a patient endeavor, and sometimes a forced break can be good. When I left home I was one day away from finishing my complete cashmere suit dress ensemble. I will admit I was a little worn out from it, and when I realized I was not going to be able to finish it before I left home, I was definitely feeling discouraged. I saw every perceived flaw in it, and I knew it would no longer be seasonable when I returned. I would be finishing a dress and jacket that I could no longer wear this year.
But when I walked into my sewing room after my long absence and saw the (as yet, unlined) dress and completed jacket on my dress form, I suddenly felt totally energized again. Hey, I thought, it looks pretty good after all! Some things, like new babies, are worth waiting for, aren’t they?
Welcome to the world, dear little Carolina!
fiftydresses 
She’s beautiful!! Congratulations 🙂
Thank you, Sarah! You know all about the joys of having two girls…
She ‘s beautiful! A new granddaughter is absolutely worth having to delay completing your dress. I’ve been lurking around your blog waiting for your post and wondering what happened to you! I love the ensemble. You give me such inspiration to keep challenging myself.
Thank you, thank you, Pam! There is not too much that keeps me from my sewing, but grand babies are the best distraction ever! Now I am back to completing my suit dress, just in time for next Winter!
Congratulations to you and your family on the new beautiful baby!
Thank you, Heather – we feel very fortunate!
What a beautiful sweet girl! Such lucky little girls to have such a talented grandmother! I see many beautiful, fun dresses (maybe some smocked ones also?) MY little sweetheart is now 5 months and I’ve gotten my pleater out of storage and new needles and plates. I was so touched that her mother (who hated her smocked dresses when she was wearing them)
now is looking forward to Blair wearing the ones I made for her! Things “do” come around. Blessings to you all.
You are inspiring me to get my pleater out from the back of the closet! I hope to do some smocking, but I’ll have to practice, practice, practice first! It’s been years since I have smocked. Our first granddaughter (now 2) received so many dainty and smocked dresses when she was born, that my daughter could barely have her wear them all. Now that she is older – and can pass down any toddler-sized smocked dresses to her sister – I think she might “need” some. Aren’t we so lucky to have granddaughters?
Congratulations on your beautiful granddaughter. Those little dresses will be gorgeous!
Thank you, Marianne! Who knows, I might just find more perfect vintage fabrics for little dresses!
Another little beauty! They are certain to be the best-dressed sisters ever!
Thank you, Cissie – but I do have the feeling that your little granddaughters already claim that title – and rightly so!
A new grandaughter outstrips any new dress; but there is a time and a place for everything and we all await the completion of the outfit any time soon!
I will also wait with anticipation for the grandmother- made couture dresses from the vinatge fabrics for the girls, which will delight and inspire all your followers! Congratulations to all on the birth of your beautiful grandaughter.
Thank you for your lovely comment; sewing has re-commenced here at Fifty Dresses.
How lovely to have two granddaughters. Congratulations!
Thank you so much! I felt so lucky to have one granddaughter – two is absolute bliss!
Congratulations! As someone who had a baby at an “advanced age,” I know how appreciated all of that help is in the early weeks. How lovely to have little girls to sew for!
Thanks, Julie! It was such a privilege for me to be able to help in those early weeks. And you are correct – what joy to have little girls! I hope at least one of them while want to learn to sew!
So darling! Congratulations!
Thank you so much!
Congratulations! I have an eight month old geandson and love being a grandma. I’m sure your daughter and family appreciate you more than they can say! She is beautiful!
Thank you so much, Jan! Isn’t being a grandmother just the best?
Love this post—Ah—two little girls…Dreamy!! Nancy >
Thank you, Nancy! Now you are one who knows exactly how dreamy having two little girls is!
Congratulations on the new little one. Can’t wait to see the sister dresses. I have photos of my sister and I wearing matching dresses my mother made and they are some of my favorites. The dresses were very special.
My sister and I also had matching dresses – which we both loved! There is something very special about having a sister, isn’t there?
Congratulations to everyone! She is very cute! Soo tiny!
Thank you, Linda!
Such a wonderful blessing!
Yes, she is, as is her “big” sister! Thank you, Marguerite!
Congratulation to you and your family for coming a newborn. The baby too cute. Many many loves to her. Thanks……