little mama

This morning I was allowed a few moments of extra rest. When I woke up and went looking for the kids, one was missing. I wouldn't normally dare go in the baby's room in fear of waking him up but I thought I heard laughing. I found the missing one entertaining the baby. She was so proud of having taken care of him. It was one of those moments when you are not sure if you should correct her or praise her for her actions. I was impressed with her ability to climb into the crib. But even more so with her mama instinct to care for her younger brother. Now I just need to teacher her how to make breakfast and I can sleep in even longer.

best buds

I recently read a sign that stated, "A good friend is one that will bail you out of jail but a best friend is sitting next to you saying, Man that was fun!" This past weekend I had some enjoyable time with my friends. Nothing as exciting as going to jail. Just some much needed girl time to have a break from everything else. I am amazed at the talent of my friends. Each one is so talented in different ways. I know God had placed each one in my life for a special reason. I am thankful for not only the respit they provide my but the wonderful examples they are of godly women.

new for fall

These are the sample "tags" for the LOVELY LOU fall line. The tags button on to the front yoke of the Louise dress in navy and reversible navy gingham. Just in the reversible dress you have two outfits but with the added tags you now have a year round dress for any occasion. There is a Christmas tag coming soon with embroidered candy canes. To order please call 850-228-5589

question?

Small accomplishments like getting to sit in the shopping cart are so much more exciting when we have been working so hard on sitting up. I am sorry that I have no other choice but to use the "green" buggy as my children refer to it. The idea is wonderful to distract them from all the sugary mommy can I's. However the thing is impossible to drive. I have adapted well to driving the super cart as long as I don't have to do much turning. I fail to understand why we just can't have the larger version of the traditional cart like at Sam's club or Costco. The buggy basket is big enough to actual hold food and diapers for a family of 5 and the seat holds 2 children! They would be much easier on driving. And maybe they could have more than ONE in the store so that all the mommies could shop with ease. Instead of hunting down the one green buggy without any luck and having to hold one child and push the buggy with the other child while they ask to be held because it is just no fair to hold one and not the other. Only to turn the corner and get into a buggy wreck with the mom that found the green buggy first. I guess this modern day hunting and gathering is still better than having to kill something and drag it home. I wonder if they had to carry their children on their backs in a papoose and still throw a spear with accuracy. One things for sure it would definitely be a multitasking spear packing mama that could do it.

So the question is, What is your most frustrating product or lack of product you use with your children?

great and grand

Once a mother always a mother. The job duties may change but the caring never stops. I love how we add words to the job title. It is as if we are being promoted to the next level of wisdom. Mother, GRAND mother and GREAT grandmother. To be great and grand what an accomplishment! The smiles here show what great and grand must feel like. For this mother her name was shortened to just GG to stand for how great and grand she is. She says it's because great grandmother is just too many words for little ones to speak. But Love doesn't need to be spoken.

camper boy

We are so happy to finally be reunited with our oldest child. He has been away with his grandparents for a whole month! This is the first time we have (or he has) been away for a lengthy time period. We all have fared well, although we have all missed each other abundantly.He had definitely grown in more than just height. He seems to developed a stronger sense of independence. It is wonderful to see your child grow and mature. Even though I miss my little boy who couldn't leave my side, I feel our job as parents has met some milestone. He has begun to be more him and less us. We got to him just in time for him to run off again. His new obsession is Backpacking. Maybe when he gets back he will want to love on his mama.

john john

A submitted picture of a LOVELY LOU customer. He is wearing the short Louis romper in blue pin stripe seersucker and monogrammed in the diamond font. The peter pan shirt, also made by LOVELY LOU, is piped in the same seersucker fabric. This pattern style was named the John John because JFK Jr. wore them so much. Jacqueline was a fashion icon for not only women but for children as well.

Your children are lovely dress them so.

fruit of the week

This is a sample of the some orders filled this week. I am so blessed to be able to do what I enjoy. Each outfit is a new creation. I love knowing the occasion for which the clothes are intended. As I am filling an order, I think about each child in their outfit, looking lovely. From left to right: Louis boys romper in royal, NEW pattern Libby baby in floral lawn and red gingham, NEW pattern Leigh in white and red gingham, Louise dress in red gingham. New patterns are available by phone order or sold at Grammy and Gee . And as always check out the online shop for LOVELY LOU.

defence

I have read about how child as young as 3 months can learn to manipulate others in their environment to meet their needs. I haven't done as much study on siblings and how fast they learn to defend themselves from older brothers and sisters. My personal observations are it is soon after they learn how to get fed. With the 2nd child I believe she was around 6months old when she learned to go for her brother's eyes. She instantly received the response she was looking for which was for him to get out of her face. Her first sentence was,"Back off'." Now the even our littlest has learned his defence. He has found a way to make the helmet he is required to wear a weapon to his advantage. When he had enough he began to head butt his sister. He got his response. She backed off. Even though he had just asserted to her that he was done playing she just laughed and made a fort out of his play yard. What amazing forgiveness!

brotherly love

There is nothing like having a big brother to look out for you. They are useful for protecting you from waves that might knock you over and for aggravating when you are in a more feisty mood. I love to watch these two. One second they are trying to do each other in and the next they are conspiring to see if they can get me do something I might otherwise reject. Being able to observe siblings this way, I have noticed how family life is so much like the "real" world. We all need a partner in crime and a shoulder to cry on.

question?

This week in the shop I am finishing up some summer orders. I will post pictures of the fruits of my labor later in the week. After finishing the last orders up I will begin working on the fall line. Above is a sample of what is coming. Click on the link to view the summer collection from LOVELY LOU. Working on new projects is always exciting. I am constantly looking for new ways to make mothering more practical. That is how the reversible line started; 2 outfits for the price of one, very practical. So here is the question this week, In regards to mothering objects(diaper bags, nursing, clothing,bedding, toys) what is your or your child's favorite thing?

doors and windows

Why do we torture ourselves to try and get good pictures of our children? You start out making faces and dangling toys in front of them to try and coax out some look of happiness. A picture of the parent would be more appropriate at this stage because you look like a circus act. When acting foolish doesn't amuse them you resort to,"Just do this for me and I'll get you a lollipop." Sometimes they will see your struggle and sit still for a moment but the camera's delay is longer than their moment. Frustration leads you to go with what ever you can get, they were both looking your direction or at least they weren't crying. You tun off the camera, move out of the way of the T.V. and then like rays of sunshine their faces light up and you realized you have made a better door than a window. Click on the link to view the short Louis boys romper and the Louise dress shown here and the rest of the LOVELY LOU collection.

Getaway

We enjoyed seeing friends for the holiday. Every holiday has its own unique tradition. Christmas has a tree, Easter has eggs, and the 4th has fireworks. One of the reasons I love the 4th is because fireworks are a few of my favorite things. I also love the colors, red and blue against crisp white is so bold and clean. It speaks of summer days with bright sun and wonderful scents. You see these colors together and you can hear the cicadas buzz. As life happens our traditions may vary but the practice of gathering with friends and family is timeless. We had just one day to get a way from the demands of everything and just be. In just 24 hours it is amazing how you can be renewed.

Legacy of Freedom

This plaque hung in my grandmother's classroom. She was a teacher of many lessons but formally taught American history and English to 8th graders. On the back of this plaque she made a pocket out of a poem about the flag and put inside many articles about our flag and its symbolic meaning. She was the wife of an Air Force Officer; this flag was more to her than stars and stripes. On a day when we celebrate our Independence as a Nation to be free from persecution it can be easy to remember those who serve to fight for our freedom. We need to not forget the families that serve with them. This is my second favorite holiday to celebrate(my 1st is Easter) because I have been blessed just to have been born an American and double so because I have a family who honors the Flag.

happy days

Our youngest child is not a child who is very generous with his smiles. This is one of the rare moments of insight to his thoughts. I must agree that swings are very exciting. I rejoice with him on the discovery of something that brings happiness. Click the link to view the short Louis romper shown here and the rest of the LOVELY LOU collection.

miss fancy pants

Some days what seems to me to be an act of defiance that is inconveniencing me, in turn is another lesson taught by my child instead of the parent. It seems that she is refusing to wear what I feel is a reasonable outfit for the day just to assert to me that she is indeed her own person and not simply an extension of me. For this day, to her, did not call for a festive sundress smocked with American flags but her fanciest dress. She seems to think that every day calls for her best dress. On most days it is a suggestion to what she would like to wear. On this day is was an extraordinary display of her claim to decide what was best for her. It made me think why do we reserve our best? What are we afraid of , getting so dirty that it cannot be cleaned? Today an act of childish independence has reminded me to give my best always, everyday with out fear of rejection. Some days we need to not hide in the back of the closet. What is best for us may be our fanciest.

the shop

This small space is the literal shop. Finding the time to get into my shop to work can be the biggest challenge. Sometimes my youngest will only be satisfied when able to see my face. I solved this problem by putting the Bumbo chair on the work table. Now I am able to steal a few moments to whip together my next order for my children's clothing line. All I have to do is keep the sharp objects away from the baby. Click on the link to view Louie shorts worn in this picture.