The Little (Polka-Dotted) Dress

Johannah is growing up.

This pains me to no end.

I know, I know.  I can hear my visiting teachers even now--"Now Larisa, you know this is a good thing."

No it's not.  In fact, it kills me to see it happening.

She is taller than me now at 5'9".  She wears my shoe size when it's convenient and my shoes match her outfit better, even though she wears a half size larger than I do.  Her hair is the hair that I would die to have.  I know she's counting down the days until she gets her braces off (I think we are at 57 days).  But braces, or no, she's growing up.

One of the hardest things for us to find is modest dresses that are cute.  Being so tall, most dresses that would be modest are really short on her.  Or, something that I've noticed about fashion, is that if the dress is actually long, the designer must make up for the lack of skin that is showing by giving the dress a plunging neckline.  I don't even know how many camisoles Hannah owns...

Well, I received a catalog in the mail several weeks ago from Boden.  It's an English company that is just starting to grow in the United States.  The glorious thing?  They make dresses.  Lots and lots of dresses.  Some aren't wearable, but many are.  They are horribly expensive, but dresses go on sale, and honestly, I'm willing to pay the price.  I crossed my fingers and pushed "Add to Cart" more times than I should have.

Of the five dresses I ordered, Hannah kept two.  She would have kept more, but I could feel John's looming eye on the credit card statement.  I figured she would wear one this past Sunday, and I anxiously awaited her entrance into the kitchen.

Wow.  I couldn't have been more pleased.  In fact, I took her outside, in the freezing weather, and made her pose for pictures.  Do you see that her knees are actually covered?  While sitting?  No cleavage showing, and yes, I know I had forgotten what sleeves look like, but there they are!

The joke in our family is to pose like a Gap ad.  Hannah didn't disappoint, and we almost couldn't get a shot because we were laughing so hard...

Even when Cathryn went to throw Starbursts down her dress, she couldn't get them in!  Woot--victory at last!

Is this seriously my little girl?  Where are the blonde curls and chubby cheeks?  Ugh, Johannah is growing up.