So let's talk about clothes...

You may remember a bit back that I did a blog entry about giving in to using some of Isabella's hand-me-downs for Veronica. I have a bit of an OCD issue about the second child having their own things:) Plus I really enjoy kids clothes...I love shopping for kids clothes/outfits whether they are for my own children or for a new baby or the children of my friends. Even moreso, I love getting an amazing deal. Basically, my husband would say that I just like to shop:)

But I've been trying to turn over a new leaf and not do the excessive amount of shopping for my girls that I've done in the past. And I've gotta tell you...I've been doing pretty darn good!!!!:) And thank goodness for that because if I had bought a lot of new clothes for my girls lately, more likely than not, they wouldn't wear them. Let's talk about my fashionistas...

*ISABELLA...most of note is the fact that Isabella now has lots of opinions about clothes. This has pretty much stopped my 'shop ahead' lifestyle. For those of you who have been to our house, you know that the closet in Bryan's office has been filled with 'clothes for the future' since Isabella was a baby. I tend to shop ahead, buying 3T clothes when Isabella was one, getting holiday wear for future years when it is clearanced after the holidays, and so on. But now, Isabella has different likes and dislikes, so it will be much more beneficial for me to take her with to help choose things.

My 'clothes for the future' closet is also viritually empty because Isabella pretty much skipped size 4 and 5 in clothes and I had to move my stock of 6x stuff into her closet to wear now. She is 100% a size 4 (or less) in the waist, but those long legs and arms, quickly put her into a 5 this fall and now we've moved to a 6 for pants. In fact about a month ago, I had to take Isabella shopping to get some new shirts and pants that would fit - we needed them NOW...a first or us with her wardrobe!:) It was fun having Isabella show me the different things she liked and didn't like...she's got some style:) As we were going through the racks at Target, she told me, "These are the most awesome clothes ever, Mom!".

Fitting Isabella in clothes right now is not fun. To get pants that are long enough, she has to deal with adjustable waistbands that are cinched as much as possible. Every morning seems to find her upset or irritated about how somethings fits or feels. Some of it is drama - she hated jeans on Monday, so Tuesday I pull out leggings and she throws a fit wanting jeans because something is wrong with the leggings, etc...A morning with no clothes battle is rare around here these days. I've tried letting her pick her own clothes, but even that does not solve the fact that she is just often uncomfortable with how her clothes fit. Socks and shoes, her winter jacket as well, nothing fits to her liking, leading to a great deal of frustration, and at times, a Momma taking 5 in the bathroom while Daddy swoops in to save the day and tackle getting shoes and socks on for me. I am very grateful for those moments:)

It is very fun to watch Isabella dress herself! She puts together some really interesting outfits - she is a real fashion statement at times:) It is also a good exercise in teaching me to let go and let her wear what she wants at times instead of Mom's vision of perfectly coordinated outfits with matching hair bows:)

If all truth be told, Isabella would be happiest spending her days in a pair of underwear or a dress-up costume:)

*VERONICA...thank goodness I did not spend a bunch of money getting Veronica her 'own' clothes this year. Veronica spends most of her time in a swimsuit or a leotard. I will dress her in clothes in the morning, but a short time later, they are discarded for a leotard or swimsuit. These items are also her first choice of clothing for bedtime, until she started to get a diaper rash from the way her leo would push her diaper up...we realized that she couldn't be wearing the leos or swimsuits for the long periods of time that she had been (thanks to Grandma Grace for helping us figure out the cause to the diaper rash) We have to do some fancy convincing at times when we are going out in public to get her in something other than a leo or ss. Veronica also has strong opinions about what she does or does not want to wear, whining incessantly to pick her clothes from her closet. Veronica has the opposite problem of her sister and is shorter which sometimes makes her pants uncomfortable. Even when things fit perfectly, Veronica can throw a fit shouting, "It too big, it don't fit, too tight". I don't think she even knows what she is saying, but is just repeating what she has heard. Whatever the cause, it is not a fun way to start the day:( But this too shall pass...right???:)

I was looking at the girls opening gifts on Christmas morning and realizing how strong their opinions on clothes have become and also patting myself on the back for letting go and not fighting this battle. My vision on Christmas morning - they would have been in their Christmas pj's and red hair bows - FYI for anyone who doesn't know - I LOVE holiday themed pj's:). Reality - Isabella was in a regular Dora nightgown and Veronica was in a red, white, and blue 4th of July pj set that she thought was a swimsuit...a short time later she was just in her diaper:)