…and my thoughts on this girl turning two. (review details at the end)
Some people have asked me if I’m sad that my baby is transitioning into toddler hood. Since she is our last, you would think my answer would be yes. But…two suits Natalie very well already.
ha. Can’t you tell?
I don’t elaborate much about it here on the blog, but Natalie’s baby years were tough. She was my sweetest little newborn, but due to her spunky disposition mixed in with the crazy busy turns our lives took with two moves and food allergy adjustments, among other things… babyhood was otherwise pretty hard.
I feel like toddler hood is giving us a fresh start.
And with each step closer to toddler status she gets cuter and cuter. I can hardly stand it.
I’m also, admittedly, a toddler/older kid kind of mom. I enjoy babies, but I LOVE it when my kids are old enough to go on adventures. 🙂
In true toddler fashion, Nat insists that she put on her own shoes. She already prefers having her shoes on the wrong feet…which is one of the many toddler-isms I think I will always appreciate but never understand.
Yeah…I think toddler hood suits both of us very well. (Check out that hip swagger!)
I look forward to pretend picnics, dress up parties, painting nails together, and finally bringing down the craft supplies I have been keeping out of her reach for so long.
Maybe not quite yet, but hopefully soon little one. 🙂
Pattern details:
– This top was sewn using the Nessie Top pattern from Craftiness Is Not Optional.
– I sewed a size 12 month width and 18 month length.
– I sewed the basic shirt, with contrasting front and back using jersey knit fabric from Girl Charlee.
– I added a little leather pocket, using a leather needle and a walking foot.
– I sewed it all up using a ball point needle and a triple stretch stitch. I talk more about this stitch in THIS post. It came out beautifully at the thicker parts of the shirt, like the neckline. At the thinner parts, such as the hem, the triple stitch is strong and stretches fine, but doesn’t look as clean. I recommend a double needle for the sleeve and shirt hems, instead.
– If you are concerned that I am obsessed with mustard yellow, I won’t disagree. See here and here (and those are just two off the top of my head :)).
– I was gifted this pattern but was not under obligation to sew it. I sewed it up because I really like it! I give the pattern two thumbs up! 🙂 The fit is great (make sure you check the sizing chart!), the hi-lo hem is adorable, I like how the top swings out a little bit, and there are other options I didn’t use such as color blocking and a peter pan collar. Jess (pattern author) shares bright happy pictures and thorough instructions. It all came together without a hitch. You can read more about the Nessie Top pattern HERE.
I think Nat likes it too…
…and the sucker I gave her so she would stay still for a few moments at a time. 😀
Thanks for reading.
See ya!
Oh your pics are so beautiful. The blured mountain range in the back, your sweet little daugther, that nice tee.
Seeing the photos on your blog and some others makes me want a DSLR so badly (I know it’s not just the camera, but also who takes the pics). Well, that’ll have to wait for some more time 🙁
Thank you Annika. I know how you feel. Dslrs are expensive but also totally worth the wait. 🙂
The shirt is adorable, I love the design choices you made to personalize it. I can’t believe Natalie is almost two. Where has the time gone? Where did you get her adorable boots?
Thank you Lindsay! I got her boots at H&M online, last Fall.
So very cute!! My daughter is almost 11 months, but I’m looking forward to the upcoming toddler stage 🙂 thanks for reviewing the top; I’ve been eyeing it for awhile now
Thanks! Yes, babies are great but the toddler phase is my favorite. 😀
Pigtails!!! So cute! The girl and top! 🙂 So happy to hear that things are adjusting and becoming easier for you! Love your blog!
Thanks Megan!
She is just adorable, and it is hard seeing them grow up so fast! My daughter is about to turn 5, and I’ve been so sad over the fact that she will be going to school next year. As far as the Nessie Top, I love it! I’m blogging about all three I’ve made tomorrow! They are definitely a favorite in our house!
Awesome! Thanks Veronica. Yeah…5 can be a sad age. They are hitting their cutest stage yet, and they have to go off to school.
She is getting so big!! What an adorable top and it looks so well made. my Gigi would live in that. Shes’ s anti dresses now.
Thanks Justine! That is a huge compliment for me coming from you. I admire your talent so much!
Hi Delia,
my daughter is the same age and she is just as sweet as your Nathalie. ❤❤❤
Hugs from Norway
Oh so fun! Hugs to you too!
oh this is so cute! i love the nessie on her and love the little pocket too. i’ve made one of these for my niece but not for Em – probably should!!
also, i know what you mean about liking being a mom to a toddler/kid more than a baby. i’m the same way. don’t get me wrong, the snuggliness and sweetness of tiny babies is really great and i’m savoring it, but having conversations with your kids and being about to get out and do stuff with them is what i really love. i get ya. 😉
I’m glad you understand how I feel! Not everyone does…which is cool. Toddler hood has drawbacks of course…um potty training, but the plusses are pretty awesome too! 🙂
Oh my gosh Delia that last picture is so ridiculously cute! It is a funny feeling watching your last grow out of babyhood. Sometimes I look longingly at the new babies around me (everyone is having them I SWEAR!) and then go home to a nice solid nights sleep and wake up to a toddler who can pretty much tell me what she wants and how to make her happy and think “yeah, I’m good” ha!
haha. totally! Thanks Kelly!
Lovely as usual ! I love the top but Natalie is still the cutest 🙂
And I understand how you feel, you should see my Louise (turning two on saturday) dance and repeat every word she hears, it’s just irresistible 😉
Isn’t toddler hood great? Love it! Thanks Sophie!
Very cute little girl! And that outfit is darling. I love the heart shaped sucker too, what a fun addition to the photo shoot! 🙂
Thanks Lynette!
I absolutely love the leather pocket. Such a simple detail adds so much. I’m going to steal the idea to make a shirt for my son.
Please do! Thanks Sarah. 🙂
Seriously SO stinking cute! I LOVE the leather pocket
Thanks Marissa!
Oh goodness!! She really does get more and more adorable:) Love that outfit too!
thanks Leanne!
I LOVE the pigtails… Natalie is ridiculously adorable! The top is darling too. Mustard yellow with a leather pocket is a great combination. =)
Thank you Charity! I’m a sucker for piggies too. 🙂
As a mother of an eleven-month old going through some serious allergy issues, this post gives me such hope. I love, love, love babies, but it is so comforting to know that some of struggles accompanying these allergies will be less difficult in the coming years. And your Natalie is too perfect (I go back to your allergy post on occasion to find more comfort!).
Aw Emily! I wish I could hug you! Nat just had a bad (not anaphylactic) reaction the other day, and it was the first in a really long time. It almost put me in a state of mini shock. We had been managing it so well for so long…anyway, it was a good reminder to appreciate how far we/she has come and how far we still have to go. 🙂 Life still seems to be more work than it is for other people (right – you get that!), but it is so much easier than when we started. And…we have started baked in egg therapy this week which is really encouraging too. Hang in there! I pray that all the bad, stressful parts of this phase go quickly for you and that all the fun, beautiful parts get soaked in slow motion. 🙂 Hugs!
Your girl is adorable! I have the same mustard yellow striped girl charlee fabric sitting on my shelf, waiting for me. 🙂 Why wait with the crafting with her? My 21 month old loves to play with craft supplies while her 4 year old brother and I make stuff. Yesterday she picked out some pipecleaners, pompoms and googly eyes and I made her a little finger puppet, which she now loves. This toddler/kid phase way more fun than the baby phase! 🙂
Thanks Julia! Nat is a bit of a wild child to say the least. 😉 My boys were crafting at this age. I think she’s capable, but she requires two hands and two eyes on her at all times oh and lots of energy and patience…so we are slowly settling into the idea.
Ah yes, I understand. Her time will come too. 🙂
so cute! what is it with kids wanting their shoes on the wrong feet? Violet is still doing that at 3.5
Mustard yellow is a color worth being obsessed with. Especially in stripes!