Ever So Helpful

Being the diligently helpful big sister she is Emmuska is always willing to pick Samuel up when he seems upset (and even sometimes when he doesn't...) and bring him to me. The first few times this nearly gave me a heart attack because, well - he's half the size of her and I just wasn't convinced she could carry him without catastrophe ensuing. Yet Samuel seemed to have complete faith in her (which could be due to the utter adoration with which he regards Emmuska but that's another post...) and after she brought him to me unsolicited a few times without incident I began to get used to the sight and gradually my heart's settled down.

  

Dress Shopping

While running errands yesterday I decided to pop into a dress shop to look around. Well more accurately I was 'looking with the intent to buy' (not my common shopping mode of operation unless I'm in a grocery store...I'm a big 'looker') because in one week (less now) we have the Green Dragon Ball. It is apparently a very big deal in the Chemical Corps - we've had our tickets for months. All of my formals are in storage however and lets be honest, there is no way I would fit into one of them right now anyway. So it's been on my to-do list for a little while. Yesterday I just happen to be taking care of something right next to a dress shop so I thought I'd pop in. (I love how I just said that as I'm toting two kids around - I don't really just 'pop in' anywhere - it's pretty much a big ordeal everywhere I go...still in my head I was 'popping in'.) Having been fortunate enough not to have to shop for dresses since...well ever (my sisters have good taste and then decide to sell them to me...I'm so lucky!) I had no idea how this would work with children. Thankfully this store was prepared. They had a nice couch with a bunch of books and a very patient sales lady who would read books to the girls between bringing me every dress in my size that might work. However despite my apprehension with the idea I quickly learned that best person I could possibly go dress shopping with was Emmuska. Every time she saw me in a new dress she would say - in the most enthusiastic and sincere voice imaginable 'Oh Mommy! You look gorgeous!' Or 'You look very pregnant in that dress' (given the huge smile on her face and the tone of her voice when this was said this is apparently a good thing). She was also able to help me narrow it down to which of the two viable options I should get with her unfailingly good fashion sense (it follows a golden rule that will be evident when I show pictures of me in said dress next week). So to sum up - take a devoted three year old with you when you have to make a fairly high priced clothing purchase - they will be honest, complimentary and provide you with that final touch of fashion knowledge that you need.