When Brynlee was a few weeks old, I discovered SweetHoney clothing. At the time I had no idea that a single Facebook group for buying and selling clothing would completely change how I dress my daughters. Oh, but it did. Not long after joining that group, several moms joined together to send Brynlee a package filled with SweetHoney dresses, leggings, shirts, and matching shoes and bows. We were in the midst of just figuring out how to keep going with this sick baby and a 3 & 5 year old. That package of clothes and the accompanying SweetHoney gift card meant so much to me. These moms who I had never met reached out to do something kind for our daughter and I and I will never forget it. It was a glimpse of sunshine in the middle of our storm.
Brynlee in the SweetHoney Summer Bubble 2014 & 2016.
I had never purchased boutique clothing or really given it any thought. Then Brynlee was born and for 3 weeks, I did not get to dress my newborn. When she came home, she was still so sick that she spent most of her time sleeping or puking her feeds. That was when boutique clothing worked it’s way into my heart. The only time I spent with my girl that was “normal” was when I was getting her dressed. Everything else was so far from normal that I came to embrace those moments of sliding tiny dresses over her body (making sure not to snag her MIC-KEY button) as the best part of our day together. At this time, she was losing so many feeds that we couldn’t pick her up often because we needed her to keep every single ML of milk down possible. Changing her diapers and getting her dressed were the few hands-on moments I had with my sick little girl. Otherwise I was suctioning her trach and hooking up her tube-feeds and just praying she would keep at least some of a feed down.
SweetHoney Knit Dress
So now, here we are two years later and still buying boutique clothing. It’s our one of our sweet connections that just between Brynlee and I. Choosing her outfits and getting her dressed is still one of my favorite parts of each day. I think back to where we were and where we are now and all that’s happened in the time between and I’m just filled with gratitude. Brynlee still loves her dresses and accessories and I’ll probably cry when she grows out of it. For now I just soak in the little miracle that I get to dress every day. Sometimes I carry her over to her closet and she’ll choose her dress. She loves all kinds of dresses and bubbles and rompers. Most days she asks for a bow, but never keeps it in long. She adores necklaces and went through a stage where she wanted to wear 2 or 3 at a time.
SweetHoney Sugar Shoppe
She is no longer dressed in boutique clothing constantly like when she was an infant. She now has drawers filled with play clothes because as much as she loves her dresses, she also loves being outside. In the mud- if at all possible. I’ve always said that if I become the mom who is yelling at her kid not to get dirty, I will quit buying boutique clothing. We’ve got many stained dresses and it still doesn’t bother me. I think after almost losing your child, your perspective changes in big- and small- ways. A dirty faced Brynlee for me means a healthy Brynlee. A Brynlee who jumps in the mud up to her ears means that I don’t have to worry about her inhaling it through her trach. So while she does have plenty of play clothes, if she happens to be in one of her sweet outfits and the opportunity to get dirty arises- this mom isn’t going to stop her. I may stand back and wonder if my dawn/peroxide/baking soda mixture will work on those stains, but I’ll do so with a smile.
SweetHoney Summer Bubble
She looks adorable in her boutique clothing. Like you, I didn’t mind when my kids got dirty. I’d rather that they have fun and enjoy life, even when dressed nicely.
Cute brynlee’s cloth.What an adorable. ! At childtocherish’s gift store you will get fabulous kid’s cloth that can give a lovely smile to your little one. Good sharing.