Fall wardrobe

It was clear this week, as we grabbed up a few tops, bottoms, dresses, tights and shoes for fall, that I can no longer dress my little girl the way I want to. I can encourage certain styles and shapes that I think will be best for L, but ultimately she chooses her outfit everyday and she'll only wear the duds she likes. In the end, and after some negotiation, we agreed on most everything that ended up in her closet. All but the shoes.

We went to a local shoe chain today in search of sneakers -- something appropriate for the playground and walks. I put my foot down about anything that lights up, sparkles or sports cartoon characters. So L and I agreed on a pair of white lace-up Keds with modest pink accents. Then she saw them: a display of Skechers wanna-be-Crocs that C was casually dismantling and making off with lonely lefts and rights to the stroller. L went right to her "perfect" fall kicks: raspberry, a tiny bit of sparkle on the strap and they look just like ballet slippers. I saw hot pink, plastic, Velcro, cheap. For L, it was love at first sight and I couldn't think of any logical reason not to get them except that I thought they were ugly as sin. But somehow, they became perfect when I watched L carefully strap them onto her tiny feet and grin as she leaped up to dance. They cost $12, have pretty good arch support and when they get dirty I can throw them in the washer. I guess I'm content with that.