The dress: Houndstooth Skater Dress
I hold a lot of memories that have taken place in that bright, red hall at the Kennedy Center. A handful of New Years countdowns and ballets with girlfriends make it one of my favorite places to go in Washington, DC.
The Event
Occasionally, the National Symphony Orchestra offers a sensory-friendly performance for families. Meaning that during these performances some lights stay on, parts of the music do not get as loud as it normally would, and it's okay to make some noise. So, Miles' babbling and singing was very much welcomed! At eight months old he sat in awe of the stage but this time- standing skills acquired, he had his arms reached out toward the musicians nearly the entire time. The music went on for an hour and Miles loved it so much! The theme was "Let's Go to the Moon," so the songs were all space-themed. Think: songs from space movies, a piece titled "Libra," and Debussy's Claire de Lune.
Each time we've gone to the Kennedy Center with Miles I bring some puffs, a pouch of food, and an extra bottle in my bag. The second row of the box seats is my ideal because there is more space to move around and less people which feels way less stressful with a baby. And you can see the entire stage easily with a baby on your lap.
The dress
After an entire season of wearing black jeans on a near constant basis, I have been dying to get into some dresses! I was skeptical about this $25 dress but as soon as I put it on I was so glad I ordered it. There's a side zipper, tie-neck, and the material is silky smooth making it appropriate for spring, fall, and layered in winter! My favorite part is that it's not the typical black and white houndstooth pattern: where it normally would be white is actually a very muted shade of pink. The softest feminine touch + a bold pattern? Seriously, treat yourself to this dress!
It was easy to push a stroller, hold Miles on my lap, and I also felt super cute and put together (despite my hair needing a wash, ahh) which is always nice! Don't get me wrong- I wouldn't let an outfit get in the way of enjoying this kind of time together but style has always been something that makes me feel whole.
In order to have time to get ready, I did a little bit of makeup when Miles took a nap around 10am (the event was at 2!), and I had chosen 1-2 things to wear in advance and put them aside in my closet so they wouldn't be sitting in the laundry basket the day I wanted to wear one of them. I guess I share this because there are times I would see other moms dressed and I'd wonder...wait, how?! It has taken me awhile not only to feel more rooted in my own style but to let go of the idea that I need or have time to get ready at the last second. It seemed straight up silly to put aside two dresses three weeks ago, but seriously that saved me so much effort later on.
My favorite...
The most incredible part of all of the day was holding Miles and sensing all the ways he was feeling the music. The highs and lows, the sometimes booming scary sounds and the light and happy ones. It is amazing to watch the world through his eyes.
wishing you joy on your journey,
kristen
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