Thank you everyone who helped me! I learned so much putting this dress together.
The sleeves are poofy and ended up being straight at the bottom. Instead of hemming it I used some satin ribbon which I feel gives it a just a little touch of "extra". Perhaps they come down longer than was intended, but I didn't line them so it looks darling.
When the sleeves where on and the sides were sewn I went looking for matching buttons, and found snaps! So there are five snaps that run down the back every 3.25" or so. Snaps were the easiest for me when dd was little. I even put them in blind so you can't see them from the back.
While I think dd might be able to wear this backwards as a shirt, I think it is best left saved until the right moment comes along and passed along then. I wonder who will end up liking it?