Unkempt, uncombed. That describes our home and family right now. Little ones with fast moving dirty bare feet come visiting me in my bedroom throughout the day. I shout for Jonny while trying to keep Silas’ feet from touching the sheets as he comes climbing in my bed to give Job another kiss. Jonny’s doing his best to hold down the fort while doing extra chores such as chopping wood and cleaning out the chimney, a really filthy business. My kids are watching way too many junky cartoons on the computer and generally running wild. Beatrix’s birthday is Saturday, and today Larkspur “baked” her a gigantic mud pie to start the celebration. Later, she and Bea set up an office under my desk.
I remember that after Silas was born, Larkspur would climb in bed with us and bring her knitting. This time she’s bringing her embroidery. I remember that I can’t for the life of me do a decent job of swaddling a baby. In my case, practice has not made perfect. I remember that I always seem to sing “Oh My Darling, Clementine” to my newborns while changing their diapers in an effort to stop their crying, despite not really knowing the words. Today was the first day I caught myself singing it to Job, drawing on my Alabama roots to give it a good twang. I need to learn all the words and do it right. Job did get quiet when I started singing, despite the fact that I am the exact opposite of a good singer. I remember how much I love newborn babies, not that I had forgotten that.
What a lovely update! You are so lucky to see how blessed you are in the moment, and without worries for things being ‘perfect’. I struggled far too much with that, and it was such a waste of time & energy.
When my husband was a 2 year old in his family of 5 kids, he was brought home by the local police who found him peddling his tricycle on the main road in town. Turns out he was on his way to look for Clementine because she was ‘lost and gone forever’ and he wanted to help find her! He also had the fire department out a couple of times to rescue him. I chalk it up to how very bright he is that he was in so much danger- always on the edge!
He is just delicious!
I love newborns too! I love, love, love those newborn days. I know not everyone enjoys them, but I did. Every night I sing Clementine to my 3 yo daughter, but as I see from Corrie’s comment, I only knew up until the ruby lips verse. Now I will have to try them all out tonight!
Now that’s the life! As an empty nester I am so jealous but happy for you. Your pictures soothe my soul. Love to you all.
My song was “Hush, little baby, don’t say a word, Papa’s gonna buy you a mockingbird…” and I knew all the lyrics (in the right order) by the seventh child. I had a problem with swaddling too. I would watch my midwife do it and think, “Man, that looks tight!” and was too much of a wimp to duplicate it right.
Precious, precious, precious! Everything beautiful! 🙂
Don’t get me wrong, I have six children from the ages of 11 – 2 and I’m 5 months pregnant. So I get the whole my kids aren’t groomed and my house is dirty, but girl that post was so incredibly sweet, adorable, and yummy I say the messy hair is worth it. Thank you for posting that. Just beautiful. And you look great by the way.
If you want to see who I am because I’m always leaving comments, I’m aaronsangel on Ravelry. We’re already friends. I’ve stalked you there too. : ) Congrats. I do have one complaint though. Looking at your sweet pictures makes it REALLY hard for me to wait until March to welcome our sweet Sebastian.
He is so beautiful! As are you, Ginny. Congratulations to all. I love this post…what a lovely depiction of the newborn days with your seven children. My seventh is one now…how I will always cherish those chaotic yet joyful early days!
What a blessing. Praying for you to the One who knows you even if I don’t. Grateful for the reminder of beauty.
Could there be anything sweeter than your pictures! Love them…Well tell Larkspur I love her embroidery. I’m so impressed…before I read your notes, I thought it was yours. I love how you’ve organized the embroidery threads. How can I get them? I’m on a kick to learn smocking and thought it would work great with that…unless you don’t think so.
Gwen
Our song was “Down in the Valley” and I still hum it to myself when things get chaotic at home or at work – very strange since my youngest is 14! The picture of Silas with Job is so precious – both smiling like they are sharing a great secret together – probably a sign of things to come as these brothers grow up being best friends. I love that you share your life with us – thank you for taking the time to let us into the fun and joy (and chaos) that is the babymoon!
Soak it up, dear, blessed lady! They can have clean feet some other year. Don’t you love how they respond to music? It’s such a beautiful thing.
And do tell Larkspur her work is lovely! (baking and stitching both)
Wonderful to get these memories down; what a beautiful time, with your beloved baby. May you have peace amidst the chaos! Love the pictures!
who needs kempt when there’s a gorgeous sweet sniffable babe in the house?? to capture any smalls a’tall from big sibs in these early days is order enough, if you ask me 🙂
heads up: a small parcel is headed your way…
xo,
m
I am so happy to get a peek into your early days with the new baby! How precious those pictures are with him on your shoulder, and Silas holding and kissing him. I just had my first baby last Christmas and these pictures make me so ready for another! The first few weeks have such a soft and rosy glow, with time reserved just for loving and caring for the new addition. I pray that he keeps growing healthy and strong. God please bless this new precious life.
“Three Blind Mice” works wonders for us in the diaper/carseat battles. Kind of funny the tricks we must adopt!
oh my darling clementine was one of my favorite songs of very-young childhood! two littlest boys in hand knit sweaters snuggling?! SWOOOOON. perhaps ill see a sight like this come march. my 2 year old will likely smother the baby in kisses, too.
enjoy your baby moon and your youngest gals birthday. and of course, thank you for sharing these glimpses of your life. it inspires me to get good with a camera. then my house can remain messy and kid unkempt and my photos will still look lovely, as yours certainly do.
That is the best mud cake I’ve ever seen! Larkspur did a fabulous job, it looks good enouhg to eat.
Not too long ago I was holding a wee one too trying to keep eveyone together. Ha, trying is the right word. Now I’m chasing one down as he tears the house apart during school. Ah, a boy, so different from my girls, but reminds me so much of life with my oldest son. I’d tell you to enjoy the precious moments, but there is no need to. You already know to do just that.
I always say that delirious is my favorite kind of happy and there’s nothing quite as deliciously delirious as those newborn days. Oh, my goodness, that is one sweet baby <3
And, oh Ginny, those sweet pictures of you with Job on your shoulder – how gorgeous you are! What love shines through! Makes my heart so happy to see it, friend. Drink up these baby days, as I know you so wisely do.
Best wishes!
my youngest is 20 yo and yet it was yesterday I was bundling him up to carry him about. My favorite is the new baby smell as you snuggle their wee little heads 🙂
Lovely photos 🙂
Unkept and uncombed describes my brood too often as well, and we don’t have nearly as good an excuse. Enjoy these early days, sweet Ginny. As you well know, they are fleeting.
you had Silas right after I had my Hannah Grace and I am intensely jealous of your new little precious blessing…thank you so much for the photos and a glimpse into his new little life! I would love more but I’m getting older and not sure if God will bless us again…….hold on to those newborn days!
I follow your blog now not for a long time but I wanted to say that I love your pictures from your children, the things you write and of course your knitting! Those pictures are beautiful and really reflect the first weeks after a newborn is born. Lovely light and soft colors! I love it! When I see this I dream away about our newborn coming in March. Thank you for sharing! Greetings from Stella (Holland)
Beautiful chaos, that. Some of the most amazing times for our family have come out of our babymoons…seems like I can always walk calmer and gentler and lean into the crazy spin better in those early months…it’s a precious time and I miss it when it slips away as the new ‘normal’ takes over. Happiest of birthdays to Beatrix!
Oh many congrats Ginny and family! He is a beautiful little boy. (And you are one of those lovely people who hardly looks like she’s just birthed a baby 🙂 I have to comment on your naming dilemma that you wrote about. We had the hardest time naming our fourth and actually announced her name as one thing and then re-announced it as another a few days later. The first one we picked just wasn’t sitting right. The whole process was very emotional, but now it is but a teeny tiny blip on the radar. The biggest question we got was if we had to go through a legal name change with the social security office, which we didn’t because they give a grace period of 10 days from when the paperwork was submitted. The fact that there was a grace period meant to me that others faced naming struggles, and I felt better knowing that! I love the name Job, by the way. It’s one of my favorite OT stories…in fact just went through it with my kids a couple of weeks ago. My favorite verse is from Job – 19:25!
look at that sweet newborn cloth diaper! oh, yes, your house is wild but goodness is he just such a beautiful baby.
Sounds about right! I never could swaddle our son either. My husband was a pro though, so at least he was wrapped up properly half the time!
I think you all look pretty good considering you have a newborn in the house! Good job!
Oh I love that you have the words now, in the comment above! Such a sweet crazy time, that newborn stage. You are making me want another!
Unkempt & uncombed…. I’ve been there too. Sending you love….. happy celebrating your sweet girl’s birthday.
Such lovely photos. It feels like the kind of chaos that a good friend could show up at your door and have tea sitting between piles of laundry. I love glimpses into your life – thanks for sharing.
Too funny! Love love love it! Makes me really miss having a baby around so I am enjoying it through you 🙂
My baby song was always Somewhere Over the Rainbow. I can’t carry a tune, but that never stopped me.
Love seeing all the wonderful photos of your family Ginny, thank you for sharing.
I am headed your way the 5th of December for about a week and would love to see if we can meet up.
Your pictures speak a thousand words Miss Ginny.Such love that exists in your home. Enjoy this time with Job and all of your children kissing and snuggling and “helping”. It goes by so fast. Thank you for sharing a small piece of your joy with us. So beautiful!
Looks like you’re all having fun creating memories and beautiful crafts. Congratulations!
I love this post!! Oh your pictures are amazing! As you know we will be doing this very same thing very soon! Due in 5 weeks. I’m having a hard time imagining a new baby in our house though.
Such sweet memories for your children. Those first weeks are wonderful and exhausting at the same time. Love to see the workings of your family. Thank you for sharing! and Congratulations!
Oh, I love every moment of this, every photo. It is all just as it should be. Such a busy house, filled with love. And busy people. Making mud pies and playing office under the desk. Baby Job is beautiful. Enjoy these days. Don’t be rushed to make things tidy. All in good time. xo
Love your pictures & the happiness that shows through. I too am not the best swaddler, I have to watch the youtube video each time to remind myself how to do it:)
Such a beautiful post!!! Your pictures are stunning, and they represent a household of fun and love, in spite of the chaos you may feel. I’m so happy that you are able to stay in bed and enjoy your precious bundle.
I’m sure things feel a bit chaotic, but your photos still ooze peace and beauty! And if our children had the embroidery thread, it would be one giant ball of mixed up, tangled thread… it looks so organized and inviting. Best wishes as you all sort out your new rhythm!
Beautiful post, beautiful photos.
I am glad I’m not the only one who sings Clementine to babies without knowing the words. 🙂
Congratulations!!! I am reminded of all that postpartum joyous and stressful chaos. Oh, how delightful.
It sounds positively perfect to me. ♥
I so love these photos. Your post reminds me of my house right now. We have twin boys, one month old. Our house is total chaos and I’m trying to enjoy this precious time. Finding it a bit hard though because I have guilt over not spending enough time with my other kids (10, 9, 7, 4, and 2), keeping up with cleaning, etc, etc. I have no help from family during the day but my husband helps a lot at night. Thanks for the reminder to try to enjoy this newborn stage through your wonderful photos.
What a wonderful post!! I don’t see anything unkempt, just full of love. And I love that a reader has posted the lyrics to Clementine. Don’t all of us try to sing that song?
I love your photos! They are a beautiful window into a picturesque family. So much love. So much happy chaos.
I am a mother of 6 and home school. I love that you show the good and the bad. Your honesty is so refreshing.
I also find myself singing to my babies the same song to calm them. We are so blessed to have the best job in the world! God bless you and your dear little family!
Oh, bliss!
love xxxxx
Beautiful! Swaddling is this ‘thing’ I can’t get a handle on either. I briefly consider those weird looking blankets but then we are over the phase! A Baby loves his Mama’s singing, keep singing!
I didn’t know there were verses to Clementine. Anyway, here is the verses and the chorus. Happy Diaper Changing!
In a cavern, in a canyon,
Excavating for a mine,
Dwelt a miner, forty-niner
And his daughter – Clementine
CHORUS:
Oh my Darling, Oh my Darling,
Oh my Darling Clementine.
Thou art lost and gone forever,
Dreadful sorry, Clementine.
Light she was and like a fairy,
And her shoes were number nine,
Herring boxes without topses
Sandals were for Clementine
Drove she ducklings to the water
Every morning just at nine,
Hit her foot against a splinter
Fell into the foaming brine.
Ruby lips above the water,
Blowing bubbles soft and fine,
But alas, I was no swimmer,
So I lost my Clementine
How I missed her! How I missed her!
How I missed my Clementine,
But I kissed her little sister,
And forgot my Clementine.
Then the miner, forty-niner,
Soon began to peak and pine,
Thought he oughter join his daughter,
Now he’s with his Clementine.
In a churchyard near the canyon,
Where the myrtle doth entwine,
There grow roses and the posies,
Fertilized by Clementine.
In my dreams she still doth haunt me,
Robed in garments, soaked in brine;
Then she rises from the water
And I kiss my Clementine.
Thank you!!