Today is our first day on our own since Mabel was born. Jonny’s sister and our niece were here through end of last week, and my mom and stepdad were here from late last week till yesterday. Friends are bringing meals, and we are being well taken care of. We feel very loved and it has been great having family with us.
And, don’t worry! I didn’t participate in the garlic harvest. I merely gave instructions and took a few photos. C-section recovery is so different, in some ways harder, but in some ways easier (and from what I have taken away from my friends who have had them, recovery can be wildly different from individual to individual). I have been instructed to be up walking around a bit, to listen to my body, and rest as needed. I am much more able to be up walking than I have been after previous births, especially my last, but my body definitely knows when it’s time to sit back down. I’m doing really well, and haven’t required pain medication beyond prescription Motrin. And I promise, promise that I am not over-doing it and don’t intend to. Because mostly, I just want to look at this baby! I have pulled out most of my kids’ newborn pictures and my own, and determined that Mabel doesn’t look like me at all, or like Beatrix and Larkspur. Maybe a bit like Seth. Right now she mostly looks like a mini Jonny to me. A friend commented that she has his hairline. He answered, “Is hers receding?” Right now her eyes are a cloudy dark blue, but I am holding on to the hope that she will have my green eyes. She definitely wins the most laid back baby ever award, and she did not inherit that from me. Even her body language says that she is just not too worried about anything. She stretches and sprawls, and I realize it is too early for smiles, but she’s been smiling from day one. I’ve never seen anything like it in a newborn of mine. She smiles and smiles and smiles. She’s the most darling baby ever. I love her so much and am still in the “can’t believe she’s here” stage.
But her name! I want to tell you all about her name. So in our family, I typically name the boys and Jonny names the girls, at least he chooses what name the girls will go by. He’s had Mabel picked out for a long time. Beatrix was almost named Mabel, but he ultimately decided against it. I think he chose well. Beatrix is definitely a Beatrix, and Mabel is a Mabel, amiable and easygoing. Mabel is a family name, Jonny’s paternal grandmother’s. He has many fond memories of his Louisiana MawMaw. As for her nickname, “Mae,” that is a family name too! Jonny’s maternal grandmother’s name was Gracie Mae. So he was able to name this little one after both of his grandmother’s with one name.
When we found out that we were having a girl, I knew immediately that I wanted to give her the name Sarah. Many of you know of my friend Sarah Harkins, who died unexpectedly two years ago, next month. What you probably don’t know is that my best friend in my late teen years was also named Sarah. She died when I was 20, and she was just 22. (I’m going to tell you more about her later this week.) My friend Elizabeth Dehority passed away on Holy Thursday in 2015 after bravely battling breast cancer for years. And it is also for her that we named our Sarah Mabel Elizabeth. I very much wanted to honor these friends who were, and still are, so dear to me. And you know what else? I have a sister named Sarah Elizabeth! So, I think we’ve got meaningful and special pretty well covered with our little one’s name. While we will probably mostly call her “Mae” (we are fans one syllable names or nicknames), her name is ultimately bound up tightly with so many people whom we love and that feels just right.
The best post I’ve read in ages
Barbara
Beautiful….just beautiful.
Such beautiful photos and what lovely and perfect names for this sweet baby girl 🙂 Reading your blog is doing me so much good right now, Ginny, as my lovely Mum passed away on the weekend xx
So very lovely. Prayers for a good recovery. What a lovely gift!
Dear Ginny, Hello! Congratulations!!! So happy to see you and your wonderful growing family here. I have been away so long, did not even know you were pregnant, but thinking of you the other week and had strong feelings that you had just had another baby, and I was right! I am glad to hear the birth went well and you are doing so good recovering. I know how hard it was last time and the worries you were facing. What a beautiful blessing your Mabel is! Another great name for the family. When my mother was pregnant with me my grandmother always referred to me as Mabel 🙂 And one of my girls almost got the middle name of Mae.
Sending lots of love Ginny. Just because you never hear from me doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten you.
Renee <3
A wonderful naming story and so many blessed people honoured. Wonderful photographs and so lovely to have so much love and family around you at this glorious time. Many congratulations to you all xx
It’s all just so wonderful, Ginny! Congratulations again! Mae’s tiny feet poking out the bottom of her gown as she lays in the bassinet is such a cute photo. I miss my newborn–how is he already 6 months, I keep wondering. This stage just goes way too fast. xx
I child’s name is important. Your Sarahs will always live on in little Mae. Enjoy your laid-back little girl. My son was that way and it was a joy.
Oh that picture of Bea with such a focused look, working while snuggling her tiny sister… it’s too much. Love!
Thank you Ginny for sharing your magical first week with Mae. There really is nothing like that first week. Blessings and congratulations!
Absolutely darling! I think she really is smiling! Love from California.
Welcome Mae!
I am just bubbling over with love and happiness for you and your family. Relax and enjoy every minute of these early days!
Mabel is beautiful.
And don’t be fooled by that “it’s just gas” talk. One of my boys was smiling in the hospital and laughing while asleep at about 4 weeks, they really can do it.
soak it up momma – you have done some good work there – you should be just sitting there gazing adoringly at her as much as possible
She is so beautiful!! I’m curious about Johnny’s Louisiana MawMaw. I’m from LA and wondering if I know any of his people.
What a darling baby! It makes me smile to think of the number of people, whose name she bears, looking down on her and keeping watch over her. Oh and your pictures make me want another baby. I can smell that new baby smell right through the computer. 🙂
Mae is beautiful! And, oh, a laid back baby – what a gift! Every one of these photos radiates joy.
Glad you are recovering well! Thank you for sharing Mae’s name story. She looks precious. 🙂
So very happy for you Ginny. She is a beautiful baby and I love hearing about her names. What a precious baby with a rich legacy of love surrounding her. Love you!!
Just darling! I especially love the pictures of little Mae in her siblings’ arms–just beautiful!
She’s a beautiful girl, and such a lovely and meaningful name. Well done all around! And I have to admit that I’m not surprised that she’s a laid back baby–look at all those arms ready to pick her up and give her snuggles and love…!
She is just beautiful Ginny!!!
I just love her name, and to hear all of the special women she is named for- beautiful!
Wonderful seeing all these amazing photos and hearing about Mae’s name and your family. You are definitely a bright spot in our so sad world.
I had a Great Aunt Mae who was like a third grandmother to me. It wasn’t until she was quite elderly that we discovered “Mabel” was actually her middle name. Her first name was “Nannie” but she disliked it and never used it. What part of Louisiana was Jonny’s Maw Maw from? If he is Cajun like me he may well call this little sweetheart “Tee Mae.” I love names that have stories behind them, and Mae has an abundance of them.
Mae is so beautiful. How lucky you are to have all that baby and child energy around.
Rest up!
Isn’t she a dear! Your post makes me so happy, taking me back to the days of having a new baby in a house with several children already in it. Glory to God for all things! I love the photo of your daughter with her workbook and Baby Mabel…
Congratulations!
A cute little bundle of love just never was!!! She’s adorable…perfect in every way!!! Hugs all around.
Her name is perfect on so many levels.
It’s so hard to pick favorite photos here, BUT:
The one of you and her
The one of her on a daughter’s chest while the daughter does math
Those just melted me.
Oh, I see it’s not math. It’s something else. But whatever. SO precious.
I’ve been checking in often in anticipation of this update! She’s beautiful, as is her name. Another reason Mabel is a great name:
https://www.allacronyms.com/mabel/Mothers_Always_Bring_Extra_Love
Hey there! I haven’t commented in awhile, but I still pop in now and again! Congrats on your new girl! & I love that her name is so meaningful!
This post makes me so happy. I’m happy you have a beautiful, healthy baby girl, I’m happy you are doing well, I’m happy you’re taking care of yourself AND that others are taking such good care of you guys, and I’m happy you got to name your baby girl after so many people who are important to you. How amazing.
Two unrelated notes:
1. Wow, love the family resemblance between (what I am assuming is) your niece and Beatrix and Larkspur! It’s the eyes;
2. My new niece was born two days after Mae! Woohoo! 🙂
I meant: Your friends, Elizabeth and Sarah would love her, Mae! But they ….love all of you…. ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ God protect you!
so much love to you! i re-found your blog during some lazy morning sickness a few weeks ago, and was so excited to see you were expecting another baby. that picture of your daughters snuggled in bed, the big one reading, is an incredible moment. thank you for sharing
I love these first days with the baby’s. They are sooooooo very special. Enjoy it!!! It is for each one of you special, especially for the little ones as Silas and Job. Mae has exceptional….. wonderful family! 😉
Your friends, Elizabeth and Sarah would love them!
With all my love!
Congratulations on such a beautiful little one!! Thank you so much for sharing your witness with all of us, you are a true inspiration to me (and many, I am sure)!! Prayers for continued healing. Enjoy every moment with that sweet little blessing from God!!
So lovely and meaningful and inspiring!! Thank you for sharing your life with all of us– You are an incredible blessing to so many women (myself included!)
Congratulations to all of you. I missed Mae’s birth last week (I was on vacation and away from the computer), but I’ve just gone back and read the official announcement. Mae is beautiful and her name is perfect. I’m glad you’re doing well after the birth. Take care and enjoy these special early times with your new baby girl.
What an absolutely gorgeous baby! I love the story of her name. It looks like she is already incredibly loved and doted upon, as it should be with all babies!
Ginny and Jonny – what a lovely book you are writing! Each sequel (each child) adds to the great “I am” God story that you are giving us in flesh form. Love your photos and love your family. Congrats to you too for disciplining yourself to not do too much. That comes thru daily prayer to say: “I am not God and this is not heaven”, lead and guide me in everything.
Love you bundles
Bonnie
Congratulations, Ginny! I am so thrilled to hear about the safe and healthy delivery of little Mae. I am so glad you went the C-section route and all is well. Love her name. So thrilled for you all for so many reasons! Blessings!
Ginny, she’s perfect. I have been a silent reader for awhile and your blog is my all-time favorite. I just love all of the photos you post but the ones of sweet little Mae capture the essence of her newness so beautifully. Hope you are recovering well, I had a c-section with my first and had a tough recovery physically and emotionally. However recovery from a vaginal birth isn’t a cake walk either, as I discovered in November! Anyway, God bless you and your beautiful family and congratulations on sweet Sarah Mabel Elizabeth!
She certainly is beautiful and well loved by all the family it seems from your photos. Take care.
She is beautiful! Your whole family is so lovely! My baby just turned one (we have 7) and we are in the process to adopt from Haiti, which means I must try not to get pregnant for the next couple of years. These pictures are killing me!! Blessings on your new little one! She is precious!
You need a “you’ll want to have another baby” alert (like your snake warnings!) on these pictures! 🙂 The one of her snuggled with big sister- and all of them are just perfect. I like hearing the backstory on the name. I lost my best friend when we were 20 and have always wondered how I would incorporate her name into my children’s names. I haven’t had any girls yet, but now I’m wondering how to somehow honor her name in a boy’s name for the future! I followed the stories of Sarah and Elizabeth on your blog and I can only imagine their delight if they could be there with you. Sending many blessings and prayers your way!
Perfect in every way. She’s beautiful and precious and clearly loved. Such a blessing. And her name…so perfect.
Your pictures are beautiful! (Of course, you have a beautiful subject to photograph!) You look stunning- just glowing and radiant!
I love the name Mabel- I always had that on my list. Sarah was almost a name we used twice, but my husband wanted Sarah Beth, and his ex was an Elizabeth, so it just seemed weird. I love how you were able to honor so many people with your name choice.
I am glad you are recovering well. Taking it easy after the C-sections was so hard for me, but so important! I didn’t have so much help, though. Looks like a good idea putting the kids to work in the garden. Enjoy your time resting and soaking in all of the newborn baby sweetness!
I’m so so glad your recovery has been less painful (I knew it!!) I’ve been praying for that. Her name is sweet and so lovely that your friends are sandwiching in the grandma’s. Keep resting and baby gazing!!
Love it all so much. Her name is perfect.
Congratulations! She is absolutely perfect! I love the spelling of her nickname “Mae”; my middle name is “Kae” ;>)
May God be with you and bless your family always!