A friend gave us a fuzzy, brown recliner just before Mabel was born and I spent my first weeks with her sitting in it, both during the day and sleeping at night because it was too painful early on after the c section to get in and out of bed. We brought it up from the basement some weeks before Ambrose was born, knowing I would need it again. From my spot in the chair, where I sit for hours each day nursing him, I have a good view of my desk. There are wilting flowers in a vase, drawings from my children, balls of yarn, stacks of paper, but mostly books. There are stacks and stacks of books. Books that I gathered in the weeks leading up to Ambrose’s birth, knowing I would spend more time than usual reading as I nursed him in that brown recliner. I’m glad that I did, because Ambrose, six weeks old now, doesn’t let anyone but me hold him for longer than a few minutes without screaming. And in his mind, if I’m holding him, he should probably be nursing. So I read and he nurses, and all is well (as long as a clean house isn’t part of your definition of “well”).
In my last months of pregnancy, I gathered calendula from a garden bed strategically situated just a few feet from my front door, and I dehydrated it before covering it with olive oil and placing it in a cabinet for a month. My plan was to make calendula-infused goat milk soap for Ambrose, and I did as soon as I was recovered enough following his birth. It will be cured and ready in a couple more weeks. As pleased as I am with the soap, I can’t say that I am looking forward to that first bath with the long-planned soap, because Ambrose finds baths traumatizing. If he’s traumatized, I’m traumatized. But maybe in a couple more weeks he won’t be as terrified by the process.
Jonny harvested honey during our early weeks with Ambrose. Fitting, I suppose, since Saint Ambrose is the patron saint of beekeepers. That fact makes us smile, but isn’t the reason we chose to name our little son after Saint Ambrose. Funny, it was a children’s book that made me fall in love with this great saint. It took some time for his name to grow on me, though Jonny and the kids embraced it immediately.
My Aunt Genie texted me recently, “…watching a Bible teaching tonight and the teacher talked about Augustine going to see Ambrose, and how even more than Ambrose’s great rhetoric, etc, it was his kindness that affected Augustine so profoundly.” His kindness.
For his middle name, I wanted “Reed,” a name that was on our earliest lists of baby names more than twenty years ago, but that we never used because it had no real significance to us. A few years ago, I read Caryll Houselander’s The Reed of God, and that changed. So, Ambrose was also named Reed in honor of our Blessed Mother.
And then, because stopping there would have given Ambrose the initials, “A.R.F.” and because Jonny has two middle names and likes to give two to our children (I don’t always agree), we included Benedict. Now we have children named for both of the dear “Papas” who led the church in the early years after our conversion.
If you are a beekeeper, you will probably notice that the comb in this super is running the wrong way. We are foundationless beekeepers and this happens sometimes. It makes taking the honey messier. We bottled about 60 pounds of honey, which is a lot for us!
I rendered all of the beeswax during tiny pockets of time over the course of about a week. It was an easy, satisfying task, perfect for those postpartum days when I was in that in-between stage of still needing to be in bed a lot but also needing to be up and moving a bit more. Rendering beeswax a couple of weeks after having a baby might sound a little nuts, but it really is easy. (Easier than making jam.) Most of the time is spent waiting for the wax to melt. The filtering and pouring are quick. And once it hardens you are left with gorgeous, sweet-smelling discs of beeswax. Ambrose slept a lot during those early weeks making these little tasks possible.
My three youngest kids have spent far too many hours watching television since Ambrose was born and I have started to phase it out. I am hoping to get back into some sort of rhythm soon. It’s been hard this time! I’ve had neither the ability nor the desire to get “back to normal.” I am organizing school and art supplies when I can, and we are back to doing puzzles. 300 piece puzzles seem to be the perfect size that can just hold my interest, while also being easy enough for Mabel to help.
This photo was taken before Ambrose was born, but I’m sharing it now because I forgot to mention that we kept that little tuxedo kitten (Figaro). It wasn’t a total foster fail. The tabby was adopted by a friend.
I’ve been knitting a bit again. This situation, with Ambrose lying between Mabel and me on the bed, was very short-lived but Beatrix grabbed the camera because Ambrose appeared to be looking at my knitting.
I’m knitting with yarn I dyed last year with marigolds and indigo. This is what happens to your hands when you knit with indigo-dyed yarn! My needles are stained blue as well. It washes easily from skin, and probably from needles as well, though I haven’t ever bothered. This will be a little outfit for Ambrose and that’s a leg I’m knitting. I’ll share project details soon.
Sweetest little face. He’s grown an additional chin since this photo was taken.
I have a stack of cotton velvet waiting to be dyed and listed in my shop, but no idea when I’ll have time to do so. In the meantime, I do have soap! There are several batches listed in my shop now. I made these in the week before Ambrose was born.
I wish I had more time to talk about books but this post is already so long and Ambrose will be up soon. I’m kind of shocked that he’s napped long enough for me to write this! I’ve just begun reading Leila Lawler’s God Has no Grandchildren and I’m rereading Romeo and Juliet because it’s Larkspur’s first school read this year. My sister sent me Memories Before and After The Sound of Music and I loved reading that story through the lens of one of the Von Trapp children. I am almost finished with The Country of the Pointed Firs, though it hasn’t held my attention well. I read The Hiding Place in a couple of days. I regret not reading it sooner! I rarely insist that Jonny read something, but I passed it straight to him when I finished and he is reading it now.
Now, I’ll get back to nursing and reading and I hope to be able to check in again with you all soon!
Congratulations on the BEAUTIFUL baby boy! Just like Sandra above suggested…I have such fond memories of swaying in the shower with my baby when it wasn’t a great time for him to be bathed. For some reason, when I was pregnant with him, I would always sing “This Magic Moment” in the shower ( I do NOT know why…), and then when he was born, that is what what I would sing and hum and we would sway to. He would put his little head on my shoulder and I think I would have stayed in there for hours if I could have. Ideally, you need a helper person to hand the baby to you and take him when you are done, but it was such a great help for middle of the night GI bugs, etc., or with terrible congestion. I think it helped me as much as it helped him? I can’t remember the last time I did it, sadly…maybe he was 3 or 4? Until I couldn’t logistically handle his long body anymore. One of the many things I am so sad is “over.” Best of luck for a growing (or any!) appreciation of water!
Congratulations!! He is so beautiful
Ambrose is adorable and I am glad you are healing and slowly returning to normal. With a new baby it helps when you are content to sit and read a bit more. Keep taking it easy. Life will return to normal soon enough.
Have you read any of Helen Hoover’s books about she and her husband Ade finding and moving to northern Minnesota in early 1950’s. Living in an old two room log cabin and all the joys and agony of little money, little experience, no car (after the accident), 6 mile r/t walk to town, middle of a true ancient forest right on the banks of Lake Superior, no neighbors and their acceptance of every living thing outside, and at times inside, their cabin.
I’m with you on the bathing. I never look forward to it with newborns. Always awkward… slippery bodies…instantly cold… screaming from being cold…
Ambrose is beautiful!
Peace be with you!
Olivia
Wishing you much peace during these hallowed early months with Baby! 🙏🏻Ambrose is a wonderful name and Saint! … and is it from Linnets and Valerians? (I did not click thru in the post for the children’s book). … Soon enough the household rhythm will settle, I’m sure in time for the turning of the liturgical year and Advent!
My nephew is named Ambrose! And he is also very kind 🙂
So happy for you, I have a 9 month old and reading this post reminded me of that soft time right after birth when nothing is accomplished except snuggles. Luckily my older kids like playing on the bed next to me. Sending you love (and a magically clean house)
so good to hear how your days are going! my youngest was just like Ambrose — always wanted Mama. She is still like that and is 10. i ended up waiting a few months to bathe her in water and she turned out just fine. it’s so hard sometimes to make decisions when exhausted from nursing, healing and mothering other kids. take care!
Thanks for a lovely post, Ginny. Ambrose is a beautiful little chap! x
Corrie ten Boom. My hero. So glad you’ve read The Hiding Place and passed it along. If you appreciated it, you’ll like (and be edified by) other books about her, such as Tramp for the Lord. And if you ever get the chance, you should take the tour of their home in Haarlem. First visit Anne Frank’s hiding place in A’dam, which is good, but where the message you receive is to never forget and in doing so, we humans will not repeat history but will overcome. Ha! How good are we at this?! Then go visit the Ten Booms’ house and hear the redeeming story of sacrificial love because God first loved us and forgiveness and grace that does overcome evil. The contrast is flagrant and you can do both tours in a single day.
What a beautiful boy – Congratulations! because I didn’t come here to see about his arrival before. Everything looks homey and just right at your place. And I think I the intoxicating smell of that beeswax is coming right through the cloud. Glory to God!
Thanks for the beautiful post and pictures of that beautiful baby! Blessings for you and your family. May the Lord speed your recovery and housework never goes away so relax while you’re able.
Hugs,
Barbara
What a precious little boy! Also, I spy The Gardening Life of Beatrix Potter; I just LOVED that! I also agree that it sounds to the outside world that you have in fact done quite a lot!!
I think Ambrose is an absolutely beautiful name. One we considered, but Aidan won out (looooong before it was even recognized as a name. How things can change!)
A beautiful post and a beautiful baby!!
You seem to be accomplishing quite a bit for a mom of many who had a c-section! You have a great stack of books, as usual. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on them, especially Leila’s book. 🙂
My hands turned blue when I knitted with one of your indigo (and something pink?) yarns! I really love that yarn, knitting with it, and the poncho I made. It’s very special.
Snuggle your babies and let the big ones worry about the house! Ambrose is precious.
Ambrose is an adorable-looking baby even though he’s a fusspot. I had one of those. Have you brought him to a chiropractor? That helped my little guy. Birth, even via C-section, is hard on a little body.
Hi Ginny, Ambrose is beautiful as are all of your children. Glad you are feeling better. I love the photos of the children playing and holding Ambrose. Looking forward to your next post. i enjoy reading your posts. God Bless.
Marilyn
I’m excited that you are reading my book! Looking forward to knowing what you think!
And thanks for the visuals on the dried calendula flowers. I have so many in my garden and would love to make a salve with them and the beeswax I’ve been saving, but they always seem to shrivel to nothing before I can get started! I should just push through.
You say you have not done much, but you actually seem very busy! At least, you have accomplished a lot. I think that the whole spectrum shifts when you are the mom of many; your idea of doing nothing is not what others might think!
Ambrose is beautiful! Congratulations!
Leila, I keep meaning to email you! I LOVED your book.
Such a beautiful post Ginny and so lovely to see you and baby are doing so well. Blessings to you all ~ Linda
So good to hear of your family life again! My daughter is expecting her fifth, oldest is seven years old. I am thinking of what big family life is like. You are inspiring.
I love your beautiful life! The pictures are so precious as your new little one. I’ve read The Hiding Place twice. When I was about 10 (I’m 60 now) Corrie ten Boom came to Des Moines, Iowa and talked. I was transfixed. What a courageous woman of God.
Hi Ginny It is nice hearing from you. i like the photo that Beatrix took. It is so natural. that is a very beautiful puzzle. We have some puzzles for the holidays that we will tackle soon.
Marion
Ginny I love this post. Ambrose is a beauty. You are a very busy woman. take it one thing at a time. Everything will get done eventually. I do this now too,
Joan
Have you tried taking him in shower? That is what my son-in-law did because sometimes my daughter who is diabetic just wasn’t well enough to even get out of bed. She ended up on dialysis soon after birth. Jonah didn’t seem to mind it
Ambrose is such a sweetie. Wishing both of you blessings to get well.
Your friend Sandra in Stratford Ot. Canata
What a delight to read about your days, Ginny, since Ambrose was born. And, no, a clean house doesn’t even register on the scale of importance when you have a new baby in the house!
I’m going to look into “God has no Grandchildren”, and hopefully read it soon. I’m sure I’ve heard of it; just haven’t read it yet! Continue to take care of yourself and that precious little boy…
Hi Ginny, have you tried taking him into a warm bath with you? I found mine preferred that to ‘being bathed’…. x
Mine too! That is how I bathed all of our previous babies, but in our current house I don’t have a good bathtub option. 🙁