Happy Easter! I hope you are having a really good one.
I’ve had such spring fever this year. Thankfully, Ambrose really likes to be outside with me. He loves dirt and rocks and the only trouble is keeping him from putting it all in his mouth.
One thing that I have been very excited about is tagging plants. I bought an inexpensive little label maker and a friend who is in an Iris society (amongst other fancy garden clubs) got me the tags. Her own tags were what inspired me. I mainly wanted to label some of the perennials that I grow from seed, but then I started tagging my native shrubs too. If I ever find time, I want to tag nice specimens of lots of the trees that grow in our woods. I am motivated by some nerdy inner need to label things, but also the thought that children might use the tags to learn the names of trees and other plants that I love. They create a great opportunity for “accidental” learning.
I wish I was able to post more frequently so I wouldn’t worry that I am being redundant. I can’t remember if I have mentioned how much Beatrix reads to Mabel. Hopefully you can’t either. Picture books during the day and chapter books at night. She reads her lots of chapters rather than the one chapter a night that Jonny and I have the energy for when we read at night. Yesterday, Mabel told Beatrix that she wanted to stop reading Little House on the Prairie halfway through. This was very shocking for both Beatrix and me. No child in this family has ever wanted to stop reading a Little House book! We told her that she has to finish it. I can’t remember what she said, but it was probably an exasperated, “Oh, fine!”
I finally convinced Larkspur that her “ducklings” were ready to be outdoors full time, but it wasn’t easy. They sure were looking like full grown ducks to me! The morning that I walked into my studio to find Chipper, waddling around pooping on the floor was her last one indoors. I have my limits.
Lark’s infants are much happier outside.
I’ve never had so many comments about how much one of our babies looks like Jonny before. Everyone thinks they are practically twins. Jonny loves it when ladies say, “He’s so cute! He looks just like you!”
Ambrose is 9 1/2 months old and doing a lot of standing up, making us think he will be an early walker. This stage is adorable but also stressful because he’s determined to put himself in danger constantly. Pulling up to standing while hanging onto unstable items such as empty laundry baskets and making a beeline for the stairs anytime they are unguarded.
Isn’t this so hilarious? It’s really hard to feed a baby without opening your own mouth. At least it is for me, and clearly for Mabel too.
Look at her taking control of that situation. I am assuming she was holding onto his arm so he couldn’t grab the spoon. He doesn’t look pleased.
Lark teased me for taking a photo of my food “like a teenager.” I wasn’t aware that teenagers do that. I thought it was mostly us older folks. I just wanted to have a record of this zucchini pie that Beatrix made for me. The mini pie maker I gave her for her birthday has really paid off for me.
This photo was taken after Easter Mass. I completely forgot to take a photo of anyone in their Easter clothes, but it was nothing fancy. The important thing is that I managed to get Silas and Job haircuts the day before.
I was afraid that the woman who cut Job’s hair had injured him when I heard her say, “I need to get your mom,” in a very concerned voice. She had found a tick on his head. She thought I should remove it for him, but he had it in his hand before she even finished asking if I had a special removal tool. (I didn’t.) I explained with only mild embarrassment that he and his brother had been fishing in our woods that morning and assured her that I had made them shower before bringing them in.
This year’s Easter scavenger hunt was a good one. We managed to come up with new clues and places to hide the gifts. Last year there were complaints that we didn’t have enough clues and we repeated too many stops from previous years.
My new greenhouse is mostly finished, and I wasn’t planning to include photos of it until Jonny is completely done. I wanted to do a grand reveal but who knows if I will ever get to it! The front won’t change much. He just needs to add trim on the doorframe.
After months of refusing to sleep in his crib, we are finally making some progress with Ambrose and sleeping. He is back to starting out the night there after I nurse him to sleep and doesn’t join me until after midnight most nights. That is a huge relief. Today he napped for about an hour and I was able to do some yard work while he slept. Maybe I will be able to start taming the chaos!
I am not able to make much for my shop right now, and am accepting that it is going to continue to be scaled back. However, I do have some really beautiful cherry cutting boards that Keats made listed right now. They ship priority mail and should arrive in time for Mother’s Day! I also have a small amount of soap (and won’t have more for at least a month or more), wood sealer, chrism salve, and Keats has a few shawl pins too!
Renee Anne says
I keep wondering how you’re able to keep doing all the things. We moved back to our home state in January and now have 15 acres. I want to do all the things but my body so disagrees….checking on the bees is bad enough (new to beekeeping, too) but now we’re going to have a 20×85′ garden space, plus the rest of the land…..
What did I get myself into?!
Also, I’m having a hard time with your kids being so big/old now. I can remember when Bea was born and you said “this is the last one” and then you had Silas…and Job…and Mabel….and now you have Ambrose! I think I’ve been reading your blog for awhile….
Julie C says
Love the comments about Johnny, years ago ladies at my church would say about my 3rd child “she is so cute….she looks just like Dan. “ Sooooo… either I am ugly or my husband is hot? Bwahaha! Cracked me up every time.
Olivia says
I started following your blog when Larkspur was just a little thing. I cannot believe the young woman she is now! I honestly thought she was you for a minute in those pictures!
Nicole says
I know it might not feel so to you, but your life has a magical quality to it that comes through in your amazing photography. The animals and people intermingling freely and happily, the seedlings and other beautiful things growing, and mostly the happiness that seems to shine through from the siblings interacting. I’m already looking forward to the day when my now littles will be big kids who can cook and bake and take care of babies! 🙂
Also, the tags are SO cool, I’m also totally geeky like that and would love to label everything in our yard. 😀
I get so nervous about ticks in our area; we have so many deer going through. Do you use any sprays or anything to keep them off?? I don’t always remember to do tick checks on the kids in the summer and worry I’ve missed one. My husband had intense Lyme disease a few weeks before we got married, but thankfully he had *multiple* bulls-eyes all over his body so he did 2 months of antibiotics and hasn’t had any lingering effects. But until that rash appeared, we had *no* idea what was wrong with him ( I should have guessed; we had hiked in Shenandoah 2 weeks before the symptoms appeared).
Happy spring; can’t wait to see your finished greenhouse– it’s a dream of mine to have one!
Martha Kimball says
So wonderful to have a peek at what your sweet family is up to this spring. How can Ambrose already be 9.5 months? Whoa. He does look like Johnny’s twin, and Mabel looks so much like you I think!
Karen says
Always a joy to catch up on your goings on. Your kids are growing too fast for me 🙂
Marilyn says
Hi Ginny, Thank you for another interesting post. The children are so helpful and caring among themselves. I love the photo of Beatrix reading to Mabel. They look so much alike with their twin haircuts. Mabel seems to be bored with Little House On The Prairie. She must be similar to the character, Laura[Half Pint], Laura always wanted action unlike Mary who was much more calm. Good luck with the planting. Glad you are feeling better. God Bless you and your family.
Marilyn
Joan says
Ginny your posts are delightful. Ambrose is a twin of his dad. He is adorable. All of your children are adorable. good luck with the planting.
HAPPY SPRING
Joan
Rita says
I have been thinking for quite a while that Ambrose looks just like his Daddy. Today I thought, “He has Jonny’s ears!” Beautiful child, handsome husband.
Just one more thought, a caution: I have a friend who has “undiagnosed Lyme’s Disease” which is a terrible, terrible illness. She had a tick bite, 35 years ago. She thought it was a spider bite and ignored it. The tick had already jumped off. Lyme’s Disease doesn’t always show up with the mild illness, or the “bullseye” rash. Please, always tell the doctor. Usually the precaution is a few weeks of antibiotics. Well worth it to avoid the alternative.
Marion says
Hi Ginny;
Happy to see and read your post. I always look forward to the photos and happenings with you and your family. It seems Silas and Job weren’t the only ones who received a hair cut! Mabel looks cute in her new cut. Beatrix is so nice to read with Mabel. Mabel might think the books need a little more action. Finish the book she must.
HAPPY Planting and HAPPY SPRING.
Marion
Emily says
I just love your posts, Ginny. 🙂 As far as Little House–yes, of course, MUST FINISH THE BOOK! (That needed all caps, for sure!)
Kitchenfairy says
Hi there! Another gorgeous, delightful post well worth waiting for.
Your thoughts about opening your mouth while feeding a baby reminded me of mirror neurons. Can’t remember where I heard about them, but they help babies mimic the behavior they see. I guess you can also try it out with sticking out your tongue? Your instinctive behavior is helping Ambrose in learning how to navigate the feeding situation!
Penelope says
Yes, I too really appreciate you taking the time and effort to continue blogging about all your daily doings. (And yes, I also hoped for a family life that looked more like this. Ah well. You are so blessed!!). Thank you for sharing🤗 I miss the heyday of blogs …
Baby Ambrose is so sweet, love the mini me photos with his father.
Maurlo says
Delightful as usual! I love your plant tags. You’ll have to come to the National Arboretum sometime…you’d like how everything is marked. The azaleas are stunning in April (right now!) so one year when you feel like a long drive, you should come tour the azalea mountain paths.
Norma says
Ginny I love seeing your family photos! You are living the life lots of us only dream about!
So many pets, gardens and babies!
Everyone is growing so fast, enjoy it.
Laura Jeanne says
I enjoyed this post so much. You are living the life I would have liked, Ginny. I know your life and your family aren’t perfect but I see so much goodness and beauty in your posts. God bless you.
Melissa says
So good to see you again! =) Thanks for the inspiration on the plant tags/labels. I have one son who is very much into nature so I this gives me a great idea. Everyone looks great!
Emily says
I so love your posts, Ginny, and the insights into your life that you kindly share. Never feel that you are not doing enough! Emily x
Kim Jamieson says
I was just thinking of you last night Ginny & wondering how you are all doing. I always enjoy your updates and your beautiful photography, and I admire you for all you manage to do, although you are now probably thinking of all that you don’t manage to do that no one online sees! :O) That is the reality of motherhood!! Your family look happy and healthy. It does my heart good to see how your children help to look after Ambrose, and even cook for you! You are blessed. While we all love to see your posts, your priority is taking care of yourself and your family! Enjoy the springtime, and the ordinary little moments of life!