Ambrose turned three in July. Somewhere between baby and child now, he will always be our baby. He reminds us in many ways of our firstborn, Seth, who will turn 24 next month. Yes, I know how quickly the years will go.
Ambrose loves dinosaurs, field guides, bald eagles and the color green. He has a near obsession with eggs. He loves fossil hunting and has a serious streak. He stays very busy doing “experiments” and playing in the mud. Somedays (most?) it feels like one disaster after another, me always being many steps behind him, unable to clean up one mess before he’s made another. My older children scold me for not scolding him enough. “Why do you let him do these things?” they ask.
He wanted a dinosaur cake for his birthday, and Beatrix did her best using cupcakes arranged in a dinosaur-ish shape. When Ambrose saw it, he studied it very seriously, trying to decide just what kind of dinosaur it was. We assured him that it was a Brachiosaurus, though I’m not sure he was convinced.
I knit a sweater for Ambrose over the last six months or so and he watched me work, knowing it was for him. When it was finished I tried it on him and I do hope it lasts him through this winter. He’s grown so tall this year. Though it was no surprise, I wrapped the sweater with his other birthday gifts. When he opened it he exclaimed, “A sweater! A sweater that Mommy knit for me!” as if it was the best gift ever.
A few days later we took him fossil hunting. The heat was brutal that day. Pouring sweat, even in the shade, I swore to myself that I’d never go on a summer fossil hunting trip again. I suspect I’ll have forgotten by next year.
p.s. Here are some affiliate links to books that Ambrose received for his birthday in case you are like me and love book recommendations! The Colorful World of Dinosaurs, A Nest is Noisy, The Big Book of Birds, and Bird Builds a Nest. Chickens Aren’t the Only Ones wasn’t a birthday gift this year, but a book we’ve had for years. I’ve read it over and over again at Ambrose’s insistence and it is the reason he knows what the word oviparous means!
Three already!!!! Happy Birthday to your forever baby.
How can he be 3 already?? Happy birthday, Ambrose! And I love the cake! So clever, and it turned out just beautifully!
Happy birthday, dear Ambrose!
Happy Birthday A! Thank you for sharing the photos and celebrations 🙂
Happy birthday Ambrose. It’s been 3 years already! Time flies so try to treasure each day with all that it brings. I’m so pleased to be able to hear your family’s story. I love your photos and watching your children grow. Thank you for your openness and for sharing your family with us your readers. It’s beyond special!
God bless all of you.
Barbara
“ My older children scold me for not scolding him enough. “Why do you let him do these things?” they ask.”
Hi Ginny, this you wrote made me feel so much better. My number nine turned 3 in May and she is unlike any of our previous with impulsivity and strong will and my oldest are also constantly trying to help me parent with their suggestions! I get so conflicted bc of my phlegmatic personality! Ha! Am I really losing my ability to parent? Or is this child and this birth order truly unique!? After reading your post I am hopeful for the latter? 🙂 Ambrose is adorable btw and I love his interests!
Yes, how can he be three already?? I feel like I just read your post about his arrival. Amazing. Great job on the cake Beatrix!
Hi Ginny, Thank You for the latest update. It is hard to believe that Ambrose is 3 years old already. Glad he had a nice birthday.
HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY AMBROSE
Marilyn
Happy Birthday, Ambrose!
Love the cake, Beatrix!
The dinosaur cake of arranged cupcakes is a brilliant idea.
Happy Birthday year Ambrose. God Bless Beatrix the cake looks very nice.
Joan
Hi Ginny;
Ambrose 3 ! How can that be? he syrely keeps youbusy. Ambrose looks o much like Silas and Job.
Happy 3rd Birthday Ambrose Happiness and Blessings.
Marion
I truly can’t keep up. Three years old already. Wow!! He does look a lot like his older brothers. So cute!! Happy 3rd birthday to Ambrose. I love that he loves the sweater. I wish I would have had that talent to gift my children in that way. So awesome that he cherished it.
Hi Ginny, Happy Birthday to Ambrose! I love his Fox Tales Wildlife Refuge and Rehab t’shirt and I’ve found their website. Will you tell me what size tee Ambrose is wearing in these photos? I want to purchase one for my average size 15 month grandson, and one for my little dumpling 8 month granddaughter.
Thank you for any advice!
Hi Katharine! I’m so sorry for the delay in responding. Ambrose is wearing a size 4T. I would order up in size. I hope that helps!
Perfect timing for your response! I am just now “back” and able to think about that sweet shirt again.
And thank you for the size! My order has been placed. I’m so curious about the refuge – we’ll plan to stop at there on a future trip from Durham to the Eastern Shore. 🙂
Best,
Katharine
Oh Ginny – our littlest has also just turned 3 this July; I’m also always on the back foot behind the many messes, and am on the receiving end of the rebukes of his older siblings that I ‘let him get away with’ so much! I’m sure they were all just as messy, and similarly not scolded very much, so I do have a little giggle about it all 🙂
Sending many blessings for your family’s future dinosaur adventures x
My oldest daughter loved dinosaurs, fossils and mud too. At 35 she went back to school and got her degree in archeology and now is living her dream working as a lithics analyst for an archeology firm. And….after a tragic life experience has embraced pottery as therapy. Her favorite thing about pottery making is collecting and processing wild clay, basically mud, lol.
Oh the places your little guy can go with all his passions and dreams! I’ve loved reading about your family over the years ❤️
How can Ambrose be 3 already?? Time is a mystery. He is a beautiful boy. Three is a precious age – so filled with wonder and discovery. Thank you for sharing your life and family with us.
So sweet !!! Happy Birthday to your “baby” !!!
I can not believe your baby is 3 years old already! What a beautiful child all full of wonder and excitement. Oh, how I miss those days! It brings tears to my eyes just thinking how fast time flies by… It looked like a great day hunting for fossils and I love the eagle picture too. Thanks for sharing your lives. I stop everything when I see your post in my inbox.
Peace and Blessings,
Val 🙂
That is the most lovable dinosaur I’ve ever seen ❤️