It's finally warm enough to have kitchen sink baths and there is nothing cuter in the world to me than babies in kitchen sinks.
My peonies are in full bloom.
I love when these shrubs blossom every year-and they smell so good.
Janey loves her little meals. We skipped the whole baby food stage (I always buy a few jars and then it sits in my cabinets untouched) and I waited till she could eat tiny cut up people food around eight months, which is the way all my babies liked to start eating. She doesn't like to be fed by anyone but herself (does anyone? especially when you can't say "yuck" "no more" "stop shoving that into my mouth"?), and she has mastered the pincer grip so away she goes...although I often find a bundle of "missed the mouth" food in the bib pocket, she manages really well.
I just had Janey's photo taken. I've always gone to Target with a coupon and a baby that's around nine months old and asked for plain white background and then ordered a few 8x10's.
Here are all my babies, about the same age. All I know is that Patrick and Janey do look a lot alike, and Andrew...well...that child inherited 100% of his father's genes.
Isaac and Abbey
Matthew and Andrew
Patrick and Janey
Do you think Abbey and Janey look alike? I don't, but I love how they both hold one arm up for balance.
I have a nineteen year old! That's crazy.
Speaking of teenagers...my mom gave this card to Jeff and I loved it. There is such a learning curve that comes with raising teenagers. It's a lovely and maddening age and it takes more work and time and love and patience than any other stage of parenting. It can also be a lot of fun to see teens blossom into really awesome young adults, and I think keeping your eye on the bigger picture is also key to the "fun" word. :)
The annual Memorial Day 5K run. Jeff came in first. He would definitely want me to write that. Last year Matt tapped him on the shoulder as he flew past him, so this year Jeff ran himself into the ground to not let that happen again. And Matt beat Abbey which is a new twist, but only because she played lacrosse this spring instead of crew, where the coach makes them run a gajillion miles every practice, so she wasn't in tip-top shape, or so she says. And yes, Andrew, 9, ran the 5K with a time of 26.30. HELLO! I was nervous about letting him run and Jeff made it clear that if he was going to run with the "big kids" he was going to be on his own.
This is the same boy who came in almost last for all his cross country meets when he was just five years old. He would give high fives to all the spectators and smile the entire race, looking for his fans in the crowd.
I don't think he really understood the "race" part back then. And his legs didn't seem to be co-ordinated to bump it up a notch. The next year he improved a tiny bit-he started to notice that a lot of the kids finished before him, and that frustrated him, but he didn't give up, he worked harder. Every year he got a little better, those legs started working a little more gracefully and now in third grade he is an excellent runner. We are so proud of him!
I do think Abbey and Janey look alike!
ReplyDeleteLove those baby pictures.
What beautiful family memories - I think all your children look similar is it the happy brightness in the faces?
ReplyDeleteAbbey and Janey...Wonder Twins!
ReplyDeleteAt my family's (very rustic) mountain cabin, all the babies (and small children) had to bathe in the sink because their was/is no tub. My babies took baths in it, too, and I agree, it's one of the very sweetest things:-).
ReplyDeleteOh how I would love to have a sweet baby in my sink rather than a pile of dishes! I love the baby photos. Your kids look so much alike - and I do think Abbey and Janey look alike. I laugh at Abbey's allergy! I have certainly got that - but not my girls. I send them to do shopping for me! I love to see your runners. Is Jeff sore? We did a 5K last week and everyone that pushed it, time-wise, was a bit sore. That didn't happen to me because pushing it for me is one step above walking! Billy did track for the first time and he got caught in the competitive spirit and pushed himself.I give the kids so much credit. I don't think I could even run in front of so many people watching. Enjoy the start of summer!
ReplyDeleteEvery time I see photos of your yard I am green with envy! It's just so perfect! I love all of the mature trees and plants. And I have to say that Patrick has got to be the cutest baby ever!!! I'm not much of a baby person, but that boy is and has always been just a doll. I don't see much resemblance between Abbey and Janey (at least in these photos). Each one of your kids looks unique to me, although I have to agree that little Andrew does look like a clone of your hubby! Enjoy your summer Sarah! I'm looking forward to reading all about it :)
ReplyDeleteI think Janey looks like a mini Sarah! :)
ReplyDeleteAlso! (Hit publish too soon there...) I think it's neat how each of your kids really has their own "look." All of four of mine are blond, blue eyed and fair, and look so much like their dad that we get comments literally every time we're out! Which is fun, and I think my kids are gorgeous, of course. But I do get a tad tired of feeling like the odd man out and everyone else looks like a set of matching Russian matryoshka dolls!
ReplyDeleteYou have some awesomely fast genes in your family!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right! There is nothing as cute as a baby in the kitchen sink!
ReplyDeleteHow is it even possible that little Miss Janey gets cuter with every blog post?! Seriously, puts my ovaries into overdrive! Good thing that ship has sailed. ;-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful family you have, what a blessing! And is that a Susan Branch calendar I spy?
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing about how you skipped the whole baby food stage...that has always been my least favorite part! I'm currently expecting our 3rd and am definitely going to try this good advice and wait until 8 months to introduce "people food." Do you do rice cereal or anything creamy like that at 6 months?
ReplyDeleteI usually try some cereal around 7 or 8 months, but not a lot and not consistently. It seemed like it just caused tummy troubles for me, and was more work than it was worth.
DeleteI love your ordinary days posts. I thought Abbey was Janey before I read the caption! Wow!
ReplyDeleteI love your ordinary day posts as well. It's the ordinary days that are the best sometimes. All my kids have their own look, too. :)
ReplyDeleteI love those pictures of your kids! Your Abby looked so much like my Elizabeth does now! Same eyes and cute round cheeks. Such beautiful kids you have!
ReplyDeleteI was just recently introduced to your blog and I LOVE it!! What a beautiful family you have. Thank you for constantly encouraging moms. I also am a stay at home mom and wouldn't have it any other way (if in my control). I have an 11 yr old daughter ,9 year old son, and 16 mos old!! I would LOVE and appreciate if you would let me know exactly what type of foods you are feeding Janie. With the gap that I have...I forget how I transitioned both my older kids to table foods. My little one used to eat anything I put to her mouth. Now she eats very selectively and both whole milk and whole wheat honey bread from Great Harvest Bread Co. are her staples! Any advice you have to offer in the way of meals for baby would be SO completely appreciated! Thanks and I wish you and your family a wonderful summer adventure!
ReplyDeleteHi Dena-
DeleteTons of soft cut up fruit in tiny bits. Nectarines, blueberries, grapes, watermelon...I found whole grain Ritz crackers, Cheerios, little bits of wheat bread, or pizza, or whatever we are having. I just make sure I cut everything up really tiny.
And thank you for your nice compliments!
DeleteJaney's smile is really something special. She seems to be perpetually filled with joy. Your blog makes me ache for the days when my girls were babies. It also makes me ache to have just one more.
ReplyDeleteLove babies in a sink bath!!! My 11 month old just had one this morning! It is so much easier on the back, too ;) And yes, I think Abbey and Janey DO look alike! That was my first thought when I saw Abbey's baby photo! I absolutely loved seeing all your "babies" together at the same age. What a fun idea!
ReplyDeleteWhat a super fun post!!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness....that Patrick was the cutest baby ever!!! He needs to be a Gerber baby!! Janey is just beautiful and love those eyes!
Blessings,
Cathy
Your blog is so uplifting! I have been reading for about a year now but I haven't commented before. Just wanted to say thanks for sharing-you are truly an example to this mom!
ReplyDeleteI also thought Abbey was Janey before I read the caption on the baby pictures.
ReplyDeleteAlso loved reading that you waiting for the pincer grasp before starting solids. My son is 6.5 months and neither him or I are into the pureed solids, but I have gotten tons of flack for waiting ("Don't you want him to sleep through the night? blah blah blah) Makes me feel like I am doing all right if a pro like you doesn't sweat the baby jar stuff.
I have a shopping allergy too..I dread it when my girlfriends want to go shopping for fun, ugh!
Finally.. I have that same calender & have been getting them forever! They are so fun!
It has been a blessing to me to read this blog since I had my first a couple months after you had your sixth. I always relax about all the first-time-mom-am-I-doing-this-right?! when I come read your blog.
God Bless!
Lovely post! How interesting to have photos of all your children at similar ages....I guess I could hunt through my print photos and archives to do the same (no studio photos). The teenager card is a beauty! We currently have 4 but they are pretty easy to live with most the time.....
ReplyDeleteLove it.
ReplyDeleteEspecially the teenager poster thing.
And the peonies.
And I could eat that Janey right up.
I think Isaac, Abbey, Matthew, and Janey look SOOOOOOOO similar. Andrew definitely has his own thing going on (and he's as handsome as can be!), and Patrick's expressions never fail to make me smile. Your family sure is beautiful!!
ReplyDelete