It has been a nice busy morning at home. I put on my apron first thing, and made cookies, and I also put dinner in the crock pot for later. The children have done homeschool and David went to school and came back already. I’ve been outside a few times…to run down to the pond to see the dead snake Jacob found (life with boys), and also to go for a walk (with Ethan, Caleb, and Seth) to pick some wild flowers (we found honeysuckle and I showed them how to pick off the end and taste the sweet “honey” inside). *THE WEATHER IS PERFECT!*
We also went outside to take some special pictures of baby.
Because, in the back of my mind today is the thought, “Seth is 4 months old today!”
He is such a wonderful baby boy, bright and happy, with lots of smiles and coos and “talking”.
He loves his family and he loves the outdoors and he loves his toes.
He sleeps all night and in the morning his Daddy brings him in to me for breakfast…then he goes right back to sleep in our bed for another few hours.
David likes to pat him on the head or try to make him jump by saying his name too loud.
Caleb ignores him almost completely.
Grace talks to him and understands what he is thinking.
Jacob is always taking him from me and likes to kiss him on the head.
Ethan smiles at him and holds him and likes to sit by him on the floor to talk to him and make him smile.
Rich is proud because Seth looks more like him than any of the other boys did. We laugh because Seth always insists on sitting with the family at dinner time, and he sits on Rich’s lap to watch us all eat. He doesn’t want to be left out of anything.
The children don’t like it when I’m too busy to pick him up the very second he starts to fuss. They bring him to me, even if I’m outside weeding my flower garden.
And I can’t imagine life without him. I thank God over and over for Seth, that he’s so healthy and strong and mine!
I adore the little creases on the outside of his smiling eyes~yummy!
All of these pictures are from today, and as usual, I have a hard time stopping at just one, or two.
Last night, I was changing Seth and thought about how much Jacob liked, as a baby, looking at little cut outs that I hung for him on the wall. So, I decided to do the same for Seth, only this time, instead of cartoon characters, I found a way to use animals…a duck, a kitty, and a horse (click on links to make your own, the website has lots of other animals and shapes). I cut them out of construction paper and put them on the wall with scrapbooking sticky squares. Grace and Ethan were thrilled and are busy today, making their own to hang on their walls.
And see that heart dangling above him? It has little golden bells on it and I give it a little shake for Seth, so he can hear the pretty bells jingle. It’s fun to watch his reaction and watch him find it with his eyes, to look at and wonder about.
And the bear is “holding” the vase of wild flowers that Ethan and I picked today. I was after those yellow ones, because I hadn’t noticed them ever before. They are a deep yellow, and so pretty. And, the wild daisies are in bloom!
This is big brother Jacob, 12 and a half years old, holding his little brother:
Yes, it’s fun fun fun to have a baby in the house! How happy we all are, since Seth joined our family!
Now that four months have gone by since giving birth, I am feeling pretty happy and energetic. I have “crash days” where I am super tired and weepy, but other than those days, I have lots of energy to take care of the children and also do some things for myself…mainly GARDENING…I have vegetables growing (yesterday we put up sticks in a teepee form and planted pole beans) and my flower gardens are giving me lots of joy, especially since my peonies have opened up in the past two days.
I decided this morning, in honor of the peonies, to have pretty toe day. It was time for some pink polish!
I am no longer taking anti depressants. Some of you may remember when Seth was a month old, I started taking them. I took them for about a month and a half and then stopped. I’ve felt fine since then, except for those crash days that do such a good job at reminding me that I am in great need of God’s strength day after day. The Lord is always on my mind, and I think so often of eternity, of being in heaven, and how much I want to make each day count because life on earth is short……..I long to enjoy, to have joy, to be happy and laugh with my children, and the only way I can do that is with Jesus in my heart….He who loves me so, more than I can understand. My relationship with the Lord is the most important thing that has ever happened to me……I can’t get over the fact that He chose me to be His own, I belong to Him. Everlasting life with Him is a very real hope in my heart, and it is what keeps me content in my life, day after day. Everything in my life has meaning, because of the Lord.
I have a heart full of thankfulness today, for my God, my life, my family, my FOUR MONTH OLD, and coffee.
“My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed:
I will sing and give praise” Psalm 57:5
Good to be Home 
Seeing security and contentment in a baby’s pictures always makes my heart sing. And I love your apron fabric!
If you don’t mind me asking, what kind of camera/lens do you use? Do you shoot in auto or manual? Ive always been into photography but am just now learning how to shoot out of Auto.Your family is so beautiful. You can see the love you all have for each other just by the expressions on the faces in the pictures you share. I love it.
Beautiful family. Savannah brought me to your site, and I’m looking forward to reading more!
@LovingMyLittles – I have a Nikon D40x and use 2 different lenses (they came in a kit w/the camera)…I shoot in manual and I study photography books as much as I can (which isn’t as often as I would like) but I do love learning about photography and now I am teaching Jacob (my oldest), too. Thank you for the comment….love, Shanda
@tea_lady – Have you heard of April Cornell? I found the apron at one of those stores a few years ago, and bought it for next to nothing off the clearance table. It’s one of my favorites because of the fabric!
@purpleamethyst76 – Right now I am reading Understanding Exposure, by Brian Peterson. I find myself with out as much time as I would like either. But I hope some day my pictures look as good as yours do.
A wonderful, refreshing post. My heart is “fixed” as well.
Great post! 🙂 In following with the topic above- I will look up the Understanding Exposure book mentioned by lovingmylittles. I haven’t done so well on the “manual” setting yet…and like you both- I am not able to devote as much time to it as I would like. :(Baby Seth is soooo cute. 🙂 Happy 4 Month Bday little guy! 🙂
@LovingMyLittles – see my reply for spazzy, it’s for you, too…….@SpazzyMommy – I have that same book! mymeanderings and I were at the bookstore together a few years ago and she showed it to me and I bought it. If you both are going to read it, I’ll pull it off my shelf and look at it again, too! 🙂
I can see why it would be hard to stop taking pictures of little Seth! He us such a dear. I’m glad he is sleeping all night now. It’s amazing how that makes your days nicer!
What beautiful and colorful pictures! Amen and Hallelujah to that last paragraph!
Love the pictures…so sweet. Have a lovely day!
awww…just came from resolved2worships site….amazing how much they change in four months time! Enjoy your blessings, and happy to hear you’re feeling better~ =)
Wow -Seth has grown! He really is a gorgeous baby boy. I would not be able to stop the photos either! What a lovely post. 🙂
Sweet post.Sweet little one.
I am glad that you can’t stop taking pictures of your cutie Seth…I so enjoy them…love that smile! I enjoyed hearing about the rest of you too, and your happy, newsy day. The cutouts are fantastic and definitely wonderful for Seth’s growing brain and senses. Wish I could walk in the garden with you little miss pink toes Jenny
Great post!! Seth is so big already (I love his little chubby hands!) and I love his little striped pants! So glad to hear that you are feeling much better these days — enjoy that family God has blessed you with.
I love Seth’s little chubby hands–he’s getting so big!! I love your apron! Pretty toes
I love the idea of the cutouts! What a cute, yet inexpensive way to decorate. When we are settled in our new home, I think I will do this with the kids.I am glad that you are feeling better. As for the crash days, I really think most of us have them. I had one yesterday, but instead of slowing down and taking care of myself, I tried to push through…disasterous! Praying your crash days are far and few!
He has such beautiful expression filled eyes!
Happy birthday to him and happy beautiful toe day to you!!
He’s getting cuter and cuter (if that’s possible)! He looks so much like his daddy ~ especially in the third picture!!!! Blessings!
More wonderful pictures,Shanda! Love the cutouts.
How cute!! Wow happy 4 month birthday to Seth!! he is so cute! I love his little chubby fingers:) he does look like Rich.
What a great post Shanda! Little Seth is so cute with his bright eyes and happy little face; you are really blessed with a beautiful family. Love the ‘in honor of peonies’ day with the pink toes! Taking time for oneself is ever so hard to do with little people….glad you did that for yourself! And, did you make your apron? Love the looks of what I can see of it! have a blessed day!
Shanda, can I just say that you are a wonderful blogger? In the most refreshing, effortless way, too. I love so many things about this post that I read all the comments under it, too. I agree with other ladies – love your apron, the cut-outs, your photography, the contentment and security so evident in Seth, and the love between the siblings. Oh, and the pink nail polish!! No, DON’T stop at “just one or two” pictures of Seth – I am drooling over every one. His expressions are the cutest ever, and yes I agree he is a little clone of Rich! Your tiny boy is such a good sleeper! I need to bring Lee over, so Seth can teach him a thing or two on that subject. Have a great day, and thanks for sharing!
He is SO SO SO cute mama!!!!!
it’s a neat thing on xanga to watch these little lives grow from the very beginning their mommy’s tell us they’re carrying them… you literally feel like you’re watching them grow up right before your eyes! and HOW FAST!! LOVE those striped green pants~ too too cute! and the shot of him on the swing!pretty pink toes on a pretty sweet lady. ❤ happy wednesday!
I just loved all the pictures. My daughter “tinafolsomphotography” is a professional photographer that specializes in children. Your’s look so professional, especially the one playing with his toes. I love it.
Picture #5: Foot in hand, finger in mouth . . . ADORABLE!!!Sure like your pink toes!
Your nail polish was a perfect match!The first picture with the creases look so so so much like RichSo cute how he wants to be with the family for dinner! Seth is so well loved, it is really dear how involved the siblings are, Caleb who ignores him now will be the closest playmate when he is older.
Dearest Shanda, I’m swamped with work right now. I needed a little pick me up so came by your site…no time to read your sweet thoughts but your pictures brought such a smile of joy to my day! HUGS