“And what is so rare as a day in June?
Then, if ever, come perfect days…….” ~J.R. Lowell
Hello! So sorry I have not been blogging the last few days. My children are gone and so are my thoughts, it seems. My mind has slowed waaaaaaaaay down, it’s been so nice, but I hope I can sit and write here & blog, without causing yawns.
It’s a hot and clear day today. And, it’s Friday! After getting dressed I was struck with the urge to get out of the house so I ended up driving to my sister’s place and visiting with her, and her little ones. It was wonderful to see them, and see Amanda’s house (nest) that she and her husband are constantly working on, and improving, just for fun. They have such a nice home, inside and out. I was also quite happy to gift them with the eggs our hens have laid the last three days. 
Jacob, Ethan, Grace, David, Caleb, and Seth are still at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Having a wonderful time. Playing games, going to McDonald’s, working with the horses, spending the night outside (or, trying to, until their scary stories forced them back into the safety of the house), being bathed and babied (if you are Seth), fed, adored, and entertained, by Grandma and Grandpa and the doting aunts and uncles. I suspect I will see sad faces when they finally do make it home. Rich and I are enjoying the quiet house but we do miss our wonderful children, too.
We are, of course, very much in love with our baby girl. She is doing so well. Rarely cries, still spends most of her time sleeping like a little angel (she is sprawled across my lap as I type, napping on her tummy). She wakes up once in the middle of the night, and once toward morning (about 5)…I take her to bed with me and we snooze until about 7 or 7:30. She’s such a little snuggle bug.
I have a lot of pictures to share that I took yesterday, and today. I hope you like them!
My friend Dawn made Sarah this bonnet, remember?
I took her for a little walk yesterday afternoon. We sat down by the stream in the cool woods, and sang some songs.
Here she is alert, after a good night’s sleep and a couple of big breakfasts;
She’s sneezing in this one;
Her movements are gentle and lady like. Her hands wave around so prettily.
My beautiful niece, Naomi, adores the baby. She wanted to hold her the entire time.
But she had to share with her Mama~
A baby is a wondrous gift, to be admired as much as possible…the little feet and hands, fuzzy hair, ears and bright eyes. So sweet, and tiny:
While Rich is at work, I have been resting a lot with Sarah, but I have also slowly eased into some chores, as well. It’s been so nice to work on small loads of (since most of our family is away) laundry, and hang it out on the line. Water the plants, bake cookies, pick flowers and light candles for the table, straighten and neaten, wash a few pictures and windows, send out some mail to loved ones, look at magazines and books, nap a little in the afternoon, sit on the porch, go for walks, dream, pray ….etc….
Each day is such a gift from God.
I hope your week was a good one, too.
Blessing and love to each of my friends~
Shanda
PS. Sarah helped me bake the cookies. Chocolate chip.
Good to be Home 
What sweet pictures. I love your helper with the cookies to:) I just baked chocolate chip cookies the other day. They are so good right out of the oven! I’m sure the kids are enjoying their visit with the grandparents.
What a sweet post Shanda. So lovely to hear of your days with Sarah and Rich. Quite and restful. You look fabulous in your picture with Sarah. She looks like a flower face in that bonnet from Dawn! It must be so wonderful to be enjoying her and her sweetness. What a cute little cookie helper she makes! Are those red little booties you made?Better get back to work with my student…just had to jump on here and see if you posted Jenny
Beautiful! Can’t imagine how quiet it must be without your six. We have been in and out- camping every other week. Loving our Alaska summer! Thanks for the update and pictures. Love, Hannah
What adorable photo’s of your dear sweet daughter! I love the shot of her helping you to bake! :)Having a very good week here. Weather hasn’t been wonderful but I still manage to see beauty in each day!{{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}
so good to hear you are doing well. Such sweet girlie pictures:)
She is just so super cute!!! I love little baby girls in bonnets, and that is one of the most adorable bonnets ever. Sounds like you had a lovely week! Hope you have a good weekend too! =)
What a sweet post… Really made me think about the beauty and wonde rof having another baby. I hope I am able to enjoy this experience again. Thank you for sharing!! Your daughter and niece are soooo adorable!!
Oh! She is such a little fairy in that bonnet, nestled among the ferns in the woods!It looks like you have been “playing dolls,” Shanda! My mind has been slow, slow, slow as well these days. I worked like crazy during my second trimester, trying to make the most of what I knew would be short-term energy, and now I guess the “honeymoon stage” of the pregnancy is over. It’s back to being on the couch most of the time, and thankfully I have my crocheting.
AWW I love her, I love her, I love her! What a wonderful memory you made for me today just bringing her over to be held and kissed and squeezed and smelt and admired and patted and rubbed and inspected ( I had to take her socks right off). You are looking great and you seem so happy ( I know you truly feel blessed by God and you are!) Love ya Proud Aunty
What a sweetheart! Thank you for posting those dear photos of Sarah…wearing the bonnet. You know how much I love the bonnet thing…So glad you have had a little time to ease into the new little one. I know you will be happy when the others arrive back home.Have a wonderful weekend!xoD
makes you want to just nibble on those toes
How is it that she look so perfect and so much older than she is? Beautiful!!I’m glad you are relaxing and able to move around without the stress of having to move around. What a delightful rest!Enjoy~ Cinnamon
I can’t even imagine what it must be like without the kids! I have NO idea. Whats this “small” loads of laundry you speak of? Glad your enjoying Sarah so much and WOW she sleeps really well for you,thats the best! You look very well rested!Each day I read one of your posts I get a little more excited about what I have coming! (can’t say I’m not still a teensy bit nervous though) Can’t wait to have all the kids meet again in person.Carter says he remembers them,catching crayfish in the stream behind Colleens. (I only remember seeing you and Caleb there) Laura reads your blog and says she and Grace have ALLOT in common! 🙂 Laura is very happy Grace has a sister and says she has even MORE in common with her now,lol! (minus a sibling)
she is so pretty!!!!
Adorable! I love the pictures of her in that fluffy white blanket with her cute little piggies sticking up! I think every mommy needs a BIG blanket like that one! I love your new header picture, too!
Such a little sweetheart! Glad you are able to spend some quiet, restful, time with her. Blessings~
Glad you are getting a good rest! When you get the other children back, Grandma and Grandpa will need a rest, too!
That’s a beautiful little bunting, bonnet and all!
Shanda you look marvelous!!!Sarah is a cutie, I love those pictures!Too cute, allowing her to help bake at such an early age. (wink)Love and Blessings,Angie Warren
That bonnet is SO SO cool! You look great Shanda!
Sooo cute!!
sounds like you are getting some great relaxing rest and recovery and special one on one moments with this new dolly! SO happy for you! I am sure you miss your crew but what well needed time to just enjoy Sarah and heal physically, emotionally, and grow spiritually. You seem so calm and happy from your pix and words! Love you friend!
She is so sweet and reminds me of Caleb in a few of the pictures!
she is JUST ADORABLE! ! ! 🙂 so glad you shared these pictures! she just is all girl! I am so happy for you and for Grace too.~
I’m SO glad you are able to rest and enjoy yourself and your new baby girl while the rest of the children are having a blast at the grandparents’. And that Sarah is sleeping so well for you! LOVE LOVE LOVE the picture of her in the woods! And you look GREAT Shanda! Take it easy dear.
Shanda, she is so beautiful and sweet. What a blessing!! Enjoy her. 🙂
I couldn’t be happier that you have been allowed this freedom to slowly move back into your chores. You sound like you are doing really well and you and Rich have a home full of love!
She even has her pinky out in one of the pictures! I love the picture you took by the creek where she is surrounded by ferns!The bonnet is darling, Dawn does amazing work!I was thinking that the sign “enjoy the little things” fits you so well…it is inspiring how well you enjoy her!
Hi ShandaWhat a precious little baby girl! I love her name, we have a Sarah too (Sarah Rose). I just found your blog and have very much enjoyed reading back a little while. I have 3 girls (6, 4 and 14weeks) and you have inspired me to take a LOT more photos, yours are wonderful. Thanks and enjoy your bub! Rachel