January

As I write this, Decimus has the hiccups. Is there anything more amazing than a babe in utero hiccuping? No, there really isn’t. The last few days have felt slightly more challenging on the pregnancy front, so I am soaking in the sweetness of a quiet moment with my baby’s rhythmic little thumps just below my hip. Soon enough, I will meet this little person. The physically difficult parts will be behind. That perspective is so easy to lose when you’re trying to find the “just right” of blood sugar with gestational diabetes, and, right on cue, your sciatic nerve begins to sing every moment of the day, and your hormones have you crying with awe and joy in moment and what feels like hopeless despair the next.

If any of that sounds like a complaint, it’s not. I still remember well the deep ache of begging God for just one more chance to physically nurture a little one. It changed me, in so many ways. No, you wont find me lamenting the inconveniences or the trials of pregnancy. This is worth it. Every moment. Seriously, every one. I will take this and more to meet the eternal soul God has so generously entrusted to our care.

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I haven’t been knitting quite as much as of late. School and my 90 Day Bible plan have topped my priority list. I do expect a rush of nesting here soon, and I’ve already downloaded the audio version of my personal favorite translation so that I can listen and knit when the urge strikes. I am currently working on a second basic romper, this one in a beautiful grey colorway from Quince and Co. My husband greenlighted some of the most gorgeous handmade ceramic buttons with Peter Rabbit characters on them and can I just say, I am in love with them. The same etsy shop has little buttons with bees on them listed currently. Bees. Little known fact about me: despite the fact that I suffer from anaphylaxis when stung, I love bees. I already have a collection of little bee onesies for Decimus. Maybe he or she needs bee buttons on a sweater, too?

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Our hens have slowed their production to a near standstill this winter. We are only gathering about five eggs per day, which means that a— we aren’t currently able to sell any overflow to customers and b—we are especially grateful for our faithful Pekin duck, Vanelope, who provides us with enough to supplement our own needs. One duck is generally equivalent to one and a half large chicken egg, but can stretch to cover two in a recipe if you add a touch of applesauce or mashed banana to cover the difference. There’s also always the flax egg option that works well in most baked goods.

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Since we’re not having as many egg-heavy breakfast casseroles, or fried or scrambled eggs in the morning, I’m baking more and sliding a side of sausage or bacon on the table along with some sliced fruit to round it out. Muffins. Quick breads. Biscuits and gravy. Pancakes. Baked oatmeal. Baked pancakes squares. And Dutch Babies. If you’ve been intimidated by Dutch Babies, don’t be. This recipe is super simple and works great with sweet toppings like strawberry compote or a big mason jar of canned peaches you’ve warmed on the stovetop. A savory version with ground sausage and cheese is great for cold weather eating, too.

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We’ve had a lot of snow already this winter. A lot. (O.k., not a lot if you live north of the Mason Dixon line. But down here, it’s been a lot.) Indoor play has been at what feels like an unusual high despite it being the time of year when normally if you’re not doing school, you’re out exploring. It’s not the cold per se; it’s the combo of the cold and the wet that’s got us somewhat less inclined to simply break out the snow pants and go for it. At any rate, I’ve been digging deep for unique activities to keep the kiddos engaged. This Montessori paper towel art project/experiment was a hit for literally every age represented here. The kids loved dabbing the pattern in the towels, and made dozens of these little sections. However, pregnancy brain forgot that markers bleed, so now I have five baking sheets dotted in precise, adorable patterns with sharpie. And also, we learned that sharpies are not the best medium, Stick with washable crayola markers for best results. You’re welcome.

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As for school itself, we have found our way back into our rhythm. Our current read-aloud is Esperanza Rising (affiliate link), which I highly recommend. We spent a large part of last week tackling Jim Crow laws and the Civil Rights Movement, and this week we’re looking at the disparity in lifestyles between the tycoons of the late 1800s and the immigrants who manned their factories and fields. Just your typical dive into the history of America. We’ve also started a unit on chemistry which has been of far greater interest than I truly expected. More on that— and some resources to use in your own homeschool—later this week.

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I leave you with this final scene of Birdie attempting to make friends with some cows. Christopher and the younger kids were invited to the farm from which we receive our raw milk this past weekend. There were pony rides for all (you know that was unforgettable!) and the chance to meet the faithful ladies who provide us with the fruits of their labors. I’ve assumed that Birdie is a friend to all animals ever since she met that possum and declared it “cute,” but now I have confirmation. A girl who is enamored with cattle is truly a special kind. She was made for a farm, that one!