Two Months of Pippin

Although you wouldn't know it from some of the pictures below, our Peregrine Luke is a serious, thoughtful little person so far. Smiles can be coaxed out of him without too much effort now, but he's more often than not a quiet boy who would rather stare intently than give away smiles for no good reason (if you're on the receiving end of a smile, consider it a benediction; he thinks you're a good reason). He is content most of the time and is a much better night sleeper than his older brother was at this age (hallelujah!). Pippin's little personality is largely a mystery still, but we can't wait to see it start peeking through. Day by day, we'll get to know him. It's like unwrapping a present just a little bit at a time.

Falling in love with the lamp.

Something Tadhg never had in any of his oldest-child photos: a big brother. I couldn't keep Tadhg away for the length of photo-taking. He couldn't wait any longer to dote.

__________________

That's the end of official monthiversary photos. I'll round it out with some from earlier in the month. 

This. This face. This is the little Mr. Sobersides we know and love.

This is a photo to remember by. We had just read a book and had a deep conversation about being a mother and a secondborn. (Really. But it's our own private matter.)

And this? This is my favorite little quirk of Pippin's. With Tadhg it was his big hands and the birthmark on his left shoulder. With Pippin, it's this sweet, kissable little dent below his mouth and just left of center.

We love you, little pilgrim.

Sweet as Clover

My first flower wholly-and-completely-and-just from Tadhg. He was playing outside while I worked in the kitchen when out of the blue he walked in and gave me this. Sweet boy.

Tadhg Boy: A Day in the Life

'Tis the Season

These pictures were taken quite a while ago, long before the garden reached its current verdant glory. The garden this year is all thanks to Rundy. All I've done is pick potato bugs off our potato plants (an oddly satisfying chore) and harvest all that's grown from his hard work.

I do like looking at this view while I'm washing dishes.

Thanks, Rundy. <3

[Although I will take credit for the hard work of growing that little blondie in the foreground.]

Our Little Fatty Lumpkin

Ahh, this makes me laugh. Babies are such adorably funny-looking creatures.

See?! Just look at those sausage rolls.

These Sleepy Summer Days

Our Newest Additions

Our chicken yard has essentially become a retirement home for some of my sister-in-law Deirdre's favorite hens, sparing their skinny little necks from the butcher block. They've been wonderful hens, but their laying days are numbered. Rundy and I decided to add some fresh blood to our flock. These photos are old, so the chicks are all feathered out now and look a bit different. 

Here they are in all their hatchling glory, for any chickenophiles in my readership.

(I'm new to chicken-keeping as an adult, so basically I've returned to a childish state of excitement. Hence a post devoted entirely to chickens.)

Chicory. Ameraucana hen.

Marigold. Buff Orpington hen.

Iris. Silver-laced Wyandotte hen.

Poppy. Barred Rock hen.

Bluebell. Blue Cochin hen.

Daisy. Ameraucana hen-we-thought-but-probably-rooster... We had another gender misidentification mishap with our current rooster. His name is Petunia. Yep. So there's that. Daisy and Petunia.

Chipmunk. Ameraucana rooster.

Tadhg mildly enjoyed them when we first got them, but his enjoyment is much more intense now that they can fly and he can follow them around flap-flap-flapping his little arms. He makes a pretty cute chicken.