February Happenings and a Trip Through the Wardrobe

In other news, the big sisters have been equally busy growing and learning.  February is flying by with many happenings including lots of cooking, growing crystals and making neckalces, terrarium building, piano practice and a Narnia themed feast on Valentine's Day with good friends.  Our trip through the wardrobe came after finishing the first two books. We had such fun decorating our home to look like Narnia and created a four course meal with stops at the White Witch's sleigh, tea with Mr. Tumnus, dinner with the Beavers and Aslan's Victory Feast. We're onto the next book and look forward to many more themed dinners. Although the weather has been odd this winter, we've stayed busy and cozy, and have ventured outside for sunshine many a day. 

Seven Months

 Dear Little One,

You are seven months and you are growing at such a speed, your Mama can barely keep up!! You are speed crawling, pulling to stand and have even let go. You are into every single thing. The world amazes you. You currently love paper, balls, books and doll faces (you poke their eyes).  You say Mama, DaDa and "ish" (not sure what that is yet). You are trying some foods but are not terribly into the pureed entrees and instead grab and reach for every spoon or plate around.  You have two teeth and like to bite! You do not like to sleep and move and bounce until you collapse. You are around 18 pounds and are still really tall. You love music and your big sisters, cats and stroller rides.  Goosey girl you are our joy and we continue to thank God for you life.

Five and Six Months

And just like that, our little Goosey is six months old!  Five months blew by in the thick fog of teething and sickness, a first Christmas and rolling over, sitting up and so many lovely discoveries.  Now at six months Phoebe has 2 teeth and is beginning to crawl.  Her most favorite people seem to be Emmeline and Lena, with the kitty cat being a close third.  She has learned to pull tails!  She is 16 pounds and in the 95% for height.  Little baby girl loves to move and bounce. In this she takes after Lena Lu.  But she also loves to study faces.  Just two nights ago she waved for the first time and was positively delighted. She is the noisiest baby we've had, and also the worst sleeper. But how blessed we are and love her dearly. We thank God for half a year with our little Phoebe Hope.

Christmas Projects

And now a word from the Y chromosome of the house.

Fall/Christmas 2019 was a busy time in our home, with a baby starting to think about moving around on her own, chickens laying eggs every day, and all the usual business of life in a family of five (as well as seven chickens, two fish, and three cats). In addition to all that we decided to move ahead with our plan to install a wood stove. This was quite an undertaking, involving a few new skills for Papa, cutting a hole in the wall of the house, learning all about fire codes, thirty feet of scaffolding, and some really wonderful, helpful friends.

I found a Woodstock soapstone stove on Craigslist, as well as about 17' of the 19' feet of stainless steel chimney pipe I'd need for the job. I put in a brick hearth, using brick pavers over several layers of cement board and plywood to achieve the required R value under the stove (one doesn't want one's floor burning up), built a faux mantel on the wall, and matching built-in cabinets (so far only one side is installed).

Here's the whole process in photos: