Cheaper By The Dozen

Cheaper by the dozen was a phrase first used in the 18th Century in an advertisement for pamphlets that could be purchased 'cheaper by the dozen'. 

But the first thing that comes to my mind is that it was the title of our Junior Class Play when I was in highschool. The play was based on a book of the same name authored by Ernestine Gilbreth Carey and Frank B. Gilbreth, Jr. It was published in 1948 and recounted the authors' childhood lives of growing up in a family of twelve children. Their father was an efficiency expert in time and motion and was constantly trying to teach his children better, faster, more efficient uses of their time. As I recall, it made for a very funny play.

For the purposes of this blog post, cheaper by the dozen is simply a hook to introduce my 12th great-grandchild, Henri Oliver, born April 3. I am patiently waiting to meet him in person as the family lives out of state and they are delaying travel until he is a little older. 

In the meantime, here is a recent photo of him. He is darling and I am already in love with him.

Henri's older brother is Louis, who is now three. Louis was hoping for a baby sister and so was I just to add another girl to help balance my great-grandsons to great-granddaughters ratio which is now ten to two. Ten boys, two girls.

This is a picture of Louis holding Henri when he was a week old.

And here is one of Louis watching over Henri.

Their mother reports that Louis is still very smitten by his baby brother and can't wait until he is old enough to play with him.

I hope they are as close and loving to one another as their older cousins, Ayden and Greyson are to each other.

So, while 'Cheaper by the Dozen' was my lead for this post, in August I can title one "A Baker's Dozen" when my 13th great-grandchild is born. And that one will be a girl!  💗