Zaylee Fun Facts

Lately, you have been so full of personality.  I guess you always have been, but it's so fun to watch you interact and think you are a grown up with your sassy strut and independent way about you.  Last week we were at a conference in Annecy, and in the mornings you went to the nursery with three or four other babies all within a couple months of one another.  The girls watching you babies were constantly remarking on your "i-can-do-it-myself" attitude when it came to just about everything, your quick, steady feet, the way you know exactly what you want and how you want it, and how you seemed so much older than the other girls in the nursery.  We, of course, would just laugh and say, "Sounds about right!"  I remember when you were a day old dealing with a screaming baby because the milk didn't come out as fast as you wanted.  The nurse came in and tricked you with one drop of formula to make you think it was my milk, and away you went sucking and all was well.  The lactation consultant told us the next morning we saw a glimpse of a little girl who knows what she wants and when she wants it, and I'd say she was right on the money! :)  All that to say, you make us laugh everyday and constantly shock us with all you seem to "know" about life in your short 17 months of life so far. 

Things we love about YOU our sweet Zaylee Jean:

•  If you see someone cry, get hurt, look frustrated, or see a picture in one of your books with a sad baby in it, you feel for them and often get tears in your eyes and a deeply concerned, sad look on your sweet little face.  We have to reassure you over and over that, whatever the case may be, all is well or "c'est pas grave" as we say here in France.  You are full of compassion and it is extremely endearing for me to see as your mother!
• You are one tough little girl.  You fall a LOT as you are always running around the yard, picking up things that are too heavy for your little body to carry, always trying to do things that require adult assistance, and taking risks without fear.  You don't dry, unless it is REALLY bad, and it always amazes us.  You can have blood running down your leg, and you are more concerned with the blood and pointing at the "owah" (as you say) then actually crying from the pain that accompanies the scrape.  Most of the time, we don't even realize there is blood until we spot it on one of our shirts (not my favorite!).   I guess this comes from dad always rough housing with you, and the fact that we don't pay much mind unless you hit your head or you let out a real scream.  
  
• You find it hilarious when Dad and I sing together.   We have always sang to you, but lately if we sing a song together, you start laughing and find it so amusing.  It has no effect if we sing separately, but if we chime in while the other is singing you can't handle it :) 
• Dancing is becoming much more entertaining for us to watch these days.  I like to refer to you as Elaine from Seinfeld as you tend to be a bit all over the place with your body movements, and have even flipped your self over a time or two while feeling the beat a bit to literally.  It is hysterical.  Aunt Anna is your favorite dance buddy, and the two of you are full of amazing moves of all kinds.  You have always loved music, and for this I am glad!  
• You love throwing things in the garbage, and we appreciate this very much.  This will prove to come in handy once your little brother arrives!  
• You can sit and read books with Mamie for much longer than I have ever been able to hold your attention.  It is the sweetest thing watching you huddle together on the couch while listening to the exciting shrieks come from you, as you point to the pictures and get fully involved in whatever it is Mamie is saying! 

  

  You still love finding a good spot to sit! :)

• You have the best curls, and I can only hope they stay that way!  At times they are completely out of control, and we love them all the more. 
• Every time  you see or walk past a car or motorcycle you let out the cutest, "Vroom!" sound.  We still aren't sure where you learned that, but it's adorable.  
• You love all things grain.  Couscous, quinoa, cracked wheat, rice, ect.  This makes your father very proud, along with your love for fish and pretty much every type of meat!  If we have chorizo pizza, you pick off each piece of meat until there is none left for anyone else.   Any dish with lardon's in it, will quickly be without any lardon's in sight after your little fingers get to picking.  Learning your eating habits has taken awhile, but we are getting there and you are growing, although still our little peanut at just about 20lbs! 
• When we pray, you think we are all closing our eyes for you.  You sit there with this silly grin on your face clenching onto dad's or my arm, as if waiting for us to all open our eyes and say "boo!" simultaneously.  It's hilarious.  
• You have started to play shy.  If you are doing something and we all look your way, you fuss and turn away from us as if to say, "stop looking at me!"  We can't look at you when you are trying to do something, otherwise you have a little meltdown until we look away and let you continue on with your task.  
• You are independent, but also know when to ask for help.  I will never grow tired of you putting our your hand to me, and wanting me to come along with you on your little adventures.  
  
• Kisses are so very special to me, and you save them for me and daddy always.  When we ask, you always give and we love it.  You only kiss us on the lips, and every one else gets a sweet cheek graze with a "muwah" sound on occasion.  
• If you have something in your hand you don't want you say over and over, "Mom, mom, mom," while handing me whatever it is you have in your hand!  And when you are in your carseat with you Nuk and Bunny (both you call Mawney and we aren't sure why!?), and decide you want milk or a snack, you are adamant to first hand me both your lovie's before you will take the milk cup! :)  You have very specific OCD like tendencies my dear!  
• At random moments, you will stop what you are doing outside and lay down in the grass and just smile, sometimes even let out your fake giggle, while looking up at the sky.  It is the sweetest thing.  
  
• You love picking flowers, and Mamie has taught you to always bring me one, even if it is just a pretty weed!  
• You get extremely frustrated if you can't do something the way you want the first time.  I am trying to teach you to try again and be patient, but sadly my darling I'm afraid you may have received that trait from me!  It is entertaining for us to watch, but we hope you will grow to learn that its ok to try things a few times before it works the way you imagined, and sometimes it might not work out at all! 
  
• You no longer sit in a high chair, but rather a big girl seat at the table, and refuse to be fed by any hands but your own!  Since you were six months old or so, your dad has given you drinks from a big cup, and you love holding a cup with your own little hands while gulping down some water.  It is quite impressive to watch, and absolutely adorable!
• You love the dirt, but hate being dirty.  You tend to freak out a bit when you notice something on you whether it be grass, food, dirt, or something unknown to us all! :) 

  

  Pointing to the dirt on your knee!

• Along with dancing, you love to sing.  As of lately, your favorite song is "Bateau sur l'eau" and you are known for randomly singing out over and over, "bateau....bateau!"  

•  You have the fake laugh down, and constantly make us laugh when you pull it out of no where.  Mamie Suzanne thinks it is hilarious, and I love watching you two laugh together!  

Well, I could go on and on and on about how much you fill us with joy, but I will stop there for now!  Just know, little love, that you are well loved by so many and bless us all with your vibrant self.  Love you through and through!

Potty Time!

The last two weeks, you have been very interested in the potty.  Dad and I are always amazed by how much you actually understand, and you are constantly proving to know much more than we give you credit for!  Three times now you have pulled at your pants and walked towards the bathroom pointing and asking to go in.  We follow your lead and put you on the toilet where you push and grunt and usually let out some gas, but haven't down anything of any substance.  You are young, so we aren't trying to potty train you by any means, just letting  you know that is where you go when the time comes.  I haven't read anything on potty training, but Grandma D says between 20-24 months is the prime time to train.  Your little brother is coming right at 20 months, so I am thinking that may be a shock to your system so the thought of starting before that worries me as you may backslide with all the new adjustments.  Although, you seem pretty eager to take part in this and truly seem to understand.  Mamie Jeannie always gets you a little something when she goes to the store, and last week she brought home a training potty.  All the kids in France seem to have one around the house, and she feels its a good way to get you acquainted with it and feel comfortable with the potty.  I would have to say, she is definitely on to something!  You love your potty and carry it around everywhere with you, taking little rest stops to sit and chat with us along your merry way.  Yesterday you were sitting in the living room, and Uncle Marc, Daddy and I started saying, "Zaylee push that poopy out.  That's your potty chair, push it out!"  And sure enough you DID IT!!!  You pooped on your potty!  You had your diaper on of course, but you understood and you did it with such pride.  When you were finished you stood up and pointed at your diaper, and we all applauded you and said how proud we were of you.  It was a fun moment that we didn't expect to happen (and even caught on camera!!!), and aren't completely naive to think it will happen again anytime soon, but fun nonetheless.  In your own time, it will happen, and we will just continue to explain and explore and let you discover it for yourself!  Love you sweet girl, and am so happy to be your Mama!! 

Zaylee says....

A few days ago, we were out shopping for a new car seat for you and you decided you wanted to be cute and cooperate for me in front of the camera.  The usual scenario consists of you being super cute and funny one minute, and the second you see the camera you shy away and I miss out on the moment, both for the camera's sake and my own in the real-time-moment!  Yesterday, dad kindly asked me to put the camera down and said, "Just be here!"  I guess it is true, but sometimes I just want to be able to show you and tell you all about the special moments and hold on to the memories through snippets of time saved in a frame.  All that to say, here is a little shot of you saying a few of your words.

You are saying more words everyday and it is so fun to see you learn and want to mimic everything we say!  When we sing with you now, you even make up sounds to sing along with us.  It is the sweetest thing.

Sidenote:  While we were out shopping, I learned something about store etiquette, or rather expectation, here in France.  The store employees are not very fond of little, curious, fast, one year old's running around wanting to touch everything they see, even if it is a BABY store.  We were followed by a few women, but we kindly said sorry and I scooped you up and quickly took note not to let you down again.  Thankfully the woman helping us was very kind, and thought you were sweet and didn't mind your curiosity.  We found you a good, solid seat and feel much more confident driving you around now.  It was more of an investment then planned, but this way we will have it for your future brothers and sisters when we come back for visits after we return to the states, and for cousins down the road!