A Few of my Favorite things...

Being a mother is the best thing I have ever had the privilege of doing, and I am continually learning and growing into the mother I hope to be for you both by God's good grace.  I need Him more now than I have ever needed Him, but more importantly I desire His presence in my life and His word in my heart like never before.  Motherhood is wonderful and exhausting, easy and hard, fun and trying, beautiful and messy all at the same time.  Without prayer, I would be lost.  Without the little things that fill the spaces in the days that feel all too defeating, I would be a far worse mother in those moments of overwhelming uncertainty that I will make it through.  I would be nothing without the two of you, my little loves, or your super Dad who lifts me up in my moments of weakness and picks up all the pieces when I've come undone.  Even still I would be nothing without the love of our Heavenly Father and the promise that His mercies are new every morning.

Every morning.  Isn't that truth incredibly refreshing?   As much as I loathe getting out of bed in the morning, I love starting the day fresh with my babies.  No matter how hard or long the day before proved to be, we get the chance to make the new day all that much better.  I am loving this stage of parenting you, even in the moments of learning to discipline you with grace.  You make us laugh all day long with your long winded stories full of animation and ridiculous expressions, touch our hearts with your tenderness, and amaze us with all you know and continue to learn with each new day.  Marcel is learning and reaching new milestones, all the while wooing us with his adoring charm and heartwarming smile.  I have said it many times over and will say it again (and I'm sure again and again!), the Lord has blessed me for more than I deserve and the two of you are my greatest blessings. 

Here are a few of my favorite things the two of you do lately that make the hard days seem incredibly small compared to all the moments that remind me of the blessing it is to know you and watch you grow:

• The way you answer our questions with either an, "ummm no tank you" or the most adorable "YES!" with a slight lisp.  
• How you stand with your right leg bent at the knee and your toes pointed towards the ground when ever you are telling one of your many stories.  

• Hearing you yell after us when we are walking away, "Wait! Kiss!" 
• Feeling Marcel's arm draped over my left gentle squeezing my neck as he dozes off to sleep while I sing softly into his ear with his cheek presses against mine.  I love breathing you babies in, and will never grow tired of singing you two to sleep while snuggled up close to one another.  

•  Listening to you and your Papa read books together, while I put away the dishes from dinner before sneaking around the corner to peak in on you two huddled close together.   
• The fact that you still love to find a good spot to sit, and the way you cross your feet while getting comfortable.  
• Listening to you and Marcel laugh together.  He adores you and I can't get enough of watching the way he looks at you.

• The way you say, "mazing!" when we do something you find to be special,  "mmm farvrite (favorite)" when you like something your eating, and "crazy!" when you are doing something silly. 
• Feeling your hand squeeze tightly around my fingers as we walk next to each other, and your arms wrapped around my neck as your little hand pats my back.  
• Watching you observe the world around you while listening to you describe with great excitement all the colors, animals, plants, people you see along the way.  

• Holding you tightly after you have been disciplined for disobeying with your arms wrapped tight around my neck as you say "sawzyee mama.  obey!"  You have an extremely repentant heart and always repeat over and over again what it is you were disciplined for.
• Opening the door to Marcel's room and seeing his face light up after waking from his nap or in the morning.  He has the most sincere, generous smile and it touches my heart every time.