Marcel at ONE! (13 months and a week to be exact!)

                                     

My charming little boy, you are ONE year old and I can hardly even believe it to be true.  The days go fast and time moves quickly (this I have come to know well!), but the past year has seemed to fly by in record time.  You have seen so much in your first year of life, and although you won't remember any of it I pray your life will always be full of adventure and excitement.  You are curious and observant always taking in the things around you while grunting the sweet, "ohh!" with your little pointer finger showing us what it is that has caught your big, almond shaped eye.  Seeing the world through your eyes is one of the greatest joys, and I'm so thankful to be the one to watch you learn and explore. 

You continue to be all sweetness, smiles and snuggles winning hearts wherever we go!  Your eyes light up when anyone acknowledges you as you tuck your chin into your chest while flashing the most tender, too cute for words, irresistibly charming smirk.  It is in those moments I nearly burst while exclaiming, "Oh my!!  You are TOO cute!!"  Truly, your Papa and I say that at LEAST once a day. Even with your extremely sweet, laid back personality you definitely have a fiery side and have started making, arguably, the worst shrieking sound when frustrated or mad that you can't have every little thing your heart desires.  We do give in to you far too often, but soon and very soon we will have to start laying down the law as your Papa and I can't handle that sound or attitude much longer.  You don't make it easy to be stern though, because of your extreme cuteness. 

You continue to find Zaylee to be the very best thing there ever was and follow her where ever she may lead.  She is becoming a little mother to you these days, and although you take to her older sister bossiness pretty well, you vocalize when she has crossed the line.  You snuggle up to her a lot always planting big wet kisses on her, and always want to be near her.  She is your biggest fan when it comes to watching you begin the walking process, always cheering you along and putting her hands out for you to fall in to. You don't seem to be in much of a hurry to master the whole walking thing yet, but that probably has to do with the fact that you can do all the big kid things with great ease at surprisingly fast speeds. This past week you have started taking greater risks letting go of things and walking up to ten steps, but on average closer to five before slowly lowering yourself to the ground and taking off on all fours!  Soon enough you will be running laps with Zaylee girl, but for now I am in no hurry of losing your last baby trait before you are fully a toddler. 

The other day we were skyping with your Mamie and Papi in France, and as we were saying goodbye you blew them your first kiss!  They of course felt honored and loved, and we were so touched by your sweet little gesture of your hand on your mouth as you made a little kiss sound.  You have also been saying a few words more regularly and started signing "all done" just yesterday!  You share your first official word, hot, with your sister and say it any chance you get.  It sounds more like, "hhhaaa!" and is always  said with your little pointer finger reaching towards whatever it is that is hot.  It is absolutely adorable.  "Nah nah" is your way of saying night, night and you have started to sweetly lay your head down while patting me saying it in that sweet, raspy deep voice of yours!  Every day it seems like you are learning and discovering so much and it is fun to see you relating to your sister more and more.

You are into EVERYTHING, always making messes and getting into things we never dealt with when your sister was little.  You are much more interested in things that are off limits than Zaylee ever has been, and it is keeping us on our toes and taking us by surprise in new ways!  We joke that you will be an engineer when you grow up as you have to figure out how everything works, always fidgeting and studying things until you either figure it out yourself or shriek in frustration leading us to help you through it!  No matter what you become, I pray you always bring people joy the way you do now my boy! 

We Love you little Marcel Gray, and are enjoying ever minute of watching you grow.  

Fun Facts:

Sleep:  FINALLY sleep a full 12 hours at night, and we are so very very thankful!  Two naps most days, but can survive on one if needed.

Food:  Your appetite has increased a lot this past month when it comes to actual meals.  You have always loved snacking, but with full time nursing being your main preference you didn't have a huge meal time appetite until more recently and are beginning to really NEED it.  You prefer to feed yourself and hate peas.

Little things:  You fall asleep twisting your hair ever so softly, and still love to play with mine.  You have to touch everything with your little finger and then gently pinch it.  Every time music comes on you bob your head, and hold a pretty good beat with the music.  You love talking on the phone.

Teeth:  6 with two more very close to popping up!

Weight:  19.5 lbs with the tiniest little body and a big, beautiful Tabailloux head :)