Double Digits

T-E-N months!  Woah!  Each month I feel is my favorite for different reasons, but this month seems to have brought out a little girl rather than our active baby girl!  You are SO entertaining these days and full of so much excitement for life.

A few new things you are doing these days:

• Waving and saying "Hi!" when we are out and about and people pass you by.  You get so excited and start flapping your arms.  It always makes those around us oooh and aaah, and I'm sure you have brought many joy when they may have needed a little bit of it in their day! 
• You have learned the act of sharing (for now anyway!), and love giving your toys or food to Dad and I.  We ask you, "Zaylee, can Mama have your car?" and you reach out your hand and place it in mine with a HUGE smile on your face.  Then we give it back to you, and we go back and forth a few times before you move on to the next toy.  
• You love your toy cars!  When you were still in Mama's belly, we were convinced you were a boy and your name was going to be Quincy.  We had no proof of this fact, but just had a feeling, which clearly we got completely wrong and are so extremely happy you are our little Zaylee girl!  Anyway, while we were all convinced, your Mamie Jeannie had sent 8 gifts for my last 8 weeks of pregnancy.  Each was wrapped in maroon colored paper with a note inside expressing a memory of when daddy was a little boy about each of the cars enclosed in the package.  You, sweet Zaylee girl, love playing with these cars.  We keep them in your favorite basket next to the couch and it is always the first place you go in the morning.  Who says toy cars are only for little boys!?  
• The little step landing at the bottom of the stairs is still one of your favorite spots, but these days you have finally mastered how to get off the step.  It stills makes me jump watching you maneuver yourself around and down, but with time it is getting to be a bit more graceful.  
• You are getting extremely fast walking along the couch and often do so with only one hand bracing the edge as you cruise along.  We were giving a little push and go walker and you are really getting to like walking across the living room while holding on for dear life.  It usually gets a bit ahead of you and you fall to your knees, but you will get there eventually.  Honestly I am not ready for you to walk because you are already quick and that will just take it to a whole new level! :) 
• Head butts are your new favorite thing, and it is the sweetest, most gentle head butt I ever did receive!  
• SO BIG!  You are so funny when you throw your hands up to the air reaching as high as you can!  We say it often and it never gets old.  

• You are doing the sign for "all done" pretty good these days, and we are working on "more" and "please".  I love watching you communicate with us in your little voice that is too cute for words while your hands are moving and spinning and clapping.  You are a hand talker without a doubt, and it's adorable!  
• My old cell phone has become your toy phone, and you have learned how to put it up to your ear as if you are talking on it.  I pretend to answer a call and say, "It's for you Zay,"  and you take it with a huge, open mouthed grin and put it up to your ear (back of the head rather!) and we talk.  I love it.
• No more baby food for you these days, except oatmeal and applesauce most mornings.  You are loving grapes, bananas, and string cheese these days.  Yogurt is a favorite, as well as, bread and Mac and Cheese.  You can eat pancakes and waffles like a champ, and love the Trader Joe's pumpkin ones just as much as Dad and I!  It's fun to feed you our food, and really you can pretty much eat anything we can!  It's amazing how well you chew up just about anything with your two little teeth. 
• You think it's fun to bite mom while you are nursing, and it is not my favorite new thing of yours!  You are still nursing 4-5 times a day, but if the biting persists we may be forcing you to wean sooner than I had hoped!  You still mostly refuse bottles, although you did drink 2 ounces last week before deciding you didn't want it, so I have high hopes you will start taking one with ease soon!

You are still our petite little lady, and we love your little tiny body!   Your belly is getting a bit bigger these days, and it's fun to see it sticking out while your in the tub.  Daddy loves it!  You are still taking two long naps everyday, and sleeping 12-13 hours at night.  We usually wake up right around the time Daddy is leaving for work in the morning at 7:45, and he loves this fact as he is the one to get you out of bed.  You always greet him with great excitement and it is the best way for him to start his day! 

Zaylee, as I say each month, we are so thankful for  your joyful spirit and the constant joy you bring us every day as we watch you grow and change!  Every night I sing you two songs, "You are my Sunshine" and my own song for you, "Zaylee Jean".  "Zaylee Jean" is sung to the tune of Edelweiss and is so true to how we feel about you.

Zaylee Jean, Zaylee Jean 

Every morning you greet me

Smile so bright 

Day and night 

You look happy to see me

Our first daughter you grow and grow,

 grow and changed everyday 

Zaylee Jean, Zaylee Jean 

Bless our family forever!

Oh sweet girl, we love you so!  Here's to another great month with you in our lives.  

Our Teething Baby

This week has been a rough one for little Zaylee as she is battle the rupture of her two front teeth.  It is funny how different teeth bring on different reactions.  The first two teeth came in without us even knowing, and these two coming through have made their pain very present.   

We spent most of Friday snuggled close to one another, her warm head and flushed cheeks pressed tightly against my chest.  It was the sweetest, yet saddest, afternoon we have had in a long while. 

Rosy, feverish cheeks!

She is a pretty strong girl, and is yet to truly be sick in her 10 months of life.  Even through the high fever, grabbing at her mouth, biting me while nursing, and viciously chewing anything and everything in sight, she still managed to smile and laugh.  Paul is always amazed at how well she handles any situation and the fact that she just rolls with the punches.  "We are blessed," is our most used phrase over the past 10 months.  Nineteen months really, if you count all the days we exclaimed those words while she was growing inside me.

All day snuggles, the only place she would sleep was on me and I was ok with that.

He was so happy to soak in some snuggle time, and she actually FELL ASLEEP on him! :)

Zaylee doesn't often fall asleep on us anymore, but through the last few days that is her most desired spot.  Paul always gets a pang of jealous and a bit sad when he sees her snuggled up in my arms, but on Saturday night she brought him soaring to cloud nine.  As I was changing her sheets, he hummed and ssshhhed in her ear while she quickly dozed off in his arms.  I left them and after he had had his fill, he placed her in her bed and came downstairs with the biggest grin.  My heart was full. 

Those lips!

Here's to hoping the next teeth that decide to push through will go unnoticed so you, sweet girl, don't have to endure this hardship again.  Although, I really do love the extra loving that comes along with the pain, I wouldn't wish it on you for anything!

New Tricks!

Nine months marked a lot of new tricks for Zaylee Jean!  She started clapping, pointing, and waving all in the same week.  She has the cutest princess wave I have ever seen.  So cute!  When we are reading, she points to every picture and often looks up at us as if she is explaining what she sees.  Her little pointing finger is too cute, and makes me smile every time I see her get excited and point to whatever it is she sees.  While skyping the past couple weeks she is definitely much more interested and observant to the family on the other side of the screen.  She was waving, pointing and talking so much more than she ever had before, which was fun for all of us to see!  It is amazing how smart little babies truly are, and is so fun to watch them learn new things all the time.  We think she is pretty smart, but I guess we are kind of biased!
A few days ago I realized I had never taught her "So Big", and I just happen to think that is the cutest things when kids raise their hands up high over their heads when asked, "How big is (insert name)?"  We did it twice with her and she caught on immediately which was so fun to see.  Really all you have to say is, "Zaylee" and she lifts her hands to the sky!  So fun!! 

We are having so much fun and just enjoying our days with little miss Zaylee Jean!  Love her personality and the joy she brings to us. 

Thursday's with Kimmy

It has become a Thursday ritual to hang out with our dear friend Kimmy.  She has truly been a blessing to me through this first year of motherhood, and I am so thankful for the friendship she has so lovingly showed me and little Zay.  I joke that she is like our chauffeur because she often takes us out to run errands to get out of the house for a bit.  Being at home is wonderful, but sometimes a day out with good company is much needed!  I have had a few weeks lately that I have made Dentist appointments on Thursdays, and Kimmy willingly comes along to the Dental office and sits in the toy room with Zaylee as I get my mouth scraped and cleaned.  They have fun together and Zaylee really loves her Kimmy.  She has been truly encouraging to me throughout this year, and pushes me to stay in the Word and keep my focus on the Lord.  We help each other, and listen to one another talk through our struggles and frustrations and bounce positive thinking towards the one that needs it in those moments.  It's refreshing and much needed.  I'm thankful for her and all she does for us.

She was extra cuddly yesterday...it was the sweetest! 

She is my sweet girl!

Kimmy decided to let her feed herself some mashed potatoes, and then ask her "How big is Zaylee!?"  Not my favorite :)

She had fun though...I guess that's what matters!

Christmas in Pictures

Carrera Christmas

Started out just fine, then wasn't so sure about Bob the Santa!

Loved the lights

Picked up Aunt Jenny for Christmas Break...pretty girls!

Christmas Brunch at Honey Jam

Chaos

After many attempts, this was the best we could get

Sweet girlie cousins

Opening presents with Daddy

Our pretty girl dressed in her best for Christmas Day

Eating her new Little People Nativity set

Another round of attempts...Paul was so happy about this!

The family tradition of Green Punch...

Grandpa D was eager to give her the first taste!

Zaylee and Taylor

Cohen "loving" on Zaylee :)

Micah sure loves his little Zaylee

Kaitlyn, the Christmas baby!

Me and my girls...I've babysat them their entire lives :) Love them!

She doesn't need no stinkin dolls, she loves trucks and cars!

These two are so sweet together!

Loving life

It was a wonderful Christmas, with many fun memories made and lots of good eating! 

A New Tab has Arrived!

This is your very first cousin on the Tabailloux side, and her name is Liesel Mary.

Liesel 14 hours after birth.  Dad thought this was a picture of you!! Tabailloux genes are strong!

She was born in the early, dark hours of the morning in Oak Park, Illinois on New Year's Day after a long 23 hours of labor for her super strong mom and wonderful supportive daddy!  Her mom says you, my dear Zaylee, were the reason for little Liesel.  You little, darling ladies sure made us mama's work hard to meet your cute, perfect selves.  Thankful to say that after some hard, exhausting, at times very frustrating labors we were both greeted with perfect, beautiful, healthy baby girls and all was right in the world.

This is you a few hours after birth!  Can you see the resemblance?

Yesterday, when Liesel was just 11 hours old, we went up to room 627 at West Suburban Hospital to meet her and congratulate Aunt Bethany and Uncle Timmy.  She was even more beautiful in person then the few pictures we had been staring at all morning.  Uncle Timmy was already proving to be a fantastic, doting father, and looked so overjoyed to have his own little girl in his arms.  Aunt Bethany looked so great for all the work and pain your little cousin made her go through to finally hold her in her arms.  She went through so much, and could hardly stand the wait for Liesel to make her appearance, and now she can love on her and stare at her all she wants.  Hallelujah!  They both seemed so peaceful and content with their new baby girl in their arms.  It was a wonderful time just staring at the new life that has already brought so much more joy into our big, French family and into the many loved ones that have loved her for many months already!

It was a short visit because you my dear don't like when you can't get down and explore new places.  You kept reaching out to touch Liesel, and clapped your hands in excitement.  The new clothes and packages were all touched by your little hands.  You love to explore and feel everything for yourself, which is proving to cause great, tornado like messes in our previously well kept living room.

 It seems like yesterday we were the one's in the hospital meeting you for the first time, and now you are our crazy, little active baby girl with so much personality and life in you.  Last night after leaving the hospital, I honestly envisioned those first moments and days with you over and over and over in my head remembering every little, perfect moment at least 30 times.  It started when we received the text letting us know Liesel had arrived.  We were still sleeping, but woke to the sound of chime on the phone.  "We have a baby," was what I read and immediately I filled with so many emotions.  Dad jumped up with excitement and we both laid there staring at your cousin's sweet face.  We prayed together thanking the Lord for a healthy, baby girl and were so happy and filled with so much joy for your Aunt and Uncle.  After about 45 minutes of staring and talking, we tried to go back to sleep.  I laid there with dad's arm around me and tears fell silently as I reminisced on those many hours we waited for you to come out and meet us, and then that moment when we finally saw you and heard you for the first time.  My mind wouldn't stop from that point on.  Dad kept asking me what I was thinking as I stared at you playing with your toys and listened to your sweet babbling.  It was the same thing on replay.  I love the memories of those precious moments, the pain of the contractions, the bond between your dad and I in those hours.  Not so much the frustrating realization of my body not progressing, but the other moments I loved every bit.  I remember it all, and truly can't get it out of my head.  Baby fever doesn't even begin to describe what I was feeling all day yesterday.  It was a physical pain of yearning.  Dad kept trying to snap me out of it, but he too felt it a bit, especially when we walked into room 627 and he saw little Liesel.  His eyes got wet, and he felt the emotions I had been remembering all day!

Zaylee girl, you have brought me so much joy and purpose to my life.  Every day when you greet me, I am reminded of how full my heart is now that you are in my world.  From the moment I heard you were in my womb, to that first week of not moving off the couch in fear of the reality of you being taken away from me, to hearing your heartbeat for the first time, to watching your little body move so gracefully across the black and white screen, and the feeling of you move beneath my skin, I loved you so fully.  As many bad days I had of being sick, the daily fight of lava pushing it's way up my throat, the pelvic pain towards the end that sent me to my knees, all the calls to Aunt Erin and Grandma asking silly questions, none of that could replace the pure joy I felt through the honor I had of carrying your precious life inside me.

So, Zaylee, are you ready to be a big sister??  We are ready whenever the Lord see's fit for our family to expand further!  You have blessed us, spoiled us, and made the transition from Husband and Wife to Dad and Mom so very natural and easy.  Thankful for you and the blessing it is to be a mom and to carry a life inside me.  So very thankful! 

For now, we will just love on sweet, little Liesel!!!  So very happy for Uncle Timmy and Aunt Bethany.  So very happy!