Museum Monday

France celebrates the Easter holiday with a day off on Monday.  We had big hopes of going up the mountain with Mamie and Papi, rent a donkey, and hike to a picnic site, but of course it was the first gloomy, wet day in weeks.  Instead, we all hopped in the cars and drove out to Voiron to visit the Chartreuse distillery.  Zaylee girl, you drove with Mamie and Papi without hesitation and wouldn't leave Mamie's side the entire day.  If at any point you thought we were going to take you away from her, you would tear up immediately yelling, "No, no! Mamie!"  We get it.  You love her.  It was a fun little tour, with free samples and fun hats.  The original green Chartreuse is celebrating 250 years this year, and to this day only 3 monks know the recipe of over 130 herbs.  The monastery is right above our house, and is where they collect all the plants and herbs to send to the distillery.  It is pretty incredible, and I'm glad we went while we are here. 

After the museum, we headed downtown Grenoble to the fair.  As I have told you before, Mama loves a good fair, and by the looks of it you loved it too!  It was towards the end of the day, and most of the crowds had gone home, leaving it clear and free for us to roam.  You rode your first ride all by yourself, ate your first cotton candy (thanks to Dad of course!), and played your first fair game, which you rocked!  In true French fashion, we ended the night in the city with a delicious kebab, while listening to you and Marcel laugh at one another in your slap happy, way past bedtime state of mind.  

This day o' fun got me all giddy for our up coming vacations, and the full days we will have with your Papa while exploring new places together as a family of four.

He is Risen...

He is risen INDEED! 

Sunday was a wonderful day with family and friends celebrating and remembering our risen Lord.  We had a late lunch around the extended table where we sat and talked for hours through each course in true French style.  As we made our way into the living room with our coffee in hand, Papa and I sneaked outside to hide some chocolate eggs around the yard.  As you pranced out of the house with your pink bunny basket, your very own fan club followed behind you cheering you along.  "The boys," as you so adoringly refer to them, are completely smitten with you and Marcel and this mama sure loves watching all the love poured out on you!   When the boys aren't around you spend all your time talking about them, but when they come towards you a whole lot of grunting goes on, and sometimes even tears.  After an hour or so, you give into their smothering and want to do everything with them loving all the attention.

 >>Back to the egg hunt<<

You enjoyed searching for and finding all the chocolates, and all the guys had a lot of fun watching and helping you find each one.  You came in the house with a big smile and your adorable strut so excited to show off your treasures.  Mamie Suzanne was sharing in your excitement as you made your way over to her to share your goods.  You two love each other well!  When I broke the news that you couldn't eat ALL the candies, your heart might have broke a little.  Thankfully, Mamie is wonderful at the task of distracting you and dissolving a meltdown before it gets out of control.

It was a great day surrounded by great people remembering our Great God! 

Your Heart

Friday at my Women's Group with Mamie and Auntie Sue, three of the women asked for prayer for themselves and loved ones going through deep, heavy marital and relationship struggles.  Hurt, pain, broken hearts and promises so full of grief that even you, my sweet girl, felt the emotion and sat quietly empathizing the tears that were shed.  Your heart is already so big and full of love and care.  You feel things deeply.  I know I speak of this often, but it is something I admire in you and want to preserve and protect.  A heart like yours is both a blessing and a hardship.  It is to be guarded and nurtured.  I pray you learn at an early age how to discern empathy for others and to say no when necessary.  Seek after the Lord and He will show you the way.  Love well and often, but know when to hold back.  Your father is full of wisdom, discernment, and faith.  He has taught me multitudes of life lessons grounded in the Word and my prayer is that you too will see the example he sets before you of our Savior. 

Your father's love for you and your brother is fierce and selfless.  Often times when the day is done, and you are both sound asleep in your bed's we find ourselves talking about the stresses of parenting, the tiredness we feel, and the overwhelming joy that fills our lives in this new journey of parenthood.  Many of our evenings are spent cuddled up watching a show together as we let the day melt away from our tired bodies.  Last night was no exception.  The tears streaming down my cheeks were also no exception, as I often feel the emotions of the characters for more than your father finds healthy. Last night, however, as I felt my eyes welling up listening to the character of a father meeting his son for the first time, I glanced over at your dad and found a tear tracing down the side of his nose making its way to the cleft of his chin.  He has always been a sensitive soul, but fatherhood has changed him all the more.  He feels deeply for his babies, and often the thought of you two brings water to his eyes, and the thought of never knowing you nearly broke his heart.

My prayer for you my darling girl, is that you may "guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life (Proverbs 4:23)."  "Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow (Isaiah 1:17)."  "Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful (Colossians 4:2)."  "Let your conversations be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone (Colossians 4:6)."  "...in your heart set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do so with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander (1 Peter 3:15-16)."

I started praying for you and your future the day we found out your life was growing inside of me, and I will never stop praying for you and your brother for as long as I live.  I pray for your heart and your mind.  For your childhood, your friendships, your future spouse that he may protect your heart and love you well the way your father has so selflessly loved me and now you and Marcel as well.  Most importantly I pray that you learn to love the Lord at an early age and know what it means to truly follow after Him with your whole heart.  I love you my Zaylee Girl. 

 

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.  
 

  

Marcel at 5 Months

Marcel my boy,

You are all smiles, snuggles, and pure sweetness.  This was a big month for you!  You became an American (officially), rolled over from belly to back and almost from back to belly, began sitting up and getting stronger every day, and found a complete infatuation in your big sister.  It is a complete joy to be your mother, and you make life so incredibly full.

You have yet to let down your reputation of being the happiest baby, never without a smile for anyone and everyone that looks your way.  Your smile is full of tenderness, and often stops us in our tracks, making us slow down in that moment to take in your sweetness.  Your Papa is constantly enamored by you, and loves coming home to your smiles and giggles.  I pray your kindness is something that grows along with you, and will always follow you where ever this life takes you. 

These days, we can hardly keep your clothes dry for more than a few minutes before your constant flow of drool pools itself on your chest spreading like wildfire across your shirt.  Your hands are constantly in your mouth, along with anything else you can manage to get in there.  This month you started really playing with your toys, and I love watching you grab at them and maneuver them every which way until you find the perfect spot to shove in your mouth and gnaw on with great vigor.  The bottom, left tooth looks like it is ready to push its way through, but teeth are funny and just when you think they are coming in, a month goes by and they show up unnoticed!

I'm not sure which one of you loves this more, but we all find it quite adorable.

Swinging is your new favorite activity.  You are content to sit in the swing while your sister pushes you back and forth and side to side for much longer than I could stand it if I were you.  Zaylee is in love with you, and always wants you to be a part of her fun.  All day long she asks to push you in the swing, and rarely wants to go on walks anymore because of this new found love for swinging with you by her side.  She is your greatest form of entertainment, and anything she does or says makes you break out in laughter while kicking your feet with wild excitement.  You don't mind her being rough with you as long as she is giving you attention, and I can't seem to get enough of watching you two together. 

As I was hanging out clothes your sister crawled in beside you making you one happy baby boy!

A few weeks back, we headed up to Lyon to meet with the American consulate to officially make you an American citizen.  It was a beautiful day in a beautiful city.  You are now a dual citizen with the cutest passport picture ever!  We attempted to do our own picture, but instead went to a professional and you were a natural in front of the camera.  I am so thankful for my babies having the privilege of being both French and American.  

The day after you turned four months you started rolling over on to your back, and continue to be extremely proud of yourself for doing so.  You have turned over to your belly a few times, but most of the time you get stuck just before getting all the way there.  I often find you in your bed in completely different places than where I laid you down to sleep, and have been witness to your skills of spinning in circles and pushing yourself around the floor.  Along with turning and spinning, this past week you have started sitting up on your own.  Each day you get stronger and stronger, allowing you to sit for longer periods of time while learning to use your hands to catch and steady your tilting body back to a sitting position.  I love this stage of learning and exploring, and you seem to be rather fond of it yourself!

Falling Softly

 First time rolling over! 3/7/2014

 First Day Sitting Up!  4/3/2014

Time is surely moving fast these days, and as much as I wish it would slow down, I am finding each new day with you a bit better than the day before.  Life just keeps getting sweeter as I watch you and your sister grow and take in the world around you.  Seeing the world through the eyes of you, my little ones, brings a whole new meaning and admiration for each tiny detail.    Here's to five months with you my little love!  I am forever grateful for you, and can't wait to see what the next month has to offer us. 

5 Month Facts and Stats: 

• 7 kg/15.4 lb
• 67 cm/26.4 in
• Favorite Song:  I'll Fly Away with which you hum yourself into a very sleepy state each nap and bed time
• You watch every single bite of food and sip of water we take desperately wanting it for yourself, but I am not ready to start food just yet.  Maybe next month! 
• You are a very content, quiet boy, but when you talk you do so very loudly and with the cutest tones in your voice.  
• Snuggling is still one of your favorite things, and I love this little fact!
• Sleep:  2 long naps and 1 short nap in the evening (9am, 1pm, 5pm).  11-12 hours at night with one feeding around 3am.  
• You are extremely loved.