Marcel at 11 months!

How is it you are already this close to a year old??  Time is moving so very fast these days, and we couldn't be loving you more as you learn and explore with each passing day.  You continue to be the happiest baby boy, always smiling and laughing, in turn, making all those around you have no choice but to smile back at you!  It is such an honor to be your mom and to see the way others swoon over you when they catch your eye.  I pray you always touch people with your joy as you grow, it is such a gift.

You have become a lover of kisses always laying big wet ones on us while squeezing our necks with your little arms.  We could do without the sloppy mess, but we sure can't get enough of that sweetness!  Zaylee gets the most love, and remains your most favorite person (besides me of course)!  She often pushes you, takes your toys and taunts you with food all of which you are learning to voice your frustrations with, but it's no matter, you are still her biggest fan.  She makes you belly laugh better than anyone with things as simple as saying the word, "chickaboomboom!".  We adore watching the two of you laugh and play with one another, and pray you will become good friends as you grow up! 

Talking is something you are so eager to take part in, and are mimicking sounds and words a lot lately.  It is so fun to listen to your raspy, deep toned voice as you babble and chatter while playing among your pile of toys.  You are an excellent self entertainer and are extremely content to explore the toy box and play in whatever mess you made all over the living room floor.  Music excites you, evoking movement and your own form of singing as you smile with pure joy.  You are so eager to be walking so you can run around with the big kids in the neighborhood instead of crawling around after them.  You do, however, love all things in your reach while crawling: sticks, dirt, wood chips, and anything else you can get your tiny hands on. 

Today a lady asked me how old you were, and it seemed unreal to me when I answer, "11 months!"  I am aware time goes by too quickly, but this year seems to have passed by in record time.  We have seen and done SO MUCH in your first year of life, and you have been such a blessing through it all always going with the flow and smiling all along the way. (Except in those first months when you HATED the car!)  We love you Marcel Gray!

 

Facts:

Teeth:  Four! 

Sleep:  Two naps 45 min to 1 1/2 hours.  12 hours at night with an early morning feed around 5:30.

Food:  You love most anything, but aren't a huge fan of peas.  You prefer to feed yourself and are starting to play around with a spoon.  I am much more lenient with the mess with you my boy than I was with your sister, and it makes life so much easier :)  

Favorites:  Zaylee, bathtime, dogs, slides, climbing, music, making messes, and talking.

Marcel at 9 Months (and now 10!)

My boy, this month was extremely full.  It was filled with many special memories as we said goodbye to our little home in France.  Our year in France went by far TOO fast, and saying goodbye to the place we first met you and brought you into our little family making us four, was much harder than I anticipated!  To say I loved our life in France would be an understatement, and I hope one day you will know why I love it so; after all, you are our little French boy!

Along with sad goodbyes and happy welcome home's, you sweet Marcel have been growing and changing so quickly these days.  You are gentle, observant, determined, sweet, calm, and as all the French ladies referred to you, "tres sage".  We are completely smitten with you and can hardly stand how adorable you are and the amount of joy you have added to our little family.

 

You are all smiles all the time, but have definitely found your voice when it comes to your big sister stealing your toys.  You are completely content to sit and observe the world around you as long as there is food, a stick, or a pile of toys within your reach.  Laughter is one of your favorite things, and find your sister to be the funniest person there is.  Crawling, walking, climbing, making messes, drooling, eating, observing, and simply being the cutest little boy there ever was are a few of your favorite things. You love music and get super excited when I put on little music video for you to watch as you bounce up and down tapping your hand on the couch.  It is too cute.

I am your favorite person, but Papa is a close second.  When Papa comes home you immediately put your arms up towards him and anxiously wait for him to sweep you up into his arms and there you sit as happy as can be.  It is the sweetest thing.  Even though you prefer me, you go to others easily and even love going to nursery at Church.  You are definitely a go with the flow kind of guy and we love that about you.  You still prefer two naps, but if we have to be out and about you can survive with just one in the afternoon as long as I am there to rock you just the way you like it.  I love our snuggle time and have accepted that you just need me in that way right now and I will take advantage of these special moments with my precious boy.  You love playing with my hair as you nurse and while you are falling asleep, but always do so gently and aren't one to pull too hard.  It isn't just my hair you like to twirl, you are

Life is better with you, and we are so glad to have you as ours.  It is hard to believe you are almost a year old already, but it is so fun and such a blessing watching you grow and learn more and more each day. 

(This was partially written last month, but finished now in your tenth month!
Photos include your first Cave experience, goodbyes, mountain top hikes, first airplane trip, first LGYC experience, Chicago boat tour)