Christmas has always been a big deal to me. I love the memories that flood back when I listen to certain Christmas albums, smell certain smells, string lights around the tree, place precious ornaments evenly among the branches. It is such a special time with family and a time of year I look forward to always. It's magical and this year I experienced that in a new way through your beautiful blue eyes and the excitement in both your and Marcel's shrieks and gasps at all the beautiful lights that flood the lawns and storefronts. "CHRISTMAS! LOOK MOM!"
Watching Polar Express!
The month was full of wintery, Christmas fun and watching you take it all in was so special to me. We walked through Cosley Zoo to see the lights, drove around many neighborhoods checking out all the lights (and even stumbled upon one with music to go along with the flashing lights!!), headed to the Christmas Market for hot chocolate and delicious German food, enjoyed a beautifully done Christmas Eve service at Willow Creek, and enjoyed a lot of family time full of leisurely days just being together.
It was almost too much fun picking out the perfect gifts for the two of you and wrapping them up, each in their own specific paper to be placed under the tree on the night before Christmas Eve. I have always loved the anticipation of Christmas morning, and always woke up far too early to separate and distribute all the presents for my brother and sisters, waiting patiently until the rest of the family stumbled down the stairs. This time I had the anticipation of watching you discover each little thing stuffed inside your velvet stockings and slowly passing out the gifts and opening each one with great excitement and care. It was such a special morning.
The weeks leading up to Christmas day we explained thoroughly the greatest gift Christmas has to offer, the birth of our Savior. You would explain to anyone that would listen that it was Jesus' birthday, and each time it made me so proud. I was thankful you understood the truth of the season, and had fun watching you also get swept up in the fun of it. You would exclaim, "Santa is coming soon! Mom, is it in two hours? He's going to check his list and then sneak in. Is he coming now?" And with each present we would pick out and carefully wrap together you would say ever so sweetly, "Mom, I think they are really going to love it!" It is such a joyous time of the year, and as much as I have always loved Christmas, my love for it grew far more than I could have imagined this year with the two of you to share it with!
My little Marcel, you are such a happy blessing to us. The past couple months have been all about you coming into your own personality and it is proving to be the very best! You are hilarious, sensitive, persistent, adventurous, gentle, affectionate, independent, a prankster, and just the sweetest boy a mama could hope for!
Life since you came along has been so wonderful, and watching the friendship build and grow between you and your dear sister has been such an extremely beautiful thing to witness as your Mother. You continue to adore her and follow her every move, but have definitely learned to carry your own opinions and claim territory to all the things you deem your very own. You don't like being very far from her and find everything to be better with her around. You antagonize her constantly laughing through all of her shrieks of disapproval and suffering. It is funny to me every time but in defense of your kind sister always asking (read: yelling miserably) for help rather than show her frustrations physically towards you, I correct you and come to her rescue! You are quick to make things right, and always shower her with kisses and love.
You are extremely social, always waving to passersby giving them your most charming smile with your eyes batting, wooing all the ladies every where we go, but put you in a room full of people at a large social gathering and you become Mr. Serious hardly cracking a smile. You are definitely like your father in that way, always preferring to be with those closest to you having good quality one on one time, especially in your own territory. If we have a guest over, you are all about showing off your funny side, taking out all your favorite things and dancing around the room. For a long while, leaving you for nursery was so hard for me as you would hold tightly to my arm as I would pass you to the sweet girl behind the counter, but in the last month you have started walking in all on your own reaching for the ladies or running towards a toy that catches your eye. You are growing up so quickly, and I love seeing you blossom and change growing more independent with each passing day.
Animals are an extremely exciting thing for you, and much like your sister, you have no fear. You are cautious at times, but it doesn't take much for the caution to turn into over zealous excitement. You meow, woof, moo, but mostly you roar for all things animal. Growling is a common sound as well as you lie on your belly playing with the horse and elephant making them prance across the living room floor. Your other great love is any form of transportation whether it be car, train, plane, truck, or tractor they are all your favorites and evoke great sounds of glee any time they pass us by as you point your little finger exclaiming, "BEEP! BEEP!!" You are full of life and it is so fun to watch you take in the world around you expressing yourself through sounds and words that are specific to you. You are most definitely an observer, watching and learning each new thing with great concern always using your little hands to figure out how things work, fiddling until you get it just right.
Marcel, we are having so much fun getting to know you and love the little boy you are growing up to be. There are so many things that make you uniquely you and set you apart from you sister, and seeing you take on your own likes and dislikes is a wonderful thing even if it includes far more expressive, tantrum type behavior than we are used to. :) I can't believe you will be a year and a half in just a few short weeks!! Your joy and curiosity for life is a blessing to be a part of and I pray you continue to grow in joy and a desire to pass it on to those around you in everything you do.
A Few Random Facts 17 months:
Favorite Foods: meat of all kinds especially shrimp and fish, pretzels, fruits, oatmeal, yogurt, french fries, and CHOCOLATE!!
Favorite Things: your nigh-night, snacks, shoes--always bringing them to their proper owners, books, matchbox cars, animals, laughing with your sister and having all her attention
Favorite Activities: baths, being outside, walks in your stroller, playing with your kitchen, playing in the sink, following your sister, eating but more so playing with your food, making messes, bothering Zaylee, hugging all the kids!
Least Favorite things: quick movements including swings, being spun or thrown in the air, loud sudden noise, being surprised, when Mama and Papa play wrestle or tickle (you cry every time), sharing your snacks, the doctor
Words: Mama, Papa, Zaylee, Liesel, nigh-night, hot, ball, bubble, bird, button, book, baby, out, no, yeah, shoe, please, all done, thank you, more, Mamie, Papi, fishie, beep beep, bye, hi, hello, uh oh, you have really started parroting things the past couple weeks and it is so fun to hear you communicate more each day! All words subject to mama's interpretation :) We know the words but others may not have a clue what you are trying to say.
Sleep: naps 1.5 to 2.5 hours and 11-12 hours at night with your car blanket as of 14 months! Still a much lighter sleeper than Zaylee, but you are a master at transferring from the car to your bed and that is such a blessing!!
Papa and I are pretty intentional about doing things with the two of you, getting out and having fun whether that be a meandering trip to Costco or a completely impulsive over night stay at a hotel with a pool. In mid-January we got out our swimsuits and headed to the Y to enjoy a dip in the extremely warm, heated pool while snow fell outside, but when we arrived, we were informed the pool was closed for maintenance. It was heartbreaking for you, Zaylee girl, so Papa decided to take us on a search for a pool. We ended up in Oak Brook at the Hyatt and checked in to a lovely room where you enjoyed very much jumping on the big, plush king sized bed. Papa and I could have watched the two of you jump around laughing and exploring every nook and cranny of the room and been more than satisfied with our whimsical trip.
We headed straight to the pool and enjoyed the whole place to ourselves to jump, swim, and scream in pure delight. The two of you are both far to brave when it comes to water for my liking, but it makes your Papa so proud to see the love you guys have for the water. It will come in handy for the day your father's dream of living on an island comes true :) We stayed down there until you were both getting exhausted, and headed back to the room. I got Marcel all ready for bed and was able to get him to sleep while you and Papa headed down to get us some food. The concierge overheard you say you wanted a sandwich and kindly went to the kitchen and fixed you up a delicious PB&J with a tall glass of milk. You sat on a bar stool and ate every bite with great joy to be with your Papa having good conversation just the two of you. Zaylee girl, you stayed up late with Papa and I snuggled up on the pull out couch watching shows together, while Marcel slept soundly in the corner on the other side of the room. When morning came, you and Papa snuck out of the room while Marcel and I slept in until after 8 when we joined you for breakfast in the lobby area. We headed to the pool one last time before heading home, and will remember those 18 hours always.
We sure do love family time with our two little loves and find so much joy in watching your faces light up with each new and exciting thing we experience together.
