Sick Days

The days have been moving slowly around here the past ten days with sickness clouding our normal, fun filled days with outings and play time.  We have watched way to many shows, which is now proving to be detrimental to you, Zaylee girl, as you have taken on a new level of tantrum throwing capabilities in protest to my very limited screen time the last few days.  You are definitely becoming more vocal about your likes and dislikes and are full of a lot of passionate drama filled sentiments about such things. 

Everyone that meets you always comments on your "old soul" in reference to the way in which you talk.  You have always had a big vocabulary and talked with idioms far beyond your age.  It isn't that you talk more than other kids your age, but rather how you talk that often makes people notice you for the sweet, sassy, funny little lady that you are.  During your week of self prescribed "bedrest", you were utterly silent, and I was lost without all of your words.  Marcel was extremely on edge with the new silence that filled our walls and made it known that he missed his sister by doing everything in his power to get your attention.  This involved throwing himself into you and proceeding to lay on top of you until your screams for mercy scared him enough to roll off and run for safety into my arms.  He couldn't get his hands off you, and continually stole your nuk, bunny, and blankey in hopes of getting a rouse out of you, but instead of chasing him down as per usual you would melt into a pile of tears pleading for me to help you as you yelled, "STTOOPPP that MMAWCELLIE!!"  He adores you and would do anything to make you happy, so each time he failed to get you off the couch he would run back to you lay his head in your lap and surrender bunny and nuk back into your ready hands. 

This "bucket" was your security and this may have been the scariest way to find you sleeping!

You requested Mcdonald's daily and by day five I get in, but it went untouched by you :(

You are both finally on the mend after we figured out it was an ear infection that was keep you down pretty girl.  Marcel just had a case of a new tooth combined with a little cold that brought him down the last couple days.  The playing has commenced and laughter has filled our home again.  It is so good to have my babies (mostly) back, although the extra snuggles and lazy days were welcomed.  To be your mother is the greatest joy I have ever known, and although the sick days can be consuming and exhausting, I couldn't have felt more blessed to have the two of you fighting over my affection and my open arms ready and waiting with lots of warm snuggles. 

Prayers...

We have been trying to teach you the importance of prayer, and lately you have be more eager to add to our prayer time.  This morning we woke up to a beautiful white canvas of snow outside our windows, and ended the day with a gorgeous, big round moon rising.  We didn't do a whole lot today other than lounge around the house just enjoying the laziness of the day, you were both a bit whiny and clinging, but it was one of those days that was just good for all the simple moments that made us remember all that we have to be thankful for.  I was thanking the Lord for all of those things as we were praying for dinner, and  before I said amen you chimed in with a few of your own bits of thanks. 

"Thank you for Lord, and for the beautiful snow, the big moon, now we can maybe get a new tree that doesn't make such a big mess." 

I giggled a little about the new tree part, and Papa kicked me under the table.  He has taught me a great deal about the importance of prayer and I am forever grateful to him for encouraging me in that way.  My hope and prayer for you is that you too learn the true importance of a thankful heart and a life full of prayer.  

**The first thing you said this morning when you saw the snow was, "yeah!  Is Santa coming now? So excited!!"  Snow to you means Christmas, which includes Trees and Santa :)  Our tree was out the door on the 27th because it was the messiest of messy trees I have ever seen dropping needles just with the wind of someone walking past it.  You clearly weren't ready to see it go! 

Bedtime Thoughts...

As I was tucking you in tonight, we were talking about Jesus and how he came to earth to live among us.  You are VERY interested in His death and for months now ask to read that story in your Bible every night or at least see the picture of Him on the cross.  You study each of His wounds and run your little fingers across His side where they pierced Him with a sword.  We talk about the scoffers, and the men that spit on Him.  Your little mind needs to know every detail, and when we ask you why he died you answer in a matter of fact tone, "To wash our sins away!" 

This month, I have made it a point to read an equal amount of time about His birth before moving on to His death.  You are very intrigued by the Angels and the fact that he was born where the animals sleep.  Tonight as I was asking you who's birthday it is we celebrate on Christmas, our conversation went like this:

Me:  "Who do we celebrate on Christmas?"
You:  "Jesus' birthday!"
Me:  "Why was Jesus born?"
You:  "To save us"
Me:  "How did he do that?"
You:  "He washed away our sins...Hey, Mom!  Just like Tinkerbell!!"
Me:  "Huh?  What do you mean?"
You:  "When Zarina takes away Tinkerbell's talent.  She washed it away and took it for herself!  Just like that Mom.  Like our sins!"
Me:  "Yeah, baby.  Just like that."

My little love, your heart continues to amaze me.  You understand things in such a deep, meaningful way.  Wise beyond your years.  I pray as you grow your desire to know and understand the fullness and goodness of our Lord and Savior and the meaning of His birth, life, death and resurrection will become real to you in a mighty way.  My love for you is so much bigger than I could have ever imagined, and yet somehow HIS love is far greater than even that, my Zaylee girl.  Know that!!

Dancing and Cousins

You my girl, love anything and everything that involves dressing up and dancing.  While we were up in Lake Geneva for Thanksgiving, you and Remington took every opportunity to dance together always pretending to be prince and princess, sometimes both lovely princesses :)  It is so fun watching you with your cousins Cohen and Remington, and the fun you three have when you are together.  Lately, you have even started pulling Marcel into your play time pretending he is your prince as you dance together around the living room floor.  He loves playing along and even brought you your "glass slipper" in hopes you would ask him to dance!  I love your imagination and even more that as Marcel gets older you are finding fun ways to play WITH him and are becoming such a sweet, mothering big sister to him. 

Zaylee says..

A few funnies while visiting with Uncle Marky....

Paul to Zaylee:  "Who's the strongest man in the world?"  Z:  "MARKY!!!"

Bedtime prayer last night after eating a delicious but tart Lemon Pie ala Marky:
Me:  "...and thank you for Uncle Marky and all the blessings he has given us this week,"  Z: "and for the lemon pie.  and I didn't like it."  (You wanted chocolate!)

"You're funny Marky!"

While we were on a date and you talked him into letting you out of bed because you were so hungry and he so kindly made you pasta, "Thank you for making me these.  They are really good Marky!"

"You are my best friend I ever seen."

We love  you so Uncle Marky!!  

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 :)