Starved Rock

We have built a strong, tight community over the past year at our church, Hope Fellowship and it has been such a blessing in all of our lives.  The people have blessed us with great friendships and encouragement and so many fun times.  At first you both were a bit reserved and took quite awhile to feel the comfort you do now, and it is so fun watching the love our friends have for you and the bond you have formed with so many people that have become dear to us.  It is such a joy to hear you express excitement when you see them each week and call them by name.

A while back we went on a day trip to Starved Rock with a group of friends, and it was such a beautiful, perfect day.  You both were such troopers, Marcel in the carrier on my back and Zaylee walking alongside us with your best buddy Jude.  Getting outside is something that is necessary for all of us, and it was so great to be with good friends.  The outdoors is where you both find great joy, and love exploring and discovering new things.  It was a taste of what we hope this summer will be filled with as we build these friendships with outings and fun times hanging out with one another.  You are both so great at going with the flow and just being easy to have around always up for anything, and we are so grateful for it!

Talks with My Girl

Today we sat outside soaking up the warmth of the sun while Marcel slept and we talked.  You are a great conversationalist, always asking deep questions desperate to know more about all the things.  The thoughts in your mind race and race and sometimes it's hard to keep up with all the emotions that come out at any given time.  I love hearing the things that pop into your head and watching you sift through each thought trying to articulate exactly what it is you are trying to say.  You are very intuitive and observant.  Wise beyond your years.  I have said that before, but it remains true to who you are.  Back in May you gave up your nap, and although it took some time to get over my selfish need for alone time, I love having one on one time with you.  I find it relaxing and refreshing in the way having coffee with a dear friend would be.  You are great company, and I'm so thankful that no matter what you always choose me and never want to be too far from my side.

This afternoon's conversations were a relay story line of all the Bible stories we could think of.  We touched on Moses, Issac, Joseph, Samson, and Goliath.  You remember the smallest details and love to act out all the scenes that play through your mind as you try to think of what comes next.  Your memory is incredible, and the capacity of information your mind holds is something that often amazes us.  You are such a blessing to us my little love, and we are so full of joy over you.  Our prayer is that through all of these stories that you love to hear over and over, you grow in wisdom of the importance in trusting our Lord and Savior and learn at a young age how to follow Him.

Also, not only are you full of wisdom and deep thoughts you are hilarious with a great sense of humor always finding the bright side of things.  It is extremely refreshing and we are so grateful for it!

The Recital

Oh my little love, how you adored being up on the big stage without a care in the world that there were hundreds of people watching your every move.  Miss Chrissy did a great job preparing your little minds for the reality of the audience, the lights, the applause, and you all did such a great job when the big day finally arrived.  In the days leading up to the recital, you would ask little questions with great enthusiasm such as, "Mom are you guys going to see me on stage and wave then clap really loud for me at my recital?"  And when the questions were done you would explain in detail all that was going to happen as if Miss Chrissy herself were informing me.  To say you were excited would be an extreme understatement. 

Grandma and Grandpa came down for the weekend to celebrate with you, and as always you were spoiled with lots of love and extra treats!  You love sleepovers and were so thrilled to have Grandma here to tuck you in at night.  Sunday was a very full day, and by the end we were beat.  We had church, lunch, recital, ice cream while strolling Naperville, and then a trip to the Taste of Wheaton for a few rides and games before calling it a day.  You kept referring to it as "your weekend" and your weekend it was.  Papa and I kept saying how in one weekend you got more than we ever did in all our childhood (half joking of course!).  I'm pretty certain you got your share of spoiling for the entire summer, but it was well worth it and you were so very grateful and full of extra hugs and thanks in the days that followed.  

Dance is something you really enjoy right now, and although I would have never imagined myself as a "dance mom" I love watching you find so much joy in something and take such pride in all the little moves you have learned.  Also, who can resist the pure sweetness of a little girl in a tutu?  Too much! 

No More "Nookie"

Yesterday marked FOUR weeks without your beloved "nookie".  In it's absence, I have been both so proud of my little girl and her growing independence and also a bit sad at the loss of the tiny piece of my baby girl that was left.  Since you were just a day old, we knew you were a girl that was determined and independent.  You wanted milk immediately and when it wasn't coming fast enough you lost all sanity until we tricked you with a single drop of formula to give you the idea that it was coming before you even made a real effort.  The lactation specialist kindly smiled at me after listening to my retelling of your behavior and said, "It sounds to me like you have a little girl that knows what she wants and when she wants it!"  Those words have proved true time and time again over the last three years of your sweet life. 

Keeping up with all the big kids on the block these days!

You don't like to be told how to do something, and even refuse guidance when learning something new.  In moments of struggle, you will call for me to give encouragement and stand by your side, but you like to figure things out for yourself by watching and studying how something is done.  The process of figuring things out is not always without some pretty explosive bursts of frustration (passed down to you from yours truly.  sorry love!), but at the end of the day you try and try again and usually exceed our expectations with ease in no time at all.  Papa and I are both big on encouraging you to try things out to learn what suits you and makes you happy, but we are definitely not into pushing you to do things you aren't comfortable with.  The latter is definitely in our favor as you my dear would not allow it even if we tried to push.  You are independent, but love having us close by which makes me so thankful because I sure love being by your side!

Holding your breath and looking at each other under the water!!  You've encouraged some of the older kids to overcome their fears of putting their heads under the water :)

I asked Papa tonight what word would describe the way you have gone about tackling the big milestones in life so far and he responded immediately with: autonomous.  The definition he was referring to was the capability of existing independently or responding, reacting, or developing independently.  In all the big hurdles of toddlerhood, you have mastered them in your own time and without much guidance or assistance.  You have always had a big capacity for logic and understanding which I believe helped in the "getting it" department when it came time for such things as walking, big girl bed transition, potty training, and the surrender of your beloved "nookie" all accomplished simply by you declaring it was time.  We talk a LOT and explain things while answering your many, many questions, listening to your mind wrap around issues that come up while you process knew things.  It's fascinating to see the little glimpses into your thoughts and fears and joys and struggles, then watching you finally come to a conclusion and just go for it with all you've got.  You are fierce my little love.

On a ride all by yourself, making friends everywhere you go!

Even though the sting of your independence catches me off guard at times and my chest tightens when I hear the simple words, "Mom, can you give me some space please,"  or "Actually Mom I want to go on a ride that you don't have to come with me," I'm so extremely proud that I get to be the one with the front row seat watching you grow and mature and learn.  You make me proud every day, and I feel beyond blessed to be entrusted with you as my little girl.