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This year, David worked as one of the city guides in A2's Walk-Through Bethlehem. When he, or any of our garbed up friends first approached him, Alex was quite taken aback, but a slow strange smile crept across his face as the light dawned. We really had a good time at this year's event. Alexander was happy just to hang out here and there and sit in some of the tents to do some crafts. His little buddy David even came by for a bit and they made some fish kites together. But most of the time he was content to loiter by Nana's produce stand and ask for "Zeenies" (raisins) to munch on, or occasionally tag around with other tykes his size. Well, who knows, maybe next year he'll do some dressing up. I hear they were a little short on sheep this year!

So the pace is picking up a bit as we're in full swing of the holiday season. Alexander is even more excited about absolutely everything this year:

He loves to help wrap presents (he holds the tape pieces on his fingers and gives them to you when you say you're ready) and carry them down the stairs to put under the tree. And if you catch him, or Papa, or even the cat for that matter- "snooping" and ask him "Uh-Oh! Is Tatou snooping?" He just cracks up laughing and laughing.

He's been delighting in all the "pretty" lights decorating houses and talks alot about "sun down, tree on" "sun up, tree off." He loves to come down the stairs and turn on the Christmas tree, and is just in awe of all the sparkles and decorations when you go anywhere like... the mall- oooh then he can hardly contain his joy.

He's actually a relatively decent shopper- especially when you take him during morning snack and he can munch on Cheerios for all or part of the trek. But he'll certainly offer his opinion on presents. If you pick the wrong color shirt for Papa, he will not accept it in the cart no matter how many times you put it back in after he throws it out, and he'll let you know which one you should pick instead. (It ended up being the gray one over navy).

He gives you the daily snow report. There's either a "lalala sown" (a little snow), or "woah sown!" (a lot of snow). He'll let you know several times a day whenever he looks outside. He will also excitedly point out any pictures of snowmen, angels, and Baby Jesus.

He's added a few twists of his own to the nativity story. When decorating the house for Christmas, we unpacked his Little People Nativity much to his glowing smile "fun! fun!" But in addition to having the little people act out the story of Christ's birth, we also have the wolf that visits the shepherds on a daily basis and who needs to be 'shooed' away several times by the shepherds. We tried to decide that the wolf (actually a sheepdog) was friendly and be accepted with the other characters, but that was short lived. Also, after the wise men come to see Baby Jesus everyone else gets invited to a big meal around the table, where of course, there must have been cake.

We had to post a couple of these. Alexander had soaked his clothes with cup of water the other day at Nana's and this was all she had on hand to put him in until they were done in the dryer... This could probably be good blackmail material someday, but we thought they'd be more fun to show off now :)

We wanted to make note of some of the amazing things that Alexander is doing by his 20th month of life.

1. Jumping with both feet off of the ground or off of other objects into our arms - changing table, climbers at the mall, etc....
2. Chatting about everything that is going on, giving us a perpetual running commentary.
3. He can count to ten with the help of Mama's fingers.
4. Plays hide and seek in pretty good spots, and actually (usually) stays quiet when it is his turn to hide.
5. Understands the game "your getting warmer/cooler" when searching for items.
6. He can match, say, and choose when asked all nine basic colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, black, brown, white)
   
7. He is able to put a chain of paper clips together, and is very proud of himself when he does, though he still can't always take them apart.
   
8. He's just beginning to try to sing with us on a few songs. (Kumbaya, Jesus loves the little ones like me)
9. He is able to speak in a few little sentences. And answers "Oui Maman" when asked " Alex, est-ce que tu parles français?"
10. Knows about half of his letters but doesn't have them in order yet.
11. He's starting to use articles when speaking (a, an, the).
12. Expresses his emotions. (happy, sad, talks about things that are fun or funny)
13. Loves to talk about BIG and little or a little and a lot. (says WOAH for big and lalala for little)
14. Can put on his socks, and has been able to take off his clothes for a few weeks.
15. Knows, and freely tells you when he has to go/has gone "poopy".
16. Beginning to learn when to say excuse me when he burps or farts.
17. Must drop everything he is doing and have a grown-up run him outside every time he hears the "trash guy" on Monday mornings. They come by at least 4 times.
    
18. Knows that the baby is part of his family and that it is in mama's tummy.
19. Absolutely loves to cook and his favorite food to cook with is eggs.
20. He is learning his shapes thanks to a cool puzzle at Nana's house. (He loves going to Nana's house)
21. Talks about the people in his family including Grandparents and Tatou. And is happy to point out when the family is all together and how it makes everyone happy ("Mama, Papa, Zahzah, Nana in the car. Family. Happy Mama, Happy Zahzah etc...")
    
22. Loves Sabbath School and Church and actually will be sad enough to shed a tear if he misses it.
23. Loves to give his offering to Jesus and talks about going to church when you ask him where he is when he is hiding.
24. Loves to hear us sing and requests quite firmly his favorite songs.

This baby has been amazing to watch grow and become such a little boy. He has so many other things he is able to do, say, choose, and understand that we could bore you to death with all of them. But this one's for us. In case he's just not documented enough :). We love you , Alexander!

This year we got to celebrate quite officially two Thanksgivings. Thursday, David and Alexander spent the morning (while sick-mama took some quiet time) helping Nana tuck in the yard with raking and weed pulling. And we all headed out to a (heaven-forbid) restaurant for Thanksgiving dinner. Yes, we are slightly ashamed but the way we thought of it, why do all the cooking twice?


With Michelle working the holiday, we celebrated in royal Thanksgiving style on the weekend when after church we headed up north to Saginaw to meet everyone at David's parents'. It was a thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings Sabbath evening. Brian and Renee brought the newest family member, little Pomeranian Bowser who, after an initial nervous introduction thoroughly delighted Alexander with his bouncing, "kisses" and happy play. Though Roxy (Pom #1), Bowser, and Alexander had a couple 'cousinly' arguments about whose balloon was whose. Great Grandma joined us for Sabbath and Serena's mom of course came up for the event too, and though Brian was pretty sick for most of the weekend, we enjoyed good company and all the yummies. With Alexander in snug care with Grandmas and Grandpa, Serena and David headed out to visit with a couple of David's friends Saturday night to catch up on some long-lost video game and movie-watching time.



Sunday morning, Alexander was up and ready for a new day as early as usual and excitedly helped Grandma and Grandpa with the egg cracking, pancake flipping, brunch cooking. He's been talking about cooking at "Grammy's House" ever since. It was fun to get together with everyone and kick-off the holiday season. Alexander's been asking each week since if we are going to Grammy's house after church. We're looking forward to lots of fun family times in the next few weeks. For Christmas we get to celebrate at Brian & Renee's for more festivities and memories to share :). Thank you Lord, for the gift of Family!