Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Though she be but little....

She is fierce! The she I am referring to is my sweet Makayla. She surprises me all of the time with how bold she is. She is easily the "bully" of the group. She's tough and fast and brave and sweet and giggly all rolled into one 15 pound baby. She's got to be tough. If she wasn't, she probably wouldn't be here today. That baby had to fight just to make it to this world with us from very early on. So, I love that she's such a fiesty girl. She uses her size to her advantage at times. Like when she sneaks behind the couch or into really tiny spaces, just because she can. And you better believe the second she gets thru she hauls butt trying to get away. Her giggle proves she knows she's doing wrong. Mike bought Marley this little puppy that sings, "Who Let the Dogs Out?" I played it earlier today. Marissa instantly started crying. Jack had the look of pure terror and crawled into my lap faster than I've ever seen him move. Makayla grabbed the dog and put it in her mouth. She laughed at it. She studied it. She was anything but scared. She will snatch a toy from one of her siblings without a second thought. And not always because she wants to play with it, she just wants to show them she can. Jack is a big pushover. He's too sweet for his own good. Makayla takes full advantage of that. Marissa puts up more of a fight than him, but she's no match for the one Mike lovingly refers to as, "The Shrimp." She doesn't hesitate to take toys away from babies twice her size or even from her big sister. When she's done with her bottle (which is almost always first because she eats less than the others) she goes over and pulls the bottles out of the other two's mouths like, "Okay, I'm done, so are you. It's time to play!" One of the downfalls to being little is that Marley can pick her up. If Makayla is getting into something Marley doesn't want her to, Marley simply picks her up and relocates her. Makayla loves it though and laughs the whole time her big sis has her. She loves playing with Marley, especially pulling her hair or any jewelry she has on. I love all of my kids equally, though each in a different way. I will always have a soft spot for our little Miracle Baby. I look at her every day and am thankful she made it and can't imagine what it would be like if she hadn't. I am so glad I don't have to live a life of "What If's?" I am so glad we never had to make decisions that could have changed the outcome of all of their lives. I am glad she is a fighter. I am glad she is fiesty. And I will always make sure she knows how strong she has been since the beginning.

I am going to buy her this shirt...

Harassing her brother

Sweet little girl

You better move outta my way sis!

Let's play!

Getting her sister (though sis thinks it's funny too)

I don't care that you are bigger, I'm not scared! (With her buddy Declan)
Picking on her sister
Sneakin' behind the couch

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

I Will Always Love You....

I've never been a huge fan of Valentine's Day. I actually think it's pretty silly. I'm not interested in waiting an hour (or more) to eat at a restaurant. I don't expect, nor want, any expensive jewelry. I don't need a dozen red roses sent to me. I don't really even like chocolate. What I do like is going to see Marley at her party at school to celebrate the day. I like putting the babies in super cute outfits and attempting to get one good picture of them together. I like making red velvet cupcakes with Marley just to see the excitement in her face that she gets to help mom. I like making them all heart shaped pancakes just for the heck of it. Who cares if the babies are only 8 months old and don't know what a heart shaped pancake or grilled cheese is. I still get the same toothless smiles that make my own heart melt. I am very aware of how lucky I am. I've got five people who think I'm their world. And at the end of the day, I've got a whole lot of love in my life and for that, I am grateful.

All of my girls

Triplets first Valentine's Day

Such a happy boy all the time

Sweet sister hugs

All of my loves

My heart

Pancakes

Marley and a friend at her school party

Marley and Makayla

The little girls are thinking, "This is so ridiculous."