20 month update

Another two months has passed since I last updated but between Christmas, New Years, Preschool, gymnastics, TONS of birthday parties and oh yeah- four kids, we've been pretty busy! Everyone is doing really great and keeping life interesting all the time. Marley has been doing really good in school and had a cute Christmas program last month which she performed really well in. I love seeing all of the new things she learns each week and working on different projects with her. She has been invited to more birthday parties in the past/upcoming months than I can count. Seriously, she may have set a Guiness World Record. She has also been doing really good in gymnastics and learns new skills all of the time. She LOVES it and would go every single day if I let her. She will be starting T-ball again in March as she asked to do it again because she had so much fun last year. She is still such a good big sister to the babies and they all really enjoy playing together and just hanging out. They get so excited when they see her after school and I don't think they are going to like when she is in Kindergarten and gone several more hours during the day.

Marley with Santa

The babies (though at 20 months I am not sure how much longer I can refer to them this way) are also doing great. They keep me busy and tired, but it's also really fun and rewarding. Jack is still the clown of the group. That boy will do anything to get a laugh. He has the best personality ever. He is very caring and loving of his sisters- all three of them! In the morning he will get everyone's breakfast and milk and pass it out to them. He always gives his sisters their cups first and then gets his. He is still the follower of the group and does everything Marley or the little girls do. He is also still the worst about stealing toys from others and has had to visit the corner quite a few times because of this. He is relentless and if you don't physically stop him, he just doesn't give up. He has learned- from his sisters- how to throw fits and cross his arms at you, though he is usually smiling or laughing during it so it's not nearly as effective when he does it. He is really tall and thin, about 35 inches and 24 pounds, and finding clothes that fit him is pretty tough. He only has 5 teeth. He says several words with his favorite being "Uhoh" which is pretty fitting being he has usually done something deserving of it. He has pretty scrawny little arms but he is strong. He can hang from a bar and get himself swinging and even hang on by one arm very easily. He does not dress himself but he sure does know how to undress himself. All three of them can strip down, including diaper, in record time. And they all LOVE to be naked. They often still wear onesies so that I know they aren't having a party in their cribs during nap time and throwing clothes and diapers at each other. He loves riding in the car, running outside, going down slides, taking baths, reading books, eating snacks more than meals, doing flips like Marley and giving big neck hugs.

My little cowboy

Marissa has become quite the wild one. Physically, she is fearless and will try anything. At the birthday parties with bigger kids she is not one bit scared to be bouncing with them in the bounce houses and getting knocked off her feet or bounced on. She just gets up and keeps at it. She has always tried to do anything Marley did and she really would love to be a much bigger girl already. She is very inquisitive, always asking me what things are. She is bright and pretty verbal and has no problem letting someone know when she isn't happy. She squeals with delight very loudly and has the "saddest" cry of the bunch. She jumps off of two feet really well and has stood and jumped off the couch many times before we could stop her. She understands everything I tell her and answers questions with a yes or no. She is capable of getting herself completely dressed on her own including shoes. She likes having her hair done and often brings me a rubberband and sits on my lap without being asked. Marley knows that Marissa wants to be a big girl and when they are off playing together and think I am not listening, I hear Marley tell her, "Ok, sis me and you are teenagers." Yikes!! Marissa's favorite thing to say is either "What's that?" or "Ewww!" She says many letters of the alphabet which is something we've been working on a lot lately. She is still fairly petite weighing about 21 pounds and around 32 inches. She has a mouth full of teeth and didn't fuss in the least when any of them came in. She loves playing outside, jumping, reading books, doing anything Marley does, hugging, being tickled, taking baths, doing flips and anything electronic.

Enjoying cake at a birthday party

Makayla is my little diva. The girl is either extremely happy or extremely not happy. She can give looks that I don't even think I can. She is smart and opinionated and loud and sweet. She's very stubborn about certain things. If I hand her a snack that's in a bag (example- string cheese or goldfish) she does not want the bag to be opened for her when you give it to her. If it is, she refuses to take it. She wants to try to open it herself and after 10 minutes of trying, if she can't get it, then she will bring it to you to open. She likes to be the one to carry a plate of snacks out for everyone and doesn't think she needs help. She is also capable of getting herself completely dressed and usually chooses her pink cowgirl boots to finish off her outfits. She understands everything I tell her and answers questions with a yes or no as well. She also says many letters of the alphabet. She is the leader of the pack and the one to decide when they are hungry, thirsty, want outside, etc. Her favorite word to say is, "Mine!" and she usually does it with a cross of the arms for emphasis as well. She loves being outside and gets very upset if the weather is bad and we can't go out. The other day it was raining outside and she stood there kicking the panel to the screen room yelling at the rain for the longest time. She is the snuggler of the group and loves to rest her little head on your shoulder. If we are sitting together, she will often put her hand in mine or in whichever of her siblings is sitting next to her. She can go from very happy to very mad, or the opposite, in the blink of an eye. She is very close to her sister in size, weighing about 2 ounces less than her and maybe 1/4 of an inch shorter. She also has a mouth full of teeth and wasn't bothered a bit by them coming in. She loves playing outside, snuggling, taking baths, eathing snacks, playing with Marley, Barbies, reading books, and brushing her hair.
Together they are either best friends who are running around the house holding hands and hugging and kissing each other or the total opposite and fighting over toys and being jealous of who sits on my lap. They are very close and do not like being separated from each other. I can't wait to continue to watch them learn and grow and watch the special bond all four of them have with each other.

                                                                      
One last thing I would like to add is an update on Mike. He has been working very hard the past few months with dieting and exercise and has lost 50 pounds!! He has not quite reached his personal goal so he is still going at it, but he has done so well that I felt it was deserving of being mentioned. Parents of any kids, but especially ones with multiples, are often overlooked/overshadowed and this is something that definitely deserves some recognition! :)