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! :)

18 Month Checkups...

The babies just had their 18 month checkup. I cannot believe I am writing that! Where has the past year and a half gone? At their 15 month appointment Marley also had her 4 year visit, so I scheduled them over two days and took two kids each time. They scheduled these visits over two days as well, but it is not fun going to the doctor two days in a row so their two year appointments will all be on the same day. Might as well get it all done at once right?? The visits went good, Jack went one day and the little girls went the next. Big sis accompanied both visits for "moral support." Jack did well at his visit, but he was definitely missing his sisters (who threw huge tantrums when they realized they were getting left behind.) He cried thru most of his appointment though not for shots. How strange. Marissa did the best and explored while Makayla was getting checked. She cried a little during some of her checkup,but by the end she was talking to the doctor and pointing out pictures to him. Makayla had me hold her the entire time, which was not easy to do while always trying to hold Marissa down for shots. She cried during all her measurement checks as well as any other time the doctor was doing anything to her. The good news is that they are all done shots until they are 4 or 5! So, here are their weights and lengths....

                                                                             Jack: 22 pounds, 34 inches (tall & skinny)
                                                                       Marissa: 21 pounds, 31.5 inches (petite)
                                                                      Makayla: 20 pounds, 31.5 inches (petite)

Jack is the 93rd percentile in length and 33rd in weight, Marissa is 30th and 30th and Makayla is 30th in length and 20th in weight. Considering they started off below the first percentile, and they were born 6 weeks earlier than the other babies they are being averaged against, I can't complain. They are growing! Developmentally they are doing awesome. The doctor was very impressed by all they do and say and is not worried about anything at this time. Marley was great as usual, telling them it'd be over soon and "it really isn't that bad, it'll just burn for a second." She holds their hands when it's their turn and tells them the doctor is a really nice man. That girl is gonna rock as a mama one day (in 25 years.) So, that's the 18 month update. Everyone is doing great and I couldn't ask for much more!



Big sis

Marissa having fun at the doctor

Makayla not impressed

Excited

Jack waiting

Here comes the doctor guys

 

Makayla was worn out

"Halloweening" Boucher Style

Halloween is always a lot of fun around here....especially now with four little ones. This year was no exception. I spent all morning at Marley's school helping out with their preschool fall festival and then all of the kids (and parents) went to a local nursing home to sing songs and brighten up some days. I mean, there isn't much in life that's cuter than 30 four and five year olds shouting singing all of the songs they have learned in school so far. Then Halloween evening we took all the kids, and a lot of friends, out to trick or treat. Most of the usual faces came over as well as a few new ones. The older kids (Marley & her friends) had SO much fun. It was so cute watching them all run house to house and yell "Trick or Treat" and "Thank You!" and quickly check out their surprises before running to the next house. The babies had some friends over too and though they didn't get to go to every door, they all still seemed to have a lot of fun. I pulled the babies around in their wagon and they did great....until we were fairly far away from home. We had stopped at a rather scary house and Marissa looked up at it and started crying. Of course that started a chain reaction and all of the babies were scared and crying and loud. At one point, I was carrying all three babies at the same time to keep them happy, though my arms and back didn't take kindly to this. I ended up taking a shorter way home, and luckily another friend joined me to carry Jack, and the rest of the crew kindly kept their eye on Marley so she could stay out a while longer with her friends. They all came back hungry, tired and thirsty but luckily we had pizza and drinks waiting on everyone as well as some Monster Cake. All in all, it was a very fun year for all of us and I can't wait to do it again next year!



My crew ready to get some candy!

Keanu & Marley

Kaden holding Makayla

Marley playing at her preschool festival

Breana & Marley having fun

Bobbing for apples

Strawberry Shortcake & Izzy going fishing

Singing at the nursing home

Art projects

 

My sweet Izzy

Happy Halloween :)

Bam Bam & Pebbles (times two!)

My three little loves

Picture time is always fun with Jack

Makayla picking acorns

Race to the end of the driveway!

Jack's outta here!

There's a puppy loose in my yard! :)

Where to begin??

I have been horrible at updating this thing lately. My computer is not working right and I don't like typing long posts on my Ipad. So, I am borrowing Mike's computer and hoping it doesn't crash and erase everything I am writing. The biggest thing that happened since my last post is that Marley turned 4! She had a very fun "The Little Mermaid" themed birthday party at a local bounce house and inflatable slide place. It was great watching her and all of her friends celebrate her big day. She has also started a new school. She is doing so great there and I am very, very happy about everything she has already learned. I think she may be following in my footsteps in the spelling department which makes me happy! The school she goes to happens to be the same school my brother and I went to all through our childhood years so it's pretty neat to be back. (And makes me feel very old!) Today we went on the first field trip with her class and all had a lot of fun. She is still the best big sister ever and loves her babies more and more every day. She can't wait to hug them the second she gets out of class and she is just so patient and understanding with them all of the time. They share the love back with her equally as much and call out to "Sissy" or "Ley" the minute they see her. It's really fun watching the four of them interact. The babies are all doing great too. They are 17 months old now and I believe, atleast for the girls, the terrible two's have already begun. Those two girls can throw a tantrum like nobody's business. And they are very headstrong at times. (Don't know where they get that from!) Makayla is a little spit-fire. She has no fear and is the leader of the pack 99% of the time. She isn't fazed a bit when I tell her no or get onto her. If anything, she takes it as a challenge. She still requires the least amount of sleep and often accompanies us when I drop Marley off to school while the other two enjoy a little more sleep. She usually wakes up from her naps first and is the one to resist going to bed, though she has been much better about that lately. She climbs everything and we've now moved our couch to the middle of the living room to keep them off the kitchen counters and sink. Though she can be a troublemaker, she is also the most affectionate. She loves hugging you very tight and resting her little head on your shoulder. She will climb up beside me and just lay on me quite often. She is also very smart. She says many words and has started putting words/phrases together. She calls both of her sisters "Sissy" and her brother "Ack Ack." She has no problem scolding her brother or sister if they are doing something she doesn't approve of and spanking them and telling them "Stop it." She is right around 20 pounds now and has a mouth full of teeth. Her hair is a bit thinner than Marissa's so (atleast to me) it's easy to tell them apart that way. She is also a tiny bit shorter than Marissa so if they are side by side you can tell by that too. Marissa is my screecher. Whether it's because she is happy or very mad, she loves to show you how strong her lungs are. She makes the funniest face when she is screaming happily. She loves to get a reaction out of anyone around by her yelling and covering your ears is bound to get you atleast 10 more screams. When she is angry, she does several very loud, very high pitched yells of anger. Of the three, she is the one whose cry probably is the hardest to "ignore." She is very smart too, just not in such a "in your face" sort of way as her sister. She is the only one who, at times, can pull off the innocent look and will often sit back when her brother and sister engage in things she knows may get them in trouble. She is still the technology baby and can work an Ipad like you wouldn't believe. I'm talking, turn it on, unlock it, find the app she wants, and play it. And keep playing it until you take it away. She never seems to lose interest in it. She is the baby most interested in tv and will often watch certain cartoons for a few minutes if it's one she likes. She understands a high amount of things I tell/ask her and is saying many words also. She is also right about 20 pounds and has a mouth full of teeth. Last up is Jack. He is still very silly, very fun and very drooly! I still think he will be the class clown in a few years. He has a personality that keeps me laughing. He will do anything to get a laugh out of everyone and has learned to hold his own with his sisters. He is quite a bit taller than them and has learned he can bring them down pretty easily if he wants to. He will occasionally bite them but most the time he remembers that isn't allowed. He is the one most guilty of the whole "her toy is better than mine" thing that kids do and will instantly want whatever toy his sister just gets. He is still a picky eater and usually doesn't have nearly the appetite his sisters have. At the last doctor appointment he was 21 pounds, but he feels a bit heavier lately so I think he's had a recent growth spurt. He says a few words as well, though fewer than the girls. He's very good at throwing a ball and would be happy just playing catch for hours. He is still a little flirt and will often flirt with girls when we are out. Last time we were at the mall, he even crawled inside a tunnel with a little girl so I couldn't get him out to leave. He likes sleep the best of the three and I often have to wake him up from his naps so he doesn't sleep the day away. He is able to tune me out quite easily which is hard at times because if he is doing something he is not supposed to, he will just act like he doesn't hear me and continue on. The girls may keep doing it, but atleast they acknowledge me! He does not like to get in trouble and if you get on to him, he runs to you for hugs and consolation that you are not mad at him. Together they can be very, very silly. They all still love to dance. They chase each other around the house. They play peek-a-boo. They love on each other all of the time. They walk around holding hands. They don't like to see each other, or Marley, upset and do everything they can think of to cheer up whoever is upset. They can fight like cats and dogs. At times you would think sharing their toys is like giving up an arm and other times they give each other a toy without even being asked. All in all, it's a fun age and it's hard to believe the four of them are growing up so fast. (I will post a blog of just recent pictures next since I am not including any in this post.)

All Good Things Must Come to an End

There are some songs that you just feel like were written for you. Things may not be going the way you want and you turn that radio on and you swear, the singer on the radio wrote this song just for you. Darius Rucker wrote a song for me. I listened to this song every day for a month or so. And the exact verse that he wrote for me went like this: "And when he drops her off at preschool She's clinging to his leg The teacher peels her off of him He says what can I do She says now don't you worry This’ll only last a week or two" We were really lucky the first year and a half of Marley's life and we had a great friend who would come over to our house to watch Marley while we worked. Marley loved her CatCat. And so did we. I never worried when Marley was in Catherine's care. She loved Marley like she was her own. I secretly hoped she would just stay watching Marley until Marley started school and then she would go on with her life and getting a real career. Selfish I know. But you would be too if you knew her. Nothing is harder for a mom than leaving her baby in someone else's care. Yet I knew Marley was always fine and I never needed to worry. But, then Catherine graduated college to pursue a career in Nursing. I began to worry because I knew nobody would ever be able to fill the big shoes she left behind. And soon we realized we would have to put our 18 month old daughter in daycare, much too young for this mom's liking. I know, it could be worse, some babies have to start from the time they are 6 weeks old, but I didn't so it made it really hard to make this decision. We found a daycare super close to our house and I just felt like it was the right place to take Marley. I knew it wouldn't be a walk in the park. You can't explain to an 18 month old what is going on. But it was AWFUL. And I am not exaggerating. She would scream when we left her there. She would lay on the floor and cry or just cling onto my leg so tight crying her eyes out. I told Mike that I couldn't do it. Marley was (and still is) super attached to me and I couldn't bear to break my little girl's heart everyday. We decided Mike would drop her off as he was able to take her in and just leave much easier than me and that was what she needed. Within two minutes of us being out of her sight, she was fine and playing with her new friends. She acted like this for probably two months. I doubted our decision every day, but I really didn't have much choice about it. She had a wonderful teacher who was so patient with her and would hold her when we dropped her off to try to calm her down. And then, after a few months, she LOVED going to daycare. She loved her friends. She loved playing outside, She loved painting and singing and learning Spanish and all of the fun things they did every day. Every few months she would change classes as she got older and everytime I was so sad as I loved the teachers she was leaving, yet she always went to new teachers that I loved too. I never really thought about the day that she would be done at that school and moving on. It just always seemed so far off. But guess what??? That day is here! My little girl, who will turn 4 next week, is starting VPK at the end of the month. There is a cutoff on September 1st and all kids born before that date (in 2008) make the cut. So, she will always be very young in her class, but I know she will be fine. She will be going to VPK at the school where she will go to Kindergarten and hopefully the rest of her elementary years at. It happens to be the same school my brother and I went to growing up and we loved it. And, I guess I would say we turned out okay :) Marley's teachers that she has had the past year make me wish she would just stay 3 forever. She loves them so much. She always asks me to invite them over to go swimming with her or go to Busch Gardens with them. She couldn't wait to see them after the weekends and they just made her feel very special. All of Marley's teachers have always told me she was a great kid to have in class. Her teacher just told me yesterday that every teacher wishes they had 20 Marley's in their class. Another teacher told Mike that she has dealt with a lot of kids in her life and Marley was the best behaved one she ever had. Things like that floor me. I don't think I could be more proud of her. I used to think they just told every parent that their kid was good but after she was there a while and I got to know some of the kids, I realized there was no way they were telling certain parents that! Nothing makes a parent more proud than having people compliment their kid's behavior. I have to brag on my girl a bit and say that she has received SO many compliments in her short life. I have always said how lucky we have been with Marley. But don't worry, I know the triplets will make up for it. They have already started. So, I am trying not to be sad for what is over, but to be excited for what is yet to come. The best thing about VPK is that she will get out at noon every day. Oh, and it's free. Can't beat that! Thank you to all of the teachers who have helped my little girl evolve from the 18 month old toddler who cried her eyes out at even the mere mention of the word school into the little girl who ran into her classroom to hug her teachers and her friends. You have made a lifelong impression on all of our hearts and we will never forget you or be able to thank you enough.

One of her first parties at school.

Her first Halloween at school

Christmas celebration

Marley and one of her friends

Halloween celebration this year

Celebrating her birthday on her last day at school

Daddy and Marley on her last day

Marley with her best friend at school

Birthday celebration at school

She loves Ms Claire so much!

13 & 14

I know,I know, I have been a total slacker with blogging lately. I guess that's what happens when you have four very busy, always on the move kids. We are all doing great though and just trying to get thru this very hot summer. We were having a lot of fun going to Busch Gardens most weekend evenings, but the heat and rain have slowed that down. And our weekly beach outings have also been disrupted. So, I will give quick updates on everybody in case anybody is wondering what we are all up to these days. First off, I will start by saying I believe I am raising a bunch of monkeys. These kids climb like nobody's business. Any and every surface that is capable of being climbed, they will climb. My day consists of pulling babies off of the backs of couches, the tops of counters, toys they shouldn't be on and more. They know they aren't supposed to do it and will smile at me while shaking their heads "No" and still do it. If I am busy with a different baby, they will sneak a peek to see if I'm watching and if they think I'm not, they climb at lightning speed while giggling to see how far they can get before I notice. I think we need to call Super Nanny already. The leader of the pack (for now) is definitely Makayla. She is still the smallest of the group,around 18 pounds, but she is definitely in charge. She's still tough and determined and sweet and cuddly all rolled together. She is usually the first to do something and the other two quickly follow. She still sleeps the least of the three and is quick to let you know if she isn't happy about something. She was biting for a few weeks, but she seems to finally be understanding that's not allowed. Marissa has become the friendliest of the group. She is fine with other people holding her and will interact with them much quicker than Jack or Makayla will. Not that long ago, she was the most shy of the three, so it's been quite a turnaround. She is maybe a pound, if that, bigger than her sister. She is the squealer of the group and loves to hear her voice. Future singer in the making! She loves to play peekaboo with you and likes to grunt just to make you look at her. She is pretty easy going with her siblings and doesn't get too upset when they take her toys from her most of the time. Her and Makayla have a strong bond. They love to kiss each other and "speak" to each other. They will make sounds at each other and then start giggling together like they just told a funny joke. I just wish I knew what was being said! They don't like to see the other one sick or getting in trouble. They get very jealous of the other if they are being held and instantly need to be held too. Jack is emerging as quite a dancer. The boy does leg moves, arm moves, spins, booty drops, you name it. He will bring me the remote to the tv and start shaking his arms around and that is his way of telling me to put the music on the tv so he can dance. I am not sure where he has learned all of his moves, but he's definitely got it. I really don't think he would be as into the climbing if his sisters weren't showing him, but he is not getting left behind! He is still so silly and always happy. He is easily my best sleeper and still just a really easy, content little boy. He has become a very picky eater and rather make his sisters laugh by throwing his food on the floor or spitting it out of his mouth than actually eating it. He is a bit too thin for my liking so I hope he changes his ways soon. Together they are so much fun. They are always together, following each other from room to room and if they do happen to get separated they will yell to each other to make sure they are still nearby.They really understand a lot now and can follow simple commands like bringing you a diaper, shoes, clothes. They love to bring me their diaper and the box of wipes when they need to be changed. Hopefully this means they will be super easy to potty train! Nap time is a lot of fun to listen to, you hear lots of squealing and giggling for about 15 minutes, then all gets quiet. They keep each other entertained and love chasing each other around the house or colliding into each other on their ride on toys. Of course it is still a lot of work, but I enjoy (almost) every minute of it. And last but not least is my Marley. She is almost four!! Only a couple more weeks!! I cannot believe it. I cannot say enough what a wonderful big sister she is. She loves those babies with all of her heart and just asked me last night if her and "Baby Rissa" can share a room once the babies move into beds. She loves the fact that they are bigger now and get to do more than before. Just tonight, one of the little girls took her cup of water and when she saw it, she got the baby's cup and handed it to her and then took her cup of water back. My mom said how the majority of other kids would snatch it from their little sister and tell them it was theirs and I realized how right she is when she said what a good big sister they have. Sometimes all she wants to do is relax and watch tv and she's got three babies climbing all over her, yet she very rarely loses her patience with them. She is usually making them come in the playroom with her and they all (yes even Jack) love to play Barbies together. They are always watching their big sister practice her gymnastics and try to mimic her. I would say the feeling of love is definitely mutual. So, that is the Boucher Bunch over the last few months in a nutshell. Just staying busy and doing our thang and moving forward every day.

Little monkeys doing what they do best!

Jack isn't gonna be left behind

Sweet little Makayla

Playing at Busch Gardens

Walking at the beach

Marissa on the 4th of July

Sister love

Marissa & Makayla

Marley and Kaden having fun

Jack

Marley petting Alten

One last picture of the little climbers

A Year in Pictures

I have been trying to upload a video I made of the babies' first year with no luck. I think I have finally figured it out. It's fairly long so I don't really expect many people to watch the entire thing, though I know some family members may. It's more for us to look back on as the years fly pass by. So, here's a year in pictures. (And thank you to my fellow Jennifer Boucher for suggesting this website. With a name like that, you're obviously a genius and my new go-to girl when I have questions ;))