Corralling the Herd

Oh, the life of parenting 2-year-olds. Here I caught Hayden just before she began to reach for the forbidden remotes. Jusy look at that mischievous smile as she seems to say, "What Mommy? I'm just looking at it!"

The kids are getting better at following group instructions and behaving in unison, even if only temporarily. The kids and a few of their friends excitedly froliced down to the lake to feed the ducks during playgroup. I prefer to do these kinds of activities with Keith but had lots of helpful friends nearby. Thankfully the kids followed me like little ducklings and never tried to run off or venture into trouble.

Big cousin, Avery, led story time for the triplets and their fellow 2-year-old cousin, Addison. All good things must come to an end, but they listened attentively for several minutes as Avery narrated a few of her favorite stories.

We celebrated Nunie's birthday over brunch and the trio did their best job yet at the "kids' table." It helped that it was a late breakfast so they were extra hungry and that it was their favorite meal of the day!

Then at Brooks, Reese and Sloan's 3rd birthday party the kids did great sitting in their adult seats for their entire, though quick, meal as they munched on pizza and cake. We're making progress!

Grandma was a good sport when all three kids climbed onto her lap and wheelchair to read one of their favorite Little People books. So cute!

The girls are getting more and more attached to their baby dolls and Payson joins in from time to time when he's not preoccupied with his Hot Wheels and Little People. Here they proudly show Mommy their babies.

What could make a little girl happier than a baby doll and a dinosaur!

The girls love to push their baby doll strollers around the house, and one of their favorite activities is running with it as fast as possible around the kitchen island. Play the video below to catch them in action:

Madison's new daily ritual is to hide in the baby doll crib just before naptime. This giggle is the most adorable thing of all time and definitely makes it difficult for both of us to pull her away from the fun for her nap. Play the video to see how truly tickled she is at herself and her new game:

Welcome 2010!

And, for our first 2010 post, here is what the Melker family has been up to so far this year...

Keith and I went skiing for one day at Heavenly Lake Tahoe where we rang in the New Year.

We got all dressed up for a wedding in Reno.

We celebrated with the bride, Katie.

The kids were sick for two long weeks.

The kids received, and fell in love with, my brother's and my 30-year-old Sesame Street Clubhouse toy.

Hayden discovered that she can stick her finger through the middle of bread and then eat around it until the bread falls off.

Hayden posed for the camera.

Payson tried to fill up Mommy's water.

They fed their baby dolls.

We went to a train show.

Madison and Mommy rode a "train."

We fed the ducks.

Madison sported the cutest ponytail as she talked to her baby doll.

Hayden filled the Pack 'n Play with all of Mommy's shoes while Payson was in time out.

Hayden took her pants off during naptime and put them on backwards.

We finger painted.

Hayden proudly mastered the stacking cups.

I learned that in 2010, boys will still be boys.

Jessica's Favorite Things 2009

It's wild to look back at my Favorite Things post a year ago. Everything on the list was for babies and everything on this year's list is for toddlers. Oh, how things have changed! There is one thing that was on 2008's list that makes a repeat appearance on this 2009 list. Other than that, it's all fresh and new products I haven't shared yet. Writing this list makes me thankful to be so blessed that I can purchase many of our favorite things. And, also thankful for my network of multiples moms that helps me to stretch my dollar further by buying used products in great condition. Here they are, Jessica's Favorite Things 2009!

Starting with the hardest to find items...

Mountain Buggy Urban Triple Stroller:
This stroller has been amazing for us. I take a stroller workout class at the mall with other moms and without this jogging stroller I would look like an awful circus act. The ride is super smooth and easy to push with front wheels that swivel. It seems to be comfortable for the kids who each get a front row seat. They fit in it as well as they did over a year ago and it is a great quality stroller. It is very expensive (thankfully we found ours gently used) and is quite heavy (55 lbs), but it's worth it.

Step 2 Choo Choo Wagon:
I barely got one of the last wagons on the market this time last year, and thankfully I did! Unfortunately for triplet moms everywhere, Step 2 has discontinued this wagon yet again. And what is even more unfortunate is that people are selling them used for nearly twice as much as they bought them for! While it has been priceless for us, I think it is absurd that people are trying to make so much money off of something that other families really need. Most moms of "singletons" use wagons as a fun mode of transportation (and they are fun). But for triplet moms who have few strollers to choose from and often don't have the trunk space for traditional strollers, the Choo Choo Wagon is essential. The whole family loves this thing! We take it everywhere the Mountain Buggy Urban won't fit, which is just about, well, everywhere!

Toyota Sienna 8-Passenger Minivan:
I never thought I would be a minivan Mom. In fact, I was adamantly against it. But, when I found out we were having triplets, I knew we had to at least consider it. We went for this van because it has the LATCH system to safely hold three large car seats across the middle row. This has been big for us because we folded down the back seat to fit our triple strollers. The alternative is putting a hitch on the back of our car like many moms of multiples have to do. But, when we do want to carry a few extra passengers we can easily accommodate them. It rides well, has nice features, keeps my back pain-free and has plenty of space. I wouldn't have it any other way. (Can you tell yet that our most important challenge is transportation?)

Little Tikes Endless Adventures Easy Store Jr. Picnic Table:
We have gotten so much use out of this! We especially use it during the warmer months for snacking and dining outdoors. It is great when we need a "kids table" when hosting playgroup. I imagine that our new picnic table, which is bigger and better, will be on next year's list.


Sonoma Life+Style Hooded Towels (Kohl's):
Last year I had Mullins Square towels on the list, but I retract my statement about their being "big enough to last through toddlerhood." While they are much bigger than the hooded towels at the baby stores (and we do still use those in our towel rotation), they are not as big as the Sonoma Life+Style we received as a gift at Christmas last year. Plus, the Sonoma ones are much more soft and plush. I tried to buy more this year on Black Friday, but only found ones under the Jumping Beans brand. I am not sure if they are the same or not (though they looked as if they were).

Fisher-Price Little People Animal Sounds Farm:
The kids received this as a present for their first birthday, and it has been, by far, their favorite small toy of the year. We introduced it to them at around 14-months-old and they played with it full force for the next eight months. Now they still play with it, but on a more occassional basis. There's something about animals that kids just "get." When the kids were younger, they enjoyed the animals much more than the people in the Little People sets.

Fisher-Price Little Mommy Newborn Nursery Baby Doll:
We have a handful of baby dolls around here and we think that the Little Mommy baby dolls are the best of the bunch. They are the perfect size, their clothes stay on, and the entire doll is washable! They are also perfect for multiples because there are several different color options, making it easier multiples to have their own designated doll of the same type.


Circo and Graco simple Umbrella Doll Strollers:
Somehow these strollers stand up to lots of pushing, throwing, pulling and banging. They are surprisingly well made and the girls love them almost as much as they love the baby dolls themselves! Payson even gives them a push now and then after - typically after filling them with Hot Wheels. I've seen higher-end baby strollers, but I think simple is better.


KidKraft Train Table:
Although these train tables are usually for age 3+, this was such a great first birthday gift for our triplets. For months they cruised around it and crawled under it. Now they play at it with their cars, blocks, Little People, anything that can fit on it. I imagine that it will simply grow older with them and someday it will become the "train table" it is meant to be when we bring out my childhood train set. Love it!

Eezy Peezy Ball Pit:
This was a recommendation from a mom of quads and it has met every expectation. The kids love to swim in the ball pit and sometimes they can't seem to get enough of the slide. When they first got it at age one, we had to lift them in the ball pit. Pretty soon they could go down the slide themselves, and now they go down the slide backwards or any way they want, climb on top, get in and out unassisted and do just about anything they want with it. It has held up beautifully and is the perfect toy for multiples. They have learned to take turns sliding, clean up the balls and count "1, 2, 3" before sliding down. Assembly takes a few hours and laser focus, but it's worth it...especially if you can talk someone else into doing it (thanks Keith!).


A few others we love:
- DEX Dura-Bibs (even now, the kids have a hard time removing them)
- Vtech 3-in-1 Smart Wheels (After 15 months they still fight over it)
- Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn 2-in-1 Learning Kitchen (best for about 9-22 months old)
- LeapFrog Learn-Around Playground (easily accommodates three playing around it at once)
- Fisher-Price Healthy Care Booster Seat (easily clean-able, collapsible, and transportable)
- Hot Wheels (boys love them, but girls like them too)
- Kitchen and play food (great for developing vocabulary and make-believe skills)
- Books, books and more books! (Anything with flaps, animals or sound. Board books and bath books are pretty indestructible though we have used packing tape to repair quite a few)
- Rocking horse with sound (though, the sound seems to go in and out on the two we have)

Christmas Continues

The evening after our house guests departed on the day after Christmas, Keith and the kids snuggled up to watch one last Christmas show.

On Sunday we had a post-Christmas dinner and present exchange with my mom and my brother's family. Cousin Addison gave Madison a big Christmas kiss on the cheek while sitting in Aunt Negeen's lap.

Big cousin Avery served the triplets a variety of food as they played "dinnertime" before the real meal began. They obeyed her every command as she told them where to sit, what to eat, etc. I wish they listened to me that well! Moments later she performed for them on the piano, singing as she played - too cute!

Time to rip open presents! Poor Madison missed it because she was super fussy and exhausted, so she went to bed early. We tried to save a present for her to open the following day but Hayden did the honors herself!

Hayden loves mittens and, interestingly enough, is obsessed with her socks too. Oftentimes, when we get her up after her nap, we find her wearing her socks as mittens.

The kids love boxes so I always hand them over after I open a package. This time Madison squeezes into a box just her size.

My Uncle Craig and Aunt Pam visited and got to meet the kids for the first time. The kids opened up quite quickly and were talking about "Unca Craeg" and "Nt Paym" for days after they left.

The kiddos were spending New Year's Eve with their cousins at Pops and Nunie so we all met up early to celebrate our third and final family Christmas. Hayden LOVES their dogs and spent a lot of time dressing them up with Mardi Gras beads. Thankfully the dogs are good sports, even when they do get tangled up.

Hayden plays with the dogs, hugs them, reads to them, brings them toys, and lies down next to them. Moments after taking this picture, the dog laid her head down and Hayden followed, putting her face, straight down, onto the carpet. To Pops, Nunie and Hayden, the dogs truly are "Man's Best Friend."

When it came time to open presents, Madison, as usual, was content to find a warm lap to sit on as she played with a new toy.

Payson was all about opening presents and kept asking for permission to open more.

Hayden got a new baby doll which was her first one with actual hair! She immediately fell in love with her and, after taking suggestions, decided to name her Kimmie.

After a birthday party and three Christmases, I am sure the kids will go through present withdrawal over the next few weeks! Fortunately they have a lot of great gifts (but thankfully not too many) to enjoy until, well, next December rolls around!

A White Christmas

It was, indeed, a white Christmas for us this year. It was so much fun to go through Christmas morning with an occasional peek outside at the white lawn and rooftops.

On Christmas morning, all of the kids, Hayden, Payson and Madison plus cousins Mikayla, Chloe and Emma, waited upstairs. Once the adults were ready with cameras in hand, the kids made their descent down the stairs. The little kids had no idea what they were in for!

The little kids immediately headed to the fireplace where they were greeted with full stockings, their first gift (stick horses) and remnants of their cookies for Santa. Hayden discovered this Snoopy in her stocking and was all smiles as she exclaimed, "Nnnoopy!" She only knows Snoopy from the Halloween Snoopy inflatable a neighbor had down the street but she loves him as if she's an avid Peanuts reader.

Check out the awesome reaction we got from Payson when he found a wooden recycling truck in his stocking...Woahh. It was the classic reaction that parents dream about, and I happened to be ready for the shot. No, he wasn't excited about the recycling part, it was simply the fact that it was a truck.

Later Payson added to his Hot Wheels collection. He quickly lined the new ones up as if he were sizing them up to see which ones he got.

Books, books and more books. We have four book stations around the house and on the days we don't leave the house, I can easily hear upwards of 50 requests to read books. They loved a few of their Christmas books this year so we gave them the same brand of books that will last them year-round.

Hayden modeling Mommy's new t-shirt.

After opening presents we cooked up a big American breakfast and then headed outside to enjoy the remaining crunchy snow. This time the kids spent the majority of the time trying to make snowballs and eating it as Hayden is doing in this picture.

Payson and Emma taste-tested the snow off the outdoor playset.

Madison's playtime was cut short by a bloody, busted lip. The patio was covered in ice and she stepped on it before I could stop her and face planted into their little plastic picnic table. She had plenty of hands to help care for her inside and had no problem with the extra attention once the sting wore off. Here she is putting on her best pout face with Uncle Barry.

After a long afternoon of cooking Christmas dinner, it was break time! Chloe, Mikayla, Emma, Hayden, GP and Aunt Chelsey settled in to watch The Polar Express. It didn't take long for the adults to fall asleep.

Grandma joined us for the second half of the day. The kids are spoiled when either grandma is around, but with both Grandma and Grammy they have all of the attention they could ever need!

That evening the thirteen of us gathered, or should I say crammed, around our dining room table for a traditional Melker holiday meal including turkey and all the fixins. By the time the meal was over, the breakdowns had begun and it was time to get the exhausted kiddos to bed.

The next day we asked the kids to sit in front of the Christmas tree for a picture and all six walked over to it as if they've followed such directions a million times. Let me assure you that they haven't (the little kids anyway). We were all amazed at how easy it was (for once!) to get a picture of all six together.