So, this is how a common conversation would sound like between me (in my pregnant state) and any random person I found myself chatting it up with:
Random person (while not so discretely staring wide-eyed at my grotesquely large abdomen): "Oh my, are you expecting?"
Me: "Yep, twins ."(duh-- and if I may insert a little anecdote here: The day the twins were born was the day I was finally taken off of bed rest. So after 3 months of eating anything and everything in sight and not being allowed to do more than get up to go to the restroom, I decided to celebrate and go to Costco to buy a camera (okay fine, you got me, and a couple hot dogs and some pizza). The greeter at the door, who obviously lacked any semblance of tact, said to me, "Oh my gosh! What are you having? Triplets?!...")
Random person: "How fun! (and with a grin) DOUBLE TROUBLE."
Well, to all of those pessimists out there, I decided to make the following list:
Why Twins are the Best:
1. Let's begin with the obvious: 24 hour play group. The twins are inseparable and LOVE to do anything and everything together. They are never lonely and play so nicely together for hours on end, allowing me to get a whole bunch of fun stuff done during the day.
2. What could possibly be cuter than waking up to the pitter patter of 4 little feet on Dave's side of the bed and then hearing rounds of kisses and, "Wake up, Daddy!" and seeing Dave lift his head up in feigned surprise after each kiss and then plopping his head back on the pillow preparing himself for the next round. Honestly. Name one thing.
3.They talk so much! Now, this is a double-edged sword of course, because it wouldn't be so bad to have some silence around here sometimes, but otherwise, I tell you, these girls are just phenomenal when it comes to speaking. Granted, it took them a while to start spitting it out, but once one did, they both just took off and they say the funniest things all day long. They get to practice their speech throughout the day, they totally correct each other if one mispeaks, and... they even ask each other the WHY questions-- it's just great.
4.Having a little play mate also means more time to practice at developing those key fast-twitch muscles that will prove necessary for them to one day be Olympic Champions. I've been thinking lately how wonderful it would be to see one of my kids get a gold medal (since I of course should have been an Olympic Swimmer, as many of you know). One of the girls is always chasing the other around and they are consequently LIGHTENING FAST. Lightening fast. They also kick the ball around together, which besides being most impressive, is also terribly, terribly cute.
5. Because the twins had to just plain wait to get even the most fundamental of things since birth, like nourishment, they are pretty patient. They are totally fine when they don't get things right away and as a result, I am a happier person.
6. (Closely related to #4) Being ignored (is that blunt enough?) as a child, each twin has learned to have to take care of themselves or else wait an eternity to get what they want. The twins have been feeding themselves since they were 1, when they are thirsty, they get their own glass of water, when they are sleepy, they tell me and go to bed, they pick out their clothes and get dressed, and I kid you not, I caught Lucy making her own peanut butter and honey sandwich this weekend (which would have been great, if a knife hadn't been involved...).
So there it is. No need to feel sorry for me-- yes, the first year was a doozy (and losing 95 lbs wasn't exactly a treat), but really, it's okay, since I can hardly remember a thing about it anyway.
Here are some recent pics... the last one is my favorite.
So apparently the twins got a hold of the camera when mommy wasn't looking. There were several pictures that were really rather boring, but this one caught my eye. Yes, Mystery Twin is sitting in great-grandma's wheelchair...
