Eighteen, Wha?

Everyone says the first year of twins is a blur (YES). The second year is proving to be even quicker, if that's possible (though admittedly, the early part of that first year didn't feel all that speedy in the midst of round the clock nursing sessions and non-existent bedtimes).


I am still calling them babies. They are my last babies, therefore they will always be MY BABIES. Even though they wear shoes and walk around and do adorable "grown-up" things like crouch and kneel and jump.



And create chalk masterpieces.

Eighteen months feels somehow momentous, one of those markers or milestones, like one year.

It should come as no surprise that even as full-fledged toddlers, they continue to have very distinct, nearly opposite personalities.



But they are unexpectedly opposite.

While Lucy is very deliberate and careful in her movements and is the one more likely to listen to me when I tell her to stay by me, she was also the first one to learn to climb the couch and the one most likely to dive off said couch. Or at least threaten to.

Her speech slays me. Sometimes I look at her when she says these words and I am just...Who are you?

(In no particular order):

Hot dog
Harry
Bye-bye
Outside
Thank you
That's mine
Mama
Mommy
Ellie
Apple
Cheese

And of course, the favorite of every toddler: NO!

I'll stop there. You get the idea. No baby of mine has ever talked this much, this early. It's slightly...terrifying. I am already seeing the seeds of bossy-ness emerging in her (gee, wonder where she gets that...Ellie, Me, cough, cough). She definitely rules the roost in the Harry and Lucy dynamic, at least for now, as she thinks nothing of grabbing any toy, book, piece of food, wash cloth, out of Harry's chubby little hand. Also, she shoves Harry. Just for fun. The other day when I got home from work our babysitter reported that she'd pushed Harry off the couch. On purpose.

His reaction to her domination is either A) burst into tears or B) do a sort of shrug (if babies shrugged) and walk away as if to say Eh, not worth getting into. I see an even BETTER set of stacking cups over there!

She remains the happiest baby I have ever met. She just exudes positivity. She smiles and giggles and just wants to bebyyou. As in, on your lap or in your arms. Sometimes when I'm sitting on the floor she will just back up and sit on my lap, like it's the best, most natural chair in the house (it is, of course). In the mornings, when she senses I'm leaving for work, she gets very whiney and clingy and I often carry her around on my hip as I'm gathering backpacks and shoes and keys.

She loves little more than going "outside."

And loves to run down this driveway, reaching such velocity that she's taken a tumble. Or nineteen (see the scab on her nose from a crash two weeks ago that made her look like a junior prize fighter).


Harry doesn't have any words that we can yet understand, but he "chats" up a storm. Also? Somewhere he learned to breakdance. No joke. If Mickey Mouse or Barney or Elmo come on Pandora? Boyfriend busts a move and can cut some serious rug, complete with donkey kicks and twirls.

He's definitely a watcher. He takes in his surroundings and is far more sensitive to new things and people than Lucy is. If anyone new comes to the house? Rivers of tears. Until he gets to know the person and deems them harmless. He plays with toys and explores the house like it's A Job. In the morning, after a quick cuddle and a diaper change he is raring to go, off to blocks or stacking rings or his most favorite of all, the book corner. He has things to do!

No one. And I mean, No One can make a bigger mess than Harry does when eating.


Harry has an "old soul" quality about him. He's a thinker. A studier. Sometimes I will catch him looking at something, a book, a toy, one of the big kids' drawings, and I will meet his gaze and then he will just break into the biggest, meltiest, cheesiest grin. I can't wait to find out what is going on in that little head of his.

They are each other's punching bags (Lucy climbs Harry, tries to wrestle him or use him as a step stool). Sometimes he giggles and seems to want more...sometimes he bursts into tears and whines for rescue, escapes Lucy's "clutches"...and three minutes later he's back for more.

Many twin parents I've talked to say the dynamic between their twins was set early on. It will be so interesting to see if the one we have now continues. Lucy=boss; Harry=amiable follower.

They are roommates. Fast friends who still wait up for each other every night. I put Harry down first and sometimes he appears to doze off, but pops up squealing with glee when Lucy shows up for bedtime, five minutes later.

This week Harry and Lucy learned to give kisses on command. Big, sloppy, open mouthed kisses. They give them often and willingly and I melt and die every time I get one. Or two. I mean, is there anything better than kisses from two babies?

Kisses times two are almost making up for nearly a year of sleep deprivation.

Almost.