Two halves make a whole

Six months, my babies. How can it be? You are growing so fast.

You came into this world a little early.You seemed so small, each barely five pounds. It was so scary seeing you hooked up to IVs and monitors in NICU, but we were lucky. After one night we got to be together.

 Gosh, it was hard juggling two of you at once, but with lots of help we made it through those first six weeks. You had distinct personalities right from the start. Finn, you were alert and quietly watchful, our condensed ball of energy. Vieve, you took a long time to be really present; you were our dreamy girl who we watched slowly find herself, day by day.

You gradually became aware of each other. At first, you slept better if you could hear the other breathing. Then you started holding hands and smiling at each other. Now, if we put you next to each other, you roll together, seemingly for the express purpose of nomming on each others' arms and feet. Vieve, you have teeth, it hurts! Finn, stop kicking your sister in the head!

You interact in delightful ways. We knew we were in for trouble when at four months missy-boo rolled over and yoinked a toy out of Finn's hand and rolled away again. And then laughed when he cried. Now you delight in taking his dummy away. You don't want it - why would you when you have a thumb? - but you don't want HIM to have it. You big old meanie, you.

You coo and babble at each other, and at daycare you're careful to keep an eye on each other, just to make sure the other isn't getting to do fun stuff you're missing out on.

Xander adores both of you, and you return his affection. His enthusiastic hugs are repaid with your enthusiastic fistfuls of his hair. He is a terrific big brother; watchful, playful and careful. Mostly.

You're both getting into new adventures. I'm so not ready for the nearly-ready-for-crawling that you're both doing.  Lying on your tummy is fine. Getting up on hands and knees and then faceplanting forwards (rinse and repeat) a) freaks me out, and b) covers a surprising amount of ground. Time for baby-proofing; we're going to have to be strict with your big brother and his Lego. Vieve, you started first, which surprised us, but Finn is not far behind.

And now you're discovering food! You both love chewing frozen homemade applesauce (made from homegrown apples, for those extra crunchy-granola-mum points). And Vieve is excited about carrots and butternut pumpkin. Finn, your time will come when you're ready. You're both over 14 pounds now, and sneaking up the percentiles. What bonny boobie babies you are - go us!

I am blessed to have you. And soon I will get to be home with you every day; no more getting up at 5am for work! I am so excited at the prospect of being a school mum and a Playcentre mum. I'm well aware how lucky I am to be able to do so. The time back in the workforce did more than just exhaust me, it also reinforced how much I want to be with you (though, just between us, it was also really great to be doing something intellectual again).

Six months. Six months with twins; that makes a year, right? Onwards and upwards, my puddings. It just gets better every day. So you'll be sitting, and mobile. Then walking, and running, and talking...  I have so much to show you, so much to say.
Most important of all: I love you.

Yes, you, Finn, my blue-eyed boy. Your smiles are hard-won, but all the more precious for that. Your giggles make my heart explode.

And you, Vieve, my beautiful daughter.  People make you light up.  You're a star. And a goof.

Jonathan Coulton said it well in this song, and I sing it to you all the time:

You should know how great things were before you
Even so, they're better still today
I can't think of who I was before
You ruined everything
In the nicest way

Newest First

Oldest First

paul   #1   09:28 am Mar 12 2010

"...stop kicking your sister in the head!"

Yeah my mum STILL yells that at me on ocassion.

MJ   #2   09:31 am Mar 12 2010

Awww *sniffle* Donelle that is lovely lovely entry, I hope you keep copies of these blogs to show to your bubs (and Xander) when they are older (the wee tee shirts with suit and ties are gorgeous!!!).

Congrats on your beautiful babies.

girl   #3   09:46 am Mar 12 2010

Beautiful blog, beautiful babies. Love it. Definitely keep a record of these to show your kids one day. xo

n   #4   10:38 am Mar 12 2010

*smile* so happy to hear you'll be lucky enough to be an at home mum! Bet there are lots of people envying you right now :) "You don't want it - why would you when you have a thumb? - but you don't want HIM to have it. You big old meanie, you" This made me laugh! We have fur-kids and our girl dog does this to her older 'brother' all the time! Steals his toys and then eats them while watching him excitidily the whole time - c'mon try and get it back ;p

Thalia   #5   11:31 am Mar 12 2010

yay no more catching the train. I hope you wrote them a disgusted letter.

Time goes by so fast you don't even notice.

Donnelle   #6   12:36 pm Mar 12 2010

@Thalia #5:

I got a very bored sounding phone-call where they didn't even apologise. I'll do a proper update when I see what arrives in the mail.

mum2   #7   03:08 pm Mar 12 2010

Oh Donnelle that is so beautiful - brought a tear to my eye and I don't even know you or your twins :-) That's it, I'm off home to make another baby!

Adulcia   #8   09:48 pm Mar 12 2010

Well done Donnelle. It sounds like you're being a great mum and best wishes for your next chapter at home. Make the most of it - time goes so quickly. My baby is over a year old now and nearly walking and I just don't know where the time's gone since he was a tiny newborn.

moogle   #9   09:30 am Mar 15 2010

What an awesome blog :) I am only just married (February) but reading your blogs makes me want to start trying for a baby now! I hope i am as blessed with beautiful, sweet children like you are.

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