47/52

A portrait of my babes once a week in 2014 (15 months and four weeks - 69 weeks)

I find it hard to describe each of you and sum you up in a few words. Although you are completely different personalities, it isn't as easy as saying one is more dominant or funny or easy going. The reason for this I believe is that you are continually evolving and becoming, and at the same time I am continually learning about you. Florence, you adore your comforts of a dummy and your binky at bedtime, and last night Anna fell asleep clutching a toothbrush (and anything could have been in place of the toothbrush  - a binky or a spoon).  Anna at the moment you are the bossy boots, yet you are terrified of flies (which Florence lovingly points out to you whenever she sees one), and ants. Florence you catch ants with two of your chubby little fingers which you wouldn't believe could pick up something so small and quick. I'm learning of Florence's preferences for chandeliers and scarves and Anna's preference for anything Florence is holding. You both love hats and prance around inside with all sorts of head gear on. Anna loves cheese whereas Florence prefers strawberries or oranges or anything an adult is eating. The way you eat strawberries is different (Florence holds the stalk and finishes the entire fruit while Anna picks at it delicately with her fingers). I've learnt you are both determined souls, you know what you want. Anna, you will try and do anything Florence can do and really believe you can also walk on tiptoes. In general, you both want to do what the other is doing. You're kind hearted too, even though it is hard to be twin at times, you share and negotiate. You both have a cheeky streak, to go hand in hand with a cheeky grin and cheeky eyes. Florence, you wear your heart on your sleeve whereas with Anna what you see is not always what you get.

You're sassy and soft and smart and funny and little lights of joy. I can never capture all of you but learning all this about you is one of my favourite things about being your mama. 

46/52

 A portrait of my babes once a week in 2014 (15 months and three weeks - 68 weeks)

The sweetest thing. Florence calls Anna "Nana" and, thinking that is what you call you twin sister, Anna calls Florence "Nana" too. 

45/52

A portrait of my babes once a week in 2014 (15 months and two weeks - 67 weeks)

You chatter constantly. Especially Anna. Funny little sounds and words and entire conversations with each other, with us, to yourselves. I love the sounds of these words, intricate and complex and strange - they sound like entire languages from far off lands - bits of Japanese mingled with Russian and Hebrew. I wish I record them and listen to them forever.

But real words are finding there way through all the time - such as hi, bye, shoe, two, cheese, Ches, mama, papa, Anna (Nana), Honor (Nona), Cate (Tata), Bear, why, mommy (when you want something from anyone), ya, no, nee, cheetah (cheet), blue (boo), ba (boo), birdie (bee), bird (tootoo), haededa (da), sheep (baba), baba...

And then you find ways of pretty much indicating and communicating anything to us - pointing at water, actions of washing you hands or twinkling your fingers, a tongue in and out for a cat, blowing kisses (which can also mean get away from me!), a finger at your cheek reminds me to give your your iron, swish swish are windscreen wipers, and pointing at your palm could mean you want to hold a ladybird, an ant, any other insect, or you may just want "Round and Round the Garden."

You indicate your preference fro a certain song through sounds ("Doh" for "Do ray me"), or actions (you clap yours hands together from "Handjies klap"), or pointing to a certain book which contains a certain picture which triggers a certain song: a picture of a queen triggers "The queen of hearts", a moon triggers "When the moon hits your eyes", tapping on your chest is either "Hoe ry die boere" or "Oh ek het 'n perd" or "Baa baa black sheep" (if accompanied by you saying "baabaa"), an elephant is "Oom olifant", a tap on your head is "It's raining, it's pouring", and the list goes on for almost any picture or animal we see. I make up a lot of songs for you so the trick is remembering the words I made up for a song about a certain object. For example, a car is "Riding in my car). You are also very specific abot which song you want when and who must sing it.

Oh you are fascinating little beings at 15 and a half months.

44/52

A portrait of my babes once a week in 2014 (15 months and one week - 66 weeks)

Happy Halloween my crazy little cubs. When you woke from your afternoon nap we dressed you up inn these bunny masks and bat-onesies and  popped to the park in Parkview which was transforming from peaceful playground to buzzing festivities, spider webs and smoke machines, and gatherings of witches and wizards and bumble bee families. You are both shy little souls and although you seemed fascinated by the ongoings (from the close proximity of mama's legs) your expressions in this picture sum up your feelings appropriately.