25/52

A portrait of my babes once a week in 2015 (22 months), sipping 'cow juice'

The change from one week old to two weeks old is huge, and that growth, naturally, slows down as the weeks progress. However, when I step back and look at each new skill you master, each new turn of phrase you use, each new concept you grasp, each sign of independence you express I realise that although these changes may be more subtle, they are happening at a faster pace. I overhear singing entire songs (baa baa black sheep, row your boat), or look over and see you've lined up your building blocks in a straight line. You insist on "me's do it" or "me's own" as you run off to get something or slide off our bed by yourself (Anna). "Don't woddy" (Anna), and "Me's sortitout" (Florence) are also used frequently. You stack pieces of your tea set on top of each other and exclaim with pride that you've built a castle (Anna). You suddenly figure out how to do your puzzles. You recognise patterns (you saw an umbrella in a curved piece of wors and cups in a lampshade - Florence). I can barely keep up with the rate at which you're learning as you tumble exponential faster into these beautiful little people that you are becoming. 

24/52

A portrait of my babes once a week in 2015 (22 months)

These two faces are so etched in my mind it's as if I've always known them. And yet, daily, I catch myself staring at them, getting to know them, wondering where they came from, and marvelling at their beauty. 

23/52

A portrait of my babes once a week in 2015 (22 months)

"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies - God damn it, you've got to be kind." - Kurt Vonnegut, God Bless You, Mr Rosewater

22/52

A portrait of my babes once a week in 2015 (22 months)

Some twin things... Things are better in twos - since you've been able to hold objects, you've wanted to hold two. Two was the first number you learnt and your age, if asked, since you've been one, is two. "Two babies" one of you will say, when I'm carrying both of you and the other is not too happy about it. When one of you has an object the other really wants, you continue playing with it as if blissfully unaware of the tears that are falling over it. The terms "me's turn, Anna's turn", "same-same", "swap", "me's first, Anna's first" (you haven't learnt the term "second" yet), and forms of possession "me's", "Anna's", appeared in your vocabulary very early on. You usually fetch another of whatever you are getting for your other. You have an innate awareness of each other - as soon as you can't see one another, one of you will ask, "Where's Anna?" or "Where's Florence." When I put Anna to sleep once Florence is already sleeping, you always ask to see her before you go to sleep. If one of you are crying, the other attempts to comfort or offer suggestions of comfort (water and dummies being the most common suggestions). When you fall, you ask the other for a kiss, although those are not always froth coming when desired. Food tastes better when it's your twins, and you know each other's different tastes and preferences and never fail to remind me that Florence prefers and apple snack to raisins and Anna doesn't like frozen berries with her banana. Food also tastes better when your twin is putting it in your mouth. You are the same size and weight and your hair colour is only a shade different. you are each other's favourite audience and biggest fans, your biggest tormentors - "No Anna", "Stoppit Forence" and partners in crime. I catch you reading together and discussing things. I see you wanting to emulate each other - from being carried on my hip to trying new tricks. You now often say, "I love you Anna, so much", and " I love Forence." Seeing you together never ceases to amaze me, entertain me or break my heart, and often all at the same time.

21/52

A portrait of my babes once a week in 2015 (21 months)

Up until now, both of you have referred to Florence as Anna. I even wondered if you would always call each other Anna, thinking that's how you refer to your twin. Anna often calls Florence "Pom Pom" (a family nickname) but she has just started to say Florence now and then, or her version, "Flontence."  Florence still proudly calls herself Anna.

20/52

A portrait of my babes once a week in 2015 (21 months)

"To love. To be loved. To never forget your own insignificance. To never get used to the unspeakable violence and the vulgar disparity of life around you. To seek joy in the saddest places. To pursue beauty to its lair. To never simplify what is complicated or complicate what is simple. To respect strength, never power. Above all, to watch. To try and understand. To never look away. And never, never, to forget." - Arundhati Roy

19/52

A portrait of my babes once a week in 2015 (21 months), your first hair cut

Florence, when I ask you how many hadedas slept in your hair last night you eagerly reply "two" but when the birds nests started to look more permanent, I feared it was time for your first hair cuts. This was quite a step for your soft-hearted mama. It seems like such a big milestone, snipping off that baby fluff that I run my hands through as you fall asleep in my lap, and stroke to comfort you after a fall. Another indicator of your growing up.  My instructions to the hairdresser, Alice, were to cut it so it doesn't look like it's been cut. As it were, tears were shed, although not mine(!) and there was barely enough cut cut off either of your mops to scrape together in an envelope.