Two years in and I'm still feeling the shockwaves of having twins. We were catapulted into 3-kid family dynamics and it's taken time to let the various implications sink in. We've made different decisions than we would have otherwise and I've had to learn how to let certain things go and respond calmly amidst intense moments of child stimulation -- crying, whining, banging, complaining, fussing, dog barking. Yikes!
This second year was filled with first words and increased curiousity, strength, vocabulary, and empathy. I'd describe them both as playful, mischievious, helpful, and caring. Jury's still out on who's more stubborn :) With the same schedule, they are almost always together -- every nap, every snack, every outing. We cherish the 1:1 time we get, or in rare cases 2:1 (two adults to one twin!) and want to find ways to incorporate more of those moments in this next year.
Favorite things:
- when EDW stretches her arms out wide in anticipation of a hug
- anytime CCW says "yeah" when you guess his request correctly
- how they happily follow instructions and help put things away
- their emphatic need to wear a jacket
- everytime CCW belly shimmies down our carpeted stairs
- EDW's pre-bedtime "loopy goosey"
- their delight in being tickled and raspberried
- their joint enthusiasm for "kittys"
- watching them hug each other
- how consistently they devour avocadoes, bananas, apples, berries, kiwis, canned corn, canned pumpkin, canned pears -- I've cut up pounds and pounds of produce!
The Learning Tower Days (November-January, 13-15months):
Oof! No nanny + trying to drop the bottle + transitioning to one nap + sickness and sniffles. These days were rough! My fragile mental state nearly collapsed when we all tested positive for COVID in late January -- our parenting low of all time. Looking through photos helps me remember some of the fun things (lots of pulling to stand and climbing at this age -- on beds, in baskets, up stairs) but mostly I recall this period as a real challenge.
The Puffy Jacket Days (February-March 16-17 months):
The return of nanny Nicole brought a huge uptick in support and reprieve! We got outside more, spending afternoons in the yard and venturing to West Seattle parks. They were both a little late to walking (CCW first and EDW closer to 17 months like her father), but once it clicked, they were on the move! Their puffy jackets and cozy hats were a daily uniform -- 9:00 would roll around and I'd feel an intense urge to get everyone outside!
We welcomed a wave of visitors in spring! If there's one thing we've learned about parenting three children 3 and under -- it takes a lot of energy (physical, mental, emotional!) I love that our house allows us to have an "open door" policy with its dedicated guest space for friends and family. We welcome any visitors at any time :) I think of this at the interactive age where toys and activites become more appealing -- trucks, puzzles, tossing balls, throwing rocks, picking flowers, etc.
Our beach days were truly supurb! We conquered Alki -- both during low tide and for classic sandy play. CDW loves the water and EDW loves eating snacks with mama! They both like digging in the sand and filling buckets with NLW. These were such bright spots and gave me a little glimpse into the joys of outdoor family life. Alki Beach, Constellation Park, and Lincoln Park will continue to be staples in our family life and I'm so thankful they have these areas to explore and enjoy!
Picnic Bench Days (August-September 22-23 months):
I distinctly remember the shift to having three kids lined up and eating snacks on a picnic bench. It still brings me a tremendous amount of joy! The fact that we secured this free picnic table off the curb (the same one I'd been eyeing for weeks) was just the icing on the cake!
Birthday (October 12, 2 years!):
Watching you both open presents and enjoy the animals at Kelsey Creek Farm was a real treat. Singing "Happy Birthday" will never get old and those Cupcake Royale cupcakes were quite delicious! We snuck in bounce-time on our neighbor's trampoline and FaceTimed with Mimi and Papa.
What a year,
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