Monday 9 January 2012

And So It Begins

Just before Christmas, this happened:


And I took a picture of it, because I couldn't believe that they were actually playing together. Playing together! I planned to post this picture here with the caption 'It's a Christmas miracle!' because I was pretty sure it was never going to happen again. (I did a similar post in July and that did turn out to be a totally isolated incident).

But before I could post it, this happened:  


She voluntarily climbed up to join him in tooting out tunes on the auroscopes from their new toy medical kits - which they think are kazoos. Again, I ran for the camera thinking it was a one-off. 

But then - then - their medical kits also came with stethoscopes, and shortly after this picture was taken they started running up to each other and shouting 'chestandback! Chestandback!'  as a signal for the other twin to lift their shirt and submit to an examination.  And then they kept on doing it. Taking turns. And now, it suddenly seems that they get it. They have finally worked out that the other twin is a playmate, not just a competitor. We went to the park, and this is what happened: 

She's pushing him in one of the doll strollers....

Then she is kissing him. Yes, it's true, she's actually KISSING HIM... (okay, I prompted, but she did it)

Then he said 'Blue turn! Blue turn!' and they happily swapped places and he pushed her for a while. 

At first, I wondered if I was imagining it. Am I just perceiving things to be better due to the effects of the brain medicine? J says no, no, no - things are definitely changing, and his neurochemistry is unaltered so I guess his assessment is reliable. There is still a bit of squabbling, but that's not the only way they relate any more. This morning when Pink started yelling, I knew that she had probably fallen over before I even turned around. A few weeks ago I would have just assumed that Blue had bitten her.

It really seems like a corner has been turned. They sing together. They play together with their new teaset (Pink calls the teapot the pee-potty, cracking me up every single time), they cooperate to build towers.  It. Is. Absolutely. Incredible. 



Yeah, it is THIS good. 

This morning,  I had fed them their breakfast, then I decided to see if I could do the cleanup right away, without waiting for them to be asleep or otherwise restrained. It's never been a good idea, because if I left them alone they would attack each other, but I thought - no, I think they can do it! Today is a great day to try! and I decided to empty the dishwasher while they played with toys in the next room.  As I scraped and stacked and put away, I spent quite a long time just consciously dwelling on how happy this was making me. Mark the little things, right? It went a bit like this: 

This is probably the first time ever that they have really played together for this long... it's so great.... my life is so wonderful.... I can't believe how awesome my kids are...... it's fantastic that they can finally amuse themselves....I would never, ever have believed that they could turn this corner but they have.... hey, now I've finished the dishwasher and I can start on the sandwiches..... man, life is so good today.... I can't believe they aren't pulling my knees and whining.....oh, here they both come, peeping around the door to check in and say 'hello mummy' .... hello my honeys, mummy loves you!.... this is awesome, my children are so well behaved AND so well attached.... I wonder what they're doing over there, probably posting duplo people into the toybox.... it's so cute that they do that.... I love that their new affection for each other has opened so many new doors for them into creative and cooperative play.... maybe I should open a home daycare, I am clearly such an awesome mother....Oh, I can't resist, I have to go and see what my smart adorable children are up to: 

And then I found out the downside of the sudden appearance of Team Twin in our house: 


They were drawing on the walls, of course.  

38 comments:

  1. LOL LOL
    I am so so glad that they have finally realized they have a built in playmate! I was THRILLED when Beatrice realized her siblings were actually a lot better then me. LOL
    Celebrate!
    Congratulations momma. : )

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think this is fabulous!! And I am so so happy for you! AND? I think I see a flat twist in one of those photos which makes me feel that I'm almost there with you still! :) Amanda

    ReplyDelete
  3. Amanda, you totally do see a flat twist... or six! And everything that is not a flat twist is a lovely loopy flat-twist-combout, so basically we owe you for every single one of these hairstyles :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Of course.

    The solution? Chalk. The only writing utensil allowed in the house. Chalk.

    ReplyDelete
  5. They are so CUTE!!! Glad they are enjoying each other more now. But them working together as a team could mean big trouble for you and Dad... :)
    Anne
    www.allaboutelizabeth-anne.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. I LOVE IT!

    you pondering deep thoughts while doing the dishes (I'm just trying to do as much as possible in the few minutes ours will leave us alone - I need to blog)....
    them loving each other... and
    the ganging up

    :)

    wait til they start egging one another on - K "do it, Connor, do it" (take off nappy, etc...........) Yes!

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is WONDERFUL--and totally worth being surrounded by graffiti!!!!!! Just stock up on Mr. Clean Magic Erasers for your wall.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Brilliant! I hope your 2012 is full of days like this, perhaps minus the collaborative mural...

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ha! What a great story and sorry about the walls (they're figuring out how to be co-conspirators now!) but it is so great that they're playing together. Happy 2012!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Love it. Love that they now play together, this is fabulous. But remember, beware the silence....

    ReplyDelete
  11. hip hip hooray! and I think Shannon's onto something with the chalk suggestion. perhaps I will start painting all of my walls with chalkboard paint....

    ReplyDelete
  12. I think you should frame the wall art as a testament to this moment!

    ReplyDelete
  13. The dance move that Blue is doing has been named the Taco in our house. Named by PJ who never had a Taco before she named it. Our kids also do the Double Taco.
    And no matter how well they are getting along and how many dishes I am getting done if I don't "investigate the silence" I always regret it.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Love it! It's so nice when siblings play together. Be glad it was the wall and not crayon on the carpet like I had a few weeks ago. Always check when they're being quiet, sometimes it's cooperative trouble. =)

    ReplyDelete
  15. I have twins - please tell me when this happens! They are 18 months, fighting like crazy and literally do not allow me a spare moment!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Yay!!!

    And I love the pink bows :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. ah hahaha... how quickly we go from YAY! they're being quiet! to YIKES they're being quiet. I promise it does eventually swing back the other way again. At age 7, say. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  18. The picture is great! I love their use of color, the differing intensities and shades, coordinating the tertiary hues.

    No, I have no idea what I am saying. But HOT DAMN what a relief you can breathe a few minutes! I actually remember the first time that happened here, seriously. I didn't know what to do, I just kept walking in and out of rooms. LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  19. big smile! :-) this is so fun that they are playing together! Our boys recently were playing together so well and I found them drawing on the wall also! haha :-) they are adorable even still! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Fantastic! I love it! Well done you.
    Love
    Amy x

    ReplyDelete
  21. Wow, this is fantastic! I am so happy for you. 2012 is staring great for you.

    ReplyDelete
  22. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  23. brilliant. i echo semi, i regret when I don't investigate the silences. for us, silence almost always means vaseline or goldfish crackers in the couch cushions. so happy for you!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I am so glad they are enjoying one another--for their sake and for yours! As for the color on the walls, just make sure that you hide the permanent markers. Or better yet (because two heads are better than one when it comes to finding forbidden things), just stock your home with erasable writing utensils and throw everything else out.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Are you sure team twins didn't discover Mummy's supply of happy brain medicine? And if they did, make sure you keep leaving it where they can find it :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. So wonderful. Hope it's a permanent change for you all. Those dishwasher moments are priceless.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Not the point of the post AT ALL, but...but...they're so darn cute. I love that they're playing together. Your job just got ten times easier I bet. Dew Drop needs a playmate- yesterday.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I will be sending you some Mr. Clean Magic Sponges along with your decant.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I don't even freakin' care about the wall (though clearly that's because it's not my wall ;)) that is soo amazing! I'm so happy to hear you were able to dwell in the moment as well!

    Super exciting!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  30. oh ha ha ha!! So glad they are playing together AND drawing on walls together!

    ReplyDelete
  31. I'll bet you will treasure that wall drawing more than you would a Picasso or a Van Gogh!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Happiest mess ever! Congrats to all of you :)

    ReplyDelete
  33. So funny! And now they're ganging up--watch out now!
    :-)

    ReplyDelete
  34. Happy Mummy, happy babies! Hooray for all three of you!!
    And I'd be on that wall pronto, but that's my neurosis and I'm working on it.

    ReplyDelete
  35. not sure which cracks me up more "chestandback" or "pee potty."

    okay, it's the "pee potty."
    But "chestandback" is pretty dang cute.

    ReplyDelete
  36. They are growing up so fast!!!! And wahoo to the playing together. Not so much about the scheming. ;)

    ReplyDelete

Over to you!