A Portrait of My Children

Kids, I went to get your picture taken today. This will probably be one of those pictures that all the relatives will have and will follow you for the rest of your life. So let me tell you a bit about yourselves as you are on this day. I am going to do this without using any comparatives, such as more or better, because I have a feeling that as twins  that is all you are going to hear from your relatives and others. Naim is better than Aaron at this. Aaron is more that. When you hear all these comparisons, always remember that it doesn't matter. Your mom and you will always know that you are both special in your own ways as individuals.

Aaron,

You are a stocky, round-faced, Gerber baby who smiles easily and you show off your six teeth that came in almost all at once at six months of age. Your eyes have changed from a brilliant blue to a grey-hazel that changes with what you wear. People say you look like the donor that helped us have you and that you look Russian, as the donor was Russian. I think you look beautiful. You have features that I would call "pretty" even though you probably won't like me saying that later on. When you smile, it is with your whole body. Your eyes look upon me with joy, and your arms and legs kick around with delight at what a wonderful thing it is that has been entertaining you.

Right now, you are doing what Grampa Fred calls "the swim." It is not quite a crawl, but a scoot. You are very proficient at it. You are constantly crawling and exploring and getting into every nook at cranny that we've never thought of baby proofing. Currently you make a daily trip to visit the closest spring door stop. You enjoy the BOOIIING sound that it makes when you hit it with your finger. You take the little rubber knob off and I have to watch that you don't swallow it. You can keep yourself busy exploring a box or pulling books off the bookshelf (all of them.), but when I come close, I am greeted with a big smile and an immediate scoot in my direction. When reaching me, you try to climb up on me, you're getting pretty close to being able to do it, and I pick you up to get a dose of Aaron cuddliness.

And you are cuddly. You are very affectionate and love kisses and hugs. I am your favorite plaything right now. You like me to hold you and bounce you on my lap and you arch your back so you can hang upside down. You like any sort of movement.

Your grampa says you are "tough" because sometimes you will fall over on your head and just laugh about it. I've always seen you as sensitive. When you cry, it is because you are really hurt. And I don't just mean physically. You have cried when I have had to step over you and could not reciprocate your affection right away. Today you were so offended when you crawled into the kitchen at your daddy's house and I busy cleaning the kitty litter. I know I'm such a mean mommy to not let you play with a plastic trash bag with dirty kitty litter in it! But you soon forgave me and when I was busy with my hands full of cleaning the litter, you were satisfied to just plant yourself around my legs.

You are mostly easy going and you like to socialize with other people. You are willingly held by others and will soon smile at them and participate in their games. You like animals and always want to pet the kitties and Abbey. You graciously put up with Abbey licking your face and are always interested in what she is up too. You can be quiet for long periods of time, but you do say your mamamas, and dadadas, and just today you were saying va va va. You also make your "yum yum" noises when you eat. You are a bit of a picky eater, but given a few tries, you will usually eat what I give you.  You love to snuggle up and touch my face with your fingers. You are a loving delight from your widows peak of dark hair to your toes that are always in your mouth. I love you more than words can express and am so thankful that I get to have you in my life.

Naim,

You are such a cutie patootie imp with a secret smile. Your smile is secret because you show it only to those closest to you. I'm so lucky to be one of those people because when you do smile, its BIG! Your little mouth just transforms into a huge amount of joy. Lately you've been very proud to show off your two little bottom teeth, with another one on the way. I always get the feeling that you've been here before, and this time you are going to study things a little harder and enjoy things a little more and have things your way a little bit more often. There is just a knowing about you. You are bright and understand things quickly, and you are only going to do what you are interested in. You have a bit of blond hair coming in, and sky blue eyes, but other than that, you probably look a bit more like my side of the family. You have a bit of a mischievous side, and there is always something ticking behind your eyes that you might not quite be ready to share. You watched your brother scoot around for weeks in confusion and frustration that you couldn't get to where you wanted to go yourself. Then just about a week ago, you just started to crawl a perfectly executed crawl. At first you tired easily, but within days, you were off. You think ahead and like to know where you are going first. You don't just haul off with no destination in mind. I see you spot your target and make your plan.

You also need some time to think about people. Mom is number one right now, but I don't think you want me to know that. But every once in a while, I get lucky enough to have a full fledged Naim hug, and you even try to give me gooey kisses sometimes. With others, you like to watch them from afar for a while before you'll let them get to know you. When you don't feel comfortable in a situation, you let us know. Today we took you to get your picture taken, and well, that photographer woman was just off her rocker, wasn't she? She was making funny noises and fiddling with some big machine while you were just supposed to sit there on a table. You were having none of that, and you made it perfectly clear with the most sorrowful pouty teary face ever. But then I would pick you up and you would immediately clam up and be perfectly content.

But when you are home, oh how you talk! You talk all the time! You like to hear yourself talk and watch yourself in the mirror as you do. Your first words were "ni ni ni" which I think is from hearing your name, Niam. Then once you were on your daddy's lap and you looked at me and said "ma ma ma" and I got tears in my eyes. You didn't know what you were saying, I know, but it was the first time I got even close to being called Mama. Since then, you haven't stopped talking. You like me to bounce you around, too, but you say "AAAAHHHH" and enjoy listening to the vibrato that occurs when you are being bounced.

And Naim, there was a time when you couldn't figure the whole eating thing out, but now, you eat and eat and eat. We can't interrupt you when you're eating. That is NOT ALLOWED. You open your mouth so big to get your cereal and fruits and vegetables, I think you are going to eat the spoon and my hand up to my elbow. You haven't declined any food that I have offered you yet.

We are currently having a battle over changing diapers. I want to get you changed and dressed, and you want to flip over and crawl off the changing table. You are not happy when I flip you back over, but we've negotiated and it seems to be working out that I change you first, and then let you flip over for a minute at the end.

Naim, you are a trip. I can't wait to hear what will come out of your mouth when your vocalizing starts turning into words. But I'm so happy with you right now, I hold you when you put your head on my chest smile, and I wish the moment would go on forever.

  I didn't get my double smiley twin picture that I wanted, but perhaps that was too much to ask? (I'm lucky to have gotten Naim at all!) Instead, I got a portrait in time of both my guys as they are; a wonderful time that will never come again.

Comments

[cluttergirl]

What a fantastic gift that is, to write such a comprehensive lovingly clear portrait of both your boys! I can imagine them reading this someday, maybe to their own kids, and knowing how you cared for them, and getting to know the them that was they way back then. :) Beautiful photos. And hearing your descriptions, it is not just a double smiley twin picture but a true personality portrait.

[shannon]

Aww... Naim looks so thoughtful, doesn't he? And I love how Aaron is reaching over in the doouble photo to touch his leg. They are such a tight couple of brothers, you can just see it.

So darn cute!

[momof2]

Wow. I wish my mom had taken the time to write for my twin and I this way. You are so tuned-in to your babies!

That last picture just makes me gush! It's adorable.