I suppose I really cannot make a broad statement about singleton toddlers, but I have to say, I do believe twins just simply have a special empathy towards each-other and even other children at a very early age and it is a marked one. Yesterday and today, Carolyn and Helen went to the aid of the other if one was upset about something--just to give a hug, or a kiss. It's completely adorable and amazing to me. If they hear a baby crying (or an older child), they will almost always remark "baby crying! baby crying!" and seemed distressed.
Today, as with any other day of the week, I have to remind them not to wander into a street unless they are holding the hand of a grown-up. We do go in the street-but it is only to cross a quiet cul-de-sac or perhaps the Synagogue parking lot. I still do not take any chances on most Bethesda streets because I do not trust people to see and/or slow down appropriately. I have also taught them to hold each-other's hands in Stores, crossing a street or in any place I must have them stick together. They do not like riding in the stroller at this point. They have now come to enjoy holding the other's hand and make frequent requests to do so.

Lizzie spent time with us today and brought a large purple bottle of bubbles with her that were leftover from when she was little. (She is 12). She played the part of pied piper today at the Park with the bubbles and the girls were actively giggling and chasing bubbles, even demanding that she blow "BEEEG BUBBUHS!" Carolyn, in particular, likes to show Lizzie how she can build a "high tower" with her blocks. She is very good at it, and I told Mark that alot of her structures look none too disimilar from Frank Gehry's style. (http://www.pritzkerprize.com/gehry/gehrypg.htm
Frank is simply going to have to come up with some new ideas or he will have competition soon from at least one Catan.

Over and out until tomorrow

It's about time for another post! The girls have been quite funny lately, and tomorrow, officially turn 27 months old. We spend most of the 26month period recalibrating their finely tuned sleep patterns, but I think they really quite enjoyed staying up and talking to each-other during naptime and bedtime just because they realized they can.

Everyday, we are astounded by an observation, a new word, or even a new physical skill from the girls. From our vantage points, we are enjoying the observations they blurt out. Yesterday, Helen saw some balloons attached to a For Sale sign that were bouncing in the wind. She joyously announced "Balloons Dancing!!" We were on our way to one of the various parks we now visit and the girls like to look at the minivan windows and sometimes make observations if they are not otherwise engrossed in a book they've brought along. While at the park yesterday, Carolyn observed that the rock-climbing "pegs" on the toddler equipment looked like telephone receivers. Rather than place her foot there to start a climb, she bent over sideways and placed her ear against one of the pegs. "Helllloooo" she said, waiting for someone to reply. Mark mentioned that some flattened balloons caused both Carolyn and Helen to blurt out at the same time "air got out".

The big hit of the week, so far, was a visit from their Uncle Larry and Cousin Laura. Larry was thoughtful enough to bring along a big bottle of bubbles and he patiently blew bubbles, on a 90 degree day no less, for over an hour for the girls to chase. They loved it and have requested bubbles every single day since. Lizzie, our Mothers' Helper, did the honors yesterday afternoon. The girls now equate Lizzie's presence with a visit to the grocery store--an event they covet. In Helen and Carolyn's adorable young minds, the grocery store = BalloonAPalooza; food, drinks and various pharmeceuticals being a lowly secondary attraction--if not a disturbance in terms of them getting TO the balloons as fast as possible. The lobster tank was a big draw on the first and second visits but is now last place to visit, behind the frozen foods. I think the grande finale of the week, frankly, will occur when we visit with our beloved "Aunt Nette" on Friday morning at her swimming pool. The girls are fearless now (maybe a little too fearless) in the babypool and love to play in there, literally, for hours.

One of the joys of raising children is that they bring back a sense of wonder and joy in experiencing the most simple of events. We found an exotic catepillar the other day at the park that was totally yellow and very hairy. I'm sure it's some strain of common gypsy moth, but I'd never seen that kind of catepillar before and the 3 of us enjoyed playing with it and touching it's fur. Both girls remembered the catepillars we'd seen (and given rides to on the swings) earlier this year and those catepillars had all been black, small and not hairy. Going to the park has been an interesting experience as well. It's always struck me as rather odd why other Moms, or in our area, other Nannies, schlep along additional toys from home as if the Park needs augmentation. There is so much to see and do at a Park and it just requires a little creativity and imagination to make things seem "new" and intersting. The three of us can be quite entertained by watching an ant carry a breadcrumb back to its' anthill, a butterfly enjoying some sweet nectar off a flower, throwing pebbles down the various drainage holes (I hope no one from Montgo. Park service is reading this), playing "making food" with sand in a box.

We decided to go to our Synagogue this morning since I had a book to return and the girls like running around and looking at the pretty stained glass windows. I've been going to the Synagogue at least a few times a week in the hopes of acclimating them to their future Preschool. It's going well. Our girls are egalitarian, and know, to go straight to the kippah-holder to get their yarmulkes' on before entering the Shul. Usually, they go straight for the leftovers from someone's Bar or Bat Mitzvah as these are usually colorful green, blue, or gold ones with inscriptions inside. If only these teenagers knew how much pleasure they were bringing to a set of 2yr. olds! Helen then darts up the long hall, after first pointing out the entrance to preschool and saying "there preschool" and Carolyn insists on being held, and then "presented" to the Synagogue. Do I have a debutante in-waiting?
We were having a very good time running around the Bimah and chairs and playing a fast game of chase until we were very nicely told to pipe down since a funeral was going to be taking place shortly.
We left and went back to the large department store we were at yesterday. The girls insisted on taking a pair of sunglasses from the first floor in order to go upstairs. Maybe they thought they might have autograph seekers, and therefore needed to be incognito. I decided to try on a very glamorous gown...just in case I get asked to attend the Academy Awards one day. The girls found this to an interesting proposition, since I was given a large dressing room. I was surprised the saleslady had any thought to give me service since there were at least 3 buttons ripped off my skirt this morning and a nice slab of dirt from Carolyn's hand on my shirt. Oh well, I tried on the dress and had good fun while the girls chased each=other around a three-way mirror.
We had to sadly return the sunglasses as no autograph seekers were at the store today.

The girls had a great day at the Library and the park (albeit breifly) later in the day.
Tomorrow, it's off to our last Art Class until County classes resume in September.

Stay cool!

We just created (well, Mark created this for me) this little blogspot for me to record some of our daily Helen and Carolyn shenanigans. This month, August, will be a free-form month since all of our summer classes (art, music, gym--oh to be 2yrs. old again!) are now finished. In September, the girls start preschool.

Carolyn likes to imitate me talking or doing things. So, for example, if I am washing dishes, like I was this morning (or any morning, really), she decided her balloon needed a good scrub. I turned around to see tiny hands pushing forth a partially deflated mylar birthday balloon. Carolyn would not accept the fact that balloons don't need to be scrubbed, so I had to put some foam on it for her to be satisfied. I think this, in part, recovered my recently defunct status of superhero...something I have not been since last Saturday when she requested that I fly in the park and realized I didn't have superpowers. That led to roughly an 8 minute tantrum.

Helen is oblivious to cleaning. She much prefers to sit down with a good book, or jump in her castle or play in with her produce stand and "make food". She loves to parrot anything she hears...and likes to loudly express her opinions. This morning, due to extreme heat in the DC area, we decided to descend on Lord + Taylor, a local department store. The girls loved darting in and out of the clothes racks, out of dressing rooms, and grabbing some brassieres and yelling "Mommies' Elbows!" The salespeople found it amusing, but some of the ladies shopping clearly did not.

We then visited our friend Ina and spent some time in her glorious backyard today (replete with a fabulous pool) and helped her water some flowers and plants.

tune in tomorrow for more updates.

This is from a set of photos taken by a professional photographer right after Carolyn and Helen turned two. You can click the picture to enlarge it.