Birthday Girls

Our twins--Halle and Emma--turn four years old today.They truly are the apple of my eye. I always wanted a little girl, and I was so thrilled when our oldest, Madison, was born. But to have two little girls at once--is indescribable. But I'll try.

Halle pushed Emma out of position A and into the world first--but she had a difficult time remembering how to breathe. The hushed voices of the medical staff over in the corner, while Paula was getting ready to deliver Emma, was more than a little distracting. Before long, Halle was brought to the neo-natal intensive care unit while her sister breathed her first. As a parent, you quickly learn to appreciate life and God's gift of children when you see your children born. But to have twins--after a miscarriage--and to have one placed in NICU for a day or two, brings the joy to the forefront. So many of the babies that we'd walk past in order to visit Halle, were in dire straights--tiny, helpless, some with little chance to survive--and it was more upsetting to see what others faced than to worry about our own little girl.

In the end, Halle was fine and was turned over to our care in a very short time. We were concerned about mixing these identical twins up, but we came to a plan--Halle would wear pink and Emma would wear purple. But this wasn't necessary, because we could tell the differences very early on. But looking back at old photos, the colors are helpful in identifying them. Now Halle loves pink and even gets upset when the pink item is not offered to her first. Emma is far more tolerant, but does indeed prefer purple. There's one point for the nurture debate.

Halle has always been the shyest and quietest of the twins, but she was the first to take an interest in me. She ventured out from Paula's care to see me as nurturing and safe, to miss me, and reach for me--and when that moment strikes for any of your kids, it's amazing. Emma was always resilient and a little detached from me, but then maybe a year and a half to two years ago, she began to almost favor me. Halle kind of tucked back into her mom about this time, and Emma became the one who would sit and snuggle me for long periods of time and tell me, "Daddy, you're my best friend!"

Emma and I have really formed a special connection, and she gives the best hugs of any one of our kids. She will camp out on my lap or beside me for hours sometimes. More recently, Halle has come back and been close like that, but she's naturally more independent. Emma seems to be grounded in others, though she is talkative, observational, and a little bossy, while Halle can occupy herself for long periods. Halle also knows herself and her limitations--she will actually admit that she's tired and cuddle up for a nap, she also is content to watch when she doesn't feel comfortable doing what the other kids are doing. Emma, however, will never admit she's tired and usually goes to bed very reluctantly--she also tends to dive into things. Halle has recently begun to ask for equal time with me by climbing up on my lap when she sees Emma there, or by jumping on my back and wrestling me when she wants her physical contact. It's sweet.

One of my greatest joys was in discovering I could tell their voices apart--this was right about when they turned three. They have never been the inseparable, co-existing being that you think of when you imagine twins. They came into the world needing their mom very much, and didn't seem to take much of an interest in each other. It wasn't until recently that I think they even got the twin-thing, and that they are uniquely close and alike. Of course they get all kinds of attention out in public, but that's just the way life treats them. They play together well, but have their knock-down-drag-out fights.

I could say so much more about what these girls mean to me and how much I look forward to holding them and kissing them and hearing them talk to me each day, but I think you've got the picture. Happy Birthday, girls! I love you. You can stop growing now!

Comments

[Kevin and Gwen Baldwin]

Dear John and Family,

We enjoyed reading this tribute to your beautiful little girls, and look forward to seeing all of you Wednesday night at your place. Many wishes for a happy birthday!

The Baldwin Family

[Darnell Lamb]

Happy Birthday Ladies!! You da bombs!!