Double Trouble, Double Schmouble

I've got a new pet peeve.  I'm sick of seeing twins portrayed as evil/naughty/creepy on tv and in movies.  I'm fed up with watching a cartoon with the boys and seeing their faces as it dawns on them that two of the onscreen characters are reviled by all those around them because of their bad/weird behaviour. "We're not like that, mummy.  We don't do that" they say in voices seeking reassurance.

I don't want the two of them to grow up thinking there's a certain type of behaviour expected of twins.  Or that the world is going to see the two of them as a challenge.  Its okay for ME to say that they're a challenge because I'm their ma, but don't you dare come over to me in the park and say "Twins?  Oho!  double trouble, eh?"

Sure, my boys aren't angels.  Yes, they drive me insane on a daily basis with their "Muuuuum!  He's not yetting me play wiv him!", "He's being RUDE again, Mum!", "I don't yike you!"s.  I admit that they are very good at cooking up all kinds of schemes that make me want to pull my hair out and throttle them at the same time.  But they are my boys.  My babies.  My twins.  And my Mother Bear instincts are kicking in again.

So enough with the double trouble.  Please just show us some twins that get along, that look out for each other, that play fun imaginary games in the backyard together and who share their snacks without being asked. Because otherwise I'm going to have to start telling my kids they're like Double Rainbows Across The Sky to boost morale. 

 

A Very Hungry Birthday

We had a party for El on the weekend - just a little get together with some friends and other babies - and since Elly is such a huge eater (and because my wonderful blogger buddy Jen suggested it), it was a Very Hungry Caterpillar Party.

I spent a couple of days painting scenes from the book on our windows because...well why not, right?  Halfway through the first window I realised I was crazy, but by then I was committed.  Thankfully Amber came over on Friday and did an amazing job of the second window's sun and dots and coached me through the Hungry Caterpillar himself.

I also made some pretty awesome cupcakes if I do say so myself.  The outside just looked pretty plain...although my dear husband spent a night in front of the television cutting and gluing these little cupcake toppers onto toothpicks (if you haven't read the book, these are images of all the food the Hungry Caterpillar eats over a period of a week).

But it was the inside of the cupcakes that were really special...

Rainbows in honour of the wonderful colours in the book itself, with a lemoney cream cheese icing on top.

They were a big hit with everyone, including the birthday girl, who positively bounced in her chair when she saw the cupcakes.  Just like her mama, she loves her food...

And her big brothers were pretty please with them too.

 

 And Caleb decided that it wasn't a party until someone got nekkid

It was lovely having the kiddies over to help celebrate Elly's birthday and to see them playing nicely together.  I feel like we'll be seeing these friends grow up together at this table.

And speaking of playing nicely together, here's Owen being Prince Charming to Jocelyn's Princess, helping her down the stairs in her beautiful party dress.

Happy Birthday Elly, and thanks to everyone for all your lovely birthday wishes.

I Carry Her On My Left Side

I was driving Elliot to her one year doctor's appointment this morning and turned on the CBC's The Current.  They were interviewing Xinran, a Chinese journalist and novelist who has written extensively about the devastating choices many Chinese mothers have to make due to the country's one-child policy.

As I drove along in the sunshine, with Elly sleeping peacefully in her car seat behind me, I felt overwhelmed with emotion.  Tears fell into my lap as Xinran recounted some of the saddest stories of newborn daughters being tossed aside, like trash, because they were not boys, of daughters being abandoned in the middle of the night, because they were not boys, of mothers drowning their daughters, because they were not boys, of mothers committing suicide, not being able to deal with their actions. 

I looked in the rearview mirror at my beloved daughter.  I remembered how thrilled Mark and I were when she was born, how much I loved her the instant I saw her, how perfect she was.  How on earth could you...my mind couldn't process how those mothers must have felt.  My heart broke for them, for those unwanted girls. 

Xinran went on to talk about adoption in China and how she has spoken with mothers who's families send their daughters away for adoption.  They all ask her, "Do you think the foreigners know how to hold my baby?  Tell the foreign mothers don't hold my baby on the right arm, on the left please because the left side is close to the heart. My baby will feel safe."

Let me always carry my daughter on my left side.  Let her always feel safe and loved.  And wanted.

If you want to listen to the interview, you can go here, or read about Xinran's book Message from an Unknown Chinese Mother: Stories of Loss and Love here and here. 

Happy First Birthday

I've spent a lot of time trying to think what to write for your first birthday, Elliot my love, and nothing seemed right.  I said to your daddy "I just want to put her on the blog, just capture her very essence, but I can't find the words."  

He said, "A picture is worth a thousand words".

I've been singing the same line from an old song over and over today and I think your daddy, who loves you so very much, gorgeous girl, is right.  

Happy Birthday, sweet girl.  We're so very glad you came along to join us.

I give her all my love/ that's all I do/

And if you saw my love/ you'd love her too/ I love her

                                                                                     - The Beatles, I Love Her