Mommy and Babies Make Three

We had dinner with a good friend last night and her twins. We were there the day these babies were born and have watched them for the past three years morph into little people. Last night it dawned on both of us that these are not babies anymore. We don’t need to run behind them hunched over waiting for the one misstep that will lead to a busted lip and screaming fit. Motor skills are up and running. When I say running I literally mean running around the patio jumping for joy at the bottom of a step.

Little Miss. M arrived wearing a shirt that read “I (Heart) Ponies”. On her arm was one of her mother’s old purses filled with My Little Ponies. There is Pinky (the pink horse), Purpely (the purple horse), Orangey (the orange horse) and oddly enough Key Lime (the yellow horse). Miss. M. has this wonderful fake, infectious laugh that is all teeth. It reaches into your chest putting your heart in a vice grip.

Mr. J has become the epitome of a boy. He was the one referenced above running the patio and jumping down stairs. When Mommy grabbed his arm to tell him to sit down he promptly began telling her “Quit it. Stop doing that. Quit your pinching” followed by very loud “Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!.” Where is CPS when he needs them? He is not the first one to realize that a mother’s embarrassment leads to a quick release of the arm.

We both left in awe of a woman raising twins all by herself. How exhausting it must be. She said trips to the grocery store have been reduced to no more than the thirty minute attention span of two three year olds. I picture that game show Supermarket Sweep. Mommy running the aisles, arms swinging items into the basket, throwing everything on the conveyor belt, glaring at the slow cashier, dashing to the car a screaming child under each arm and a puzzled look when unpacking that says “Did I mean to pick this up?”.

Both of us left dinner last night with a yearning to spend more time. To spend time savoring the small but rapid changes that take place in the blink of an eye. To spend time enjoying conversation and laughter with a close friend.