No. No. And no. I wondered if Ethan and McKinley would ever fulfill any of those twin things that people talk about. They love each other for sure. (And they love their big sister, too.) But there's not been much that stood out as unique to the twin factor. Until over Christmas break...We had so much fun with family day after day as we stayed down in Martinsville... kids running all day with cousins, adults staying up late playing games, Mamaw & Papa Joe spoiling us all. Surely all of this would lead to the kids sleeping in a bit in the morning, right? No again. 6:00 am. Every morning. Whining and moaning would stream through the monitor and awake me from my short hours of sleep. I had promised Jason he could sleep in every morning of break in exchange for a Saturday morning I really wanted to have the week before. Not very smart in hindsight, but he deserved it.
The third morning of this routine, I just couldn't hardly believe that they really were awake again that early. By the time I ran down the two flights of stairs to their room in the basement, the screaming had stopped and I thought I heard mumbling instead. I slipped inside in the dark and quietly closed the door behind me. The 10 minutes that followed were some of the sweetest moments I've heard.
McKinley: I want Mamaw get me uuuup.... uuuuuuuuuggghhhh....
Ethan (after a short pause): Kinley, why you say, "uuuuuuuuuggghhhh"?
McKinley: Cause I want Mamaw get me up.
Ethan: uuuuuuuuuggghhhh
McKinley: Ethan, why you say, "uuuuuuuuuggghhhh"?
Ethan: Cause I want Mamaw get me up.
McKinley: I want Mommy get me up.
Ethan: Kinley, Mommy can't get you up. She's on a date with Daddy. (We had gone out the night before and Robin put them to bed. Apparently, he hadn't forgotten.)
McKinley: Ethan, you go get Mommy and come back.
Ethan: (struggling to climb out of his bed) Kinley, I can't get out on my own. You go get Mommy and come right back.
McKinley: Ethan, I can't get out on my own. (pause) Ethan, what you doing?
Ethan: Kinley, I have Cars poster. (banging poster on the wall by his bed)
McKinley: Ethan, I have princess poster. (pointing to poster across the room)
After a short break in conversation, McKinley went back to the "I want Mamaw get me up" and it seemed like their conversation had ended. I said, "What if Mommy gets you up?" They both paused as if they were still processing how I got into the room, and then they welcomed me with "Mommy!"
Since that morning, bedtimes and morning times are all chatty times for them. It takes about an hour at night for them to finally fall asleep, which is helping them sleep a little later in the mornings. So it all works out well. One of my favorite things about listening to them is how they use each others' name all the time. It's adorable.
I pray that you, Ethan and McKinley, will always confide in each other and love each other and enjoy the special bond God's given you. And that you will always include Elissa as you do now as your favorite big sister. Thanks for brightening my day at 6:00 am. Love you.
