It's hard to put into words exactly how much joy it gives me to watch these two together. From the moment that our family went from three to four I was obsessed with seeing my two children together, even when in those early days it was simply sharing some eye contact or a little smile. But as they have grown older they have just got closer and closer. And while with each month that passes I don't think they can possibly get any closer, somehow they seem to manage it. They are such complete and utter best friends; they light up for one another, they live for cuddles with each other and to make the other laugh. And while they do have the odd squabble now and again, they really are few and far between and while they can both hold a grudge against us grown ups for a good length of time after a telling off, all is quickly forgiven for each other.
This past month the little lady's language seems to have experienced a total explosion. The simpler sentences are now increasingly complex and she understands so much (I think a lot more than we often give her credit for), and with her increasing vocabulary and improved communication has come even more sibling fun. They share so many imaginative moments together now as they play (all instigated by her who is the more imaginative of the two) and their games are increasingly more and more elaborate.
The result is often carnage for poor old mummy, as their favourite games at present seem to involved collecting every single cushion and pillow from every single room, and using them to build dens and big beds together. They also chat more now at bedtime (when we really wish they would just go to sleep) but listening to them talk about their days and tell each other little stories often leaves me lingering at their bedroom door to catch the little gems they come out with.
They are the epitome of the word "tight" and it's becoming impossible to ever imagine them ever being anything but that now. The end of the summer will see our little man head off to big school, and see our little lady start at preschool. And while approaching last September I was filled with worry about the affect that separating them for part of the day while he was at preschool would have on their friendship, I'm not so worried this time around. My babies are growing up, but they aren't growing apart... instead they are growing together. They are tangling up the stories of their lives with one another's, making memories and sharing memories and building something so strong... something that is stronger when they are together.