What I didn't realise...

... is that having a baby, two babies, is a lot like falling in love.
I am in love with my children. I lie near them at night - their cot is pulled up alongside my bed - and my heart fills and swells with love.
I hold them and stroke them and tell them they are my beloveds and I love them.
I love the smell of their skin, the softness of their heads.
I miss them when I am not with them, and delight in seeing them when they awaken from their nap.
I love it when they stretch their arms above their heads, and crunkle up their faces and their backs arch up from the matress and they wonkily clench their fists.
When they were tiny weeny babies I said that I was sad they were going to change as I loved their smallness.
Now I love their ten pound chunkiness, their little fattening thighs, their plumping cheeks, which I bite (with my lips pulled over my teeth...).
I love the way Twin One tizzies her head as she homes in on my nipple, and Twin Two gets in close and holds one hand to her eyebrow as if she is concentrating on a puzzle.
I love the way they nustle up against me, and the way their bodies go heavy when they fall asleep in my arms.
I love the way they sink into sleep when I dance with them, and drape over my arms like leopards in a tree.
I love the way they splash in the bath, and their legs splay open when they are on their backs on their changing mats.
I love the way Twin Two cheers up when music comes on, and Twin One breaks into smiles.
I love their coos. I love their coos. I love Twin Ones sweet, sweet voice.
I love, love, love, love, love, love, love my babies.