The Chain-Reaction

The twins turn six months old this week, and we've noticed recently that they're becoming a bit more aware of each other. It's pretty subtle -- it's not like they're suddenly playing patty-cake or singing "Ebony and Ivory" together or anything. But now when we sit them in front of each other, they'll actually look at each other curiously for a while. Then Riley will pat Leah's head or something. And then Leah will usually take Riley's bib and shove it into her mouth. This looks cute, but actually amounts to a semi-choke hold as the bib tightens around Riley's neck. So it usually means we have to separate them and that twin discovery time is over before it fully began.

Kathy and I have been excited to watch the babies become more aware of each other, but this development definitely has some major drawbacks. The biggest drawback is the phenomenon I'll call the Chain Reaction. The Chain Reaction starts when one baby gets upset for some reason and starts crying. Then the second baby hears the first baby and gets scared and starts crying. Then the first baby hears the second baby and gets even more upset and starts crying louder. Then the... well, I think you get the idea -- each baby cries louder and louder until both babies are hysterically yowling at maximum volume.

Aw yeah, good times.

Now, Leah and Riley are generally pretty happy babies so we don't get the Chain Reaction happening that much. When it does start happening, we'll usually take the originally offending baby (usually Riley) to another room, cutting off the chain before it gets too far. But once in a while, when we're trapped in one place for some reason, the full-blown Chain Reaction can rear its ugly head.

The Chain Reaction was in full effect yesterday at the doctor's office, where we went for their six-month checkup. Leah had fallen asleep in the car and didn't wake up until we were sitting in the doctor's office. Riley was awake and pretty calm. From that point, the situation went a little something like this:

Leah: [What the -- Where the hell am I? This isn't my house! Why is the light so weird and fluorescenty here!? What's that weird smell!? Why is that guy in the white coat here?!] Waaah!

Riley: [Somebody's screaming! Something doesn't seem quite right here. Who is that guy in the white coat? Why do mommy and daddy look so nervous?] Waaaaah!

Leah: [Somebody else is screaming! I knew something was wrong! And that guy in that white coat is poking at me!] WAAAAAAH!

Riley: [Leah's screaming! She must know something's up! Why aren't mommy and daddy saving us from this white-coated man? Maybe I need to scream louder.] WAAAAAAAAH!!

Leah: [Oh no! Mommy's paying attention to Riley instead of me! Maybe I need to scream a little louder to really get their attention!] WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!

Riley: WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!

Leah: WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!

Yes, good times indeed. It was actually kinda funny watching the doctor trying to do a real examination under these conditions. I mean, can you really hear anything through the stethoscope when there are two babies simultaneously screaming in your face at the top of their lungs? The doctor gave Leah and Riley a clean bill of health, but I dunno, I'm pretty sure he was just trying to get rid of us.