Twin FAQ

[pantryslut]

1. Are they identical or fraternal?

Fraternal.

2. Who's the father?

This is complicated. Genetically speaking, black_pearl_10 is the father. Legally speaking, thanks to marriage laws (hey, didja know that one of the purposes of marriage is to 'legitimize' children, that is, give them a legal father regardless of genetic parentage?), imnotandrei's name is on the birth certificate and thus the legal father, unless we try and mess with this down the road, which we might -- and possibly become a groundbreaking test case!

3. Where did you get their names from?

Mostly, I liked the way they sounded, that's all. 'Frances' is Steven's grandmother's name. 'Simone' was inspired by a radio ad for the opera, but also for Nina and de Beauvoir. 'April' and 'Leah' are my own whim.

Their second middle name is G.'s last name; their last name is the same as mine.

4. Can I come over?

If we know you personally, sure.

5. Can I hold them?

Yes. Wash your hands first.

6. How are the cats doing with all this?

Surprisingly well. Coaltrain is extra-needy, and Fritzi is overcoming her natural wariness, but overall, they seem to be adjusting just fine and mostly ignoring the babies.

7. Are you guys getting any sleep?

No. Well, OK, a little sleep, but not much.

8. Which one is Scooba and which one is Roomba? How do you know?

Simone is Roomba; April is Scooba. I knew which was which positionally in the womb, but I didn't know their names until I met them in person. (They actually spent a day as "Baby A" and "Baby B" b/c I hadn't had a chance to really meet Simone properly -- she was in the NICU and I was all IV'd up.)

9. Which one is older?

Simone, by two minutes. She is also the bigger one.

10. When can they come out to play?

In about a month.


Any other questions? Ask away!

Comments

[srl.livejournal.com]

(hey, didja know that one of the purposes of marriage is to 'legitimize' children, that is, give them a legal father regardless of genetic parentage?)

Yup; there's going to be a chapter of my dissertation about how courts and legislatures decided that, in cases of donor insemination (by a heterosexual, married couple-- this was the 1950s and 1960s), the legal father on the birth certificate should be the mother's husband, not the genetic father. Before that, there was considerable legal limbo— including at least one mother's kids who were declared illegitimate for a while because their genetic father wasn't their mother's spouse.

[sfgabe.livejournal.com]

Are you allowed in CA to leave "father" blank?

I have a blank "father" line on my bc, but that was ok in NYC in the 70s, no idea if that's changed.

They also would not let my mother give me my own last name. She was in the process of changing her last name back to her maiden name when I was born so she wanted me to have that one (Scelta). Instead they made her give me her married name (Willis - also not related to me in any biological way). Then, whew, lo to the courts that will not grant an angry, 70s, post-pardon, giant-afroed, second wave, single-by-choice mom what she wants. It got changed with a lot of time in court but it took almost a year.

So yes, the whole system is worthy of some groundbreaking test cases.

[doppmonster.livejournal.com]

Yay! Congratulations! I'm so happy for all of you!!

Bringing you dinner next week. Will poke you to coordinate.

xo

[debbieann.livejournal.com]

so how did the hospital go about telling you that - they didn't just give you a form and say fill this out?


my twin question is - can you tell anything about their personalities? do they sound different? cry a lot?

[abostick59.livejournal.com]

Do either or both of them have a preferred breast? Which one?

[odelenu.livejournal.com]

First of all congratulations to all of you!

Secondly, my partner is the godmother to twins in the uk and the same mum's are about to have another baby. We were looking at baby clothes and I saw some cute ass stuff and I thought of you. Is there anything else you might need or just want? Let me know and if I see anything I can send it down. I also have so much tea right now it is ridiculous, I can send you some of that too.

[innerdoggie.livejournal.com]

What would you like April and Simone's official paternity to be?

For us genealogists who like birth certificates, I'd love if there were a "notes" field, where the family could explain the details.

[oracne.livejournal.com]

Yay babies!

That is all.

[rightkindofme.livejournal.com]

Hi! I'm stalking you through the influence of Mo and Sarah H. This is incredibly nosy so feel free to tell me, "Yeah--go away." It seems as though there is some possibility that you are supplementing with formula. If you are indeed supplementing and you would prefer to do it with breast milk, I have just shy of 100 oz in my freezer. I was seriously overproducing for the first three months. Do you have any interest in it?

~Krissy