Two Sides of the Same Coin

Krista, my daughter is going to be a year old in a couple of months and I cannot believe the steady pace in which she is growing lately. When she was born, I still remember how scared I was to hold her since she was so tiny ! Kevin by then was almost two and half years old and I was so used to dealing with his toddler ways. So, when I suddenly found myself confronting Krista’s small frame, I became uncomfortable at first. The transition back to basics of tending to the new born was painfully slow but I kept up with taking care of the newest baby of our family and thrived at that within few weeks.

                                                               Krista was beautiful and perfect. She was a very calm baby and did only cry for attention when her needs are not met promptly. She slept through at night even in the beginning months and I had to wake her up every time for feedings. Kevin as a baby was also very good at sleeping and he was not a colic either. He doesn’t make a fuss at bed time and always stick to his routine…and any other similarities K&K had all ended there! In some ways, they couldn’t be more different and I am going to try capturing some of the stark differences that I have noticed in both my kids over time.
                           Krista love bath times unlike Kevin who used to wail at the sight of the bath tub! He wouldn’t stop crying until I pick him up from his bath and  is all dried up. My husband videoed several clips of Kevin’s chaotic bathing incidents at the time  and we have fun watching the tapes with him now. He gets so embarrassed by the video and he even thinks that “he really cried like a baby then”. Krista on the other hand, greatly enjoys water. She splashes around in the tub and giggles hysterically when I put water on her. Her smile is very adorable, specially now with the two teeth that is popping out in her bottom gum. She  grabs my hand while I put soap on her and she tries to take soap from me. I am pretty sure she thinks I am playing some sort of game with her in the bath and she is having so much fun while at it! We don’t even need any bath toys!

Krista is also very brave and ‘social’. By social I mean that she doesn’t shy away from people when she meets them. When some one offers to pick her up, she just let them! Krista doesn’t mind being held by someone else other than her Mommy and Daddy. She is kind of like a princess receiving her subjects and let them adore her!  Kevin when he was a baby was just the opposite. He won’t let anybody take him or go to no one. All he wanted was his parents at his side. I had a bit of a tough time when I had to go back to work after maternity leave. Kevin had to get used to his grand mother who would be watching him while I was away. It certainly took time for  the “getting used to” part, but he did alright at the end. But now, he is very warm and friendly. He greets every one with a smile and this happens even at stores or malls when I take him shopping. He says “hi” to strangers and smile sweetly at them and they cannot help reciprocating his sweetness. A sign of my baby growing up and evolving!

   Another difference which is getting increasingly noticeable these days with Krista is that she is a very picky eater. She just doesn’t eat certain food items that I put on her tray. She has affinity towards sweeter dishes- sweet potato, fruit cereals and all kinds of fruits. She says a big ‘Nay’ in her own way to real food varieties like meat, vegetables etc. She just pushes them away with finality each time. I am trying every day just to make her taste the dishes she is rejecting just because she is denying the goodness of it to her little body but no luck still. Kevin was/is a role model to all babies when it comes to eating. Even now, he is keeping up with healthy eating habits. He eats every thing. I mean fruits, vegetable, all kinds of meat, eggs and even spinach! Yes, can you believe it? He will go crazy for chocolates but who doesn’t? Thank god he still doesn’t know that his Mommy is in the same boat with him when it comes to chocolates! Also, Kevin doesn’t mind drinking plain water instead of juice so I just count my blessings in that department too.
  I know there are still too many things to point out on this topic- The  attitudes and behaviors that characterizes my kiddos which will define their personality eventually, turning them both in to wonderful people that they would be one day. I discover something new in them each day and it presents certain challenges occasionally. But I do love the excitement involved in tackling those challenges or just simply enjoy my kids and our moments together. After all, what they are is just the two sides of  the same coin. Have you noticed the personality traits your kids display occasionally? Have you tried to analyse (knowingly or unknowingly)  how they differ from each other or how alike they are sometimes? I would love to hear what you have to say…