Everybody's different

I often find myself making a lot of comparisons between the boys and even between them and their sister when she was a baby.  I have to keep telling myself that just because they have the exact same DNA they are different.  They are right around the same height, depending on who has had a more recent growth spurt, they have the same size head (but it doesn't look the same since one is more oval and the other is more round), there has always been about 1.5-2 lbs difference between their weights, so in many ways they are the same, but still very different.  I have found that even with the exact same DNA it doesn't mean that they are the same.  The boys have very different personalities. 

Thing 1 is very vocal, hates to settle down, doesn't like to eat all that much, doesn't really like to sleep, very hard headed, very stubborn, loves to play, loves to be the center of attention, can be very shy, really hates women strangers (will scream when a strange woman is within 5 feet of him), loves to be held to take a bottle, refuses to hold his bottle, would rather nurse than take a bottle, has a major temper.  I would say he tends to be on the difficult side. 

Thing 2 is more mellow, more laid back (unless it has to do with food, then you better not mess with him or get in the way of him getting fed), goes to sleep pretty well, eats pretty well, loves to snuggle, will hold his own bottle, loves to play and is pretty out going.  He will wave Hi & Bye, will do the signs for "all done", he seems to be more of a pleaser since he will do these things when you ask him to.  Thing 1 can do them as well, he just won't do them unless he wants to and he never wants to do them when you ask him to.  Thing 2 seems to be a little more sensitive. 

Thing 1 is really bad about always wanting what Thing 2 has, even if he has one just like it, he will want both of them.  He is bad about taking things from Thing 2.  But Thing 2 is finally starting to stick up for himself.  I really try to let them "figure it out" as my friend Katie is so fond of saying.  I don't want to be playing the referee for all of their lives.  But I am noticing that they have very different ways of dealing with conflict, which is surprising since they are so young.  Thing 1 does things head on, Thing 2 is more of the avoidance type.  If it is a toy he really wants or has just taken back from his brother he will run away from his brother, or try to put his body or his back to his brother so that his brother can't get to what ever it is.  I've also noticed that he is not always the push over and is not afraid to speak his mind.

Just another reminder that everybody's different - even identical twins.