The Same, Yet Different

Eli and Maddux have SO much in common. And then at times they are so different. In an effort to keep all of their similarities and differences straight, I thought I'd make a list:

Same:
- They both fall asleep unassisted 99% of the time. And they both like to fall asleep in their crib, not being held.
- They both have more energy than they know what to do with. From the moment Eli wakes up, he hits the ground running and doesn't stop until he is nestled in his crib. Maddux is turning out to be the same way. While I'm nursing her at 8AM, she pushes her legs against my leg or the chair constantly, letting me know she is ready to jump NOW.
- They both like their food. Maddux didn't and doesn't nurse long, but she is just efficient, because she's obviously getting the calories. And now that she eats 'solids', she seems to gobble up anything and everything I serve her, much like her brother.
- My favorite: both kids are way happy. 24-7. People comment to me about this all the time too, so it's not just from a Mommy's perspective. (In truth, I see not-happy times, but that's usually due to Eli not getting what he wants, of course.)
- Both Eli and Maddux were born with very little hair, and they stay(ed) that way. Eli was still barely growing hair on his first birthday and it looks like Maddux is following suit. She has a little more than he did at her age, but no where near enough to even think about putting a hair-clip or bow in.
- They both love books. Eli still 'reads' on his own in blanket time, and he loves loves loves to have books before (and after) naptime and bedtime. Maddux seems to really enjoy this too.
- Both kids learned to roll from their backs to their stomachs first. And both refuse(d) to learn to get themselves back on their stomachs, so they whine(d) and complained like a reverse-turtle, stuck in an uncomfortable position until someone assists them. Once I roll(ed) them to their backs, they would immediately flip to their stomachs again.

Different:
- Eli maybe spit-up two or three times in his entire two years of life, and those instances were maybe due to an extra large burp after a meal. Maddux, on the other hand, spits up at least ten times each day (no exaggeration) and there is no telling when or where she will strike. The problem with that lately is she refuses to stay on her back when you put her down. She just has to roll onto her stomach. When she does, she promptly spits up. (This is a warning to anyone who might be watching her in the next year or so. If you put her on your carpet, USE A TOWEL OR BLANKET under her. Otherwise you, like us, will be cleaning your carpet.)
- Eli was never a drooler. When he is/was teething, you'd see a little wet spot on his shirt from time to time, but even that was rare. Maddux is a BIG drooler. Especially now that she's teething.
- Eli didn't really find his voice until six-months or so. Maddux has been a loudmouth since three months. And when I say loud, I mean LOUD. I took her to Publix while Eli was at school this morning and people stopped and stared every chance they got. This girl will not be a wallflower!
- Eli was never a snuggler. He wouldn't fall asleep on your shoulder and he didn't like to be rocked to sleep or held to be calm or anything. Only now that he's a little older does he sometimes cuddle with me when he's tired. Maddux isn't a huge snuggler, but she's much more than Eli was. She likes to fall asleep in her crib too, but I think you could rock her to sleep without too much protest. And she'll snuggle against your chest and such her thumb when the mood strikes her too.