When I found out we were pregnant with Bug, I just assumed that he would come out looking like an exact copy of Binker, same features, same coloring, same personality. Being so close in age, I couldn't imagine him being anything but a slightly younger version of Binker's twin. So when Bug was born it was a pretty big shock. He looked nothing like Binker, his facial features were entirely different, he had less hair than Binker did at birth, and it was much lighter. Also, Binker has big beautiful brown eyes, and Bug has these amazing blue eyes, (where the heck did those come from??). I have always wondered what color eyes my kids would have. My Mom has brown eyes, but my Dad has hazel, so I knew that if I married a person with light-colored eyes, I stood a 25% chance of having a child with light eyes too, (I learned about all this in 10th grade biology, when we studied genetics for a total of maybe two weeks, so I am clearly an expert). When I married Husband I assumed our kids would have brown eyes, as I had always been told that brown is the dominant gene, but I figured that if any of our kids ended up having light eyes they would either be hazel or green. But blue? That was definitely a surprise. It really makes me wonder, if we ever have another child, what that one will look like.
The differences between the boys don't stop with just their looks though. Bug has posed new challenges to me that I didn't have with Binker. For instance, Bug loves to climb. It seems like every time I turn around he is climbing up onto something new - and it's always something that is hazardous to children. With Binker, I could just block his access to dangerous things and he would move on to something else, but Bug is persistent in his attempts to get around my child-proofing. I guess persistence is a good quality to have, but it keeps me busy!
They are even different when it comes to eating. Binker likes to stay clean while he eats. He takes small bites, and chews his food until it is completely gone before he takes another bite. Once he is full he won't eat anything else, not even favorite items. (I have even seen him turn away M&M's - if I hadn't given birth to him, I would say this kid can't be mine!) Bug on the other hand, LOVES food. I think he has food radar, no matter what he's doing or where he is, he always seems to know when someone else is eating and he comes running out, hoping to get a bite. He shovels food into his mouth in fistfuls, making a huge mess all over his face and hands, and he could care less. Meal time is never really over for Bug, even after he has finished a huge dinner, once he is out of his high chair, he will often wander over to Binker's high chair to sneak food off of it!
Last weekend we took a trip to the beach, and they displayed their vastly different personalities there as well. Binker walked carefully around, inspecting everything thoughtfully. Only a couple times did he actually reach down and touch the sand or water, but each time he would rub his hands together quickly afterward, trying to get the dirt off his palms; he really doesn't like being dirty. Then there is Bug. He practically bathed in the sand! He rolled around in it, covering his clothes, arms, hands, and face with wet sand. He looked as happy as a pig in mud. I think I am still trying to get all the sand out of his hair.
"Look, Ma, no dirt!"
"Mmm, sand is yummy!"
Now that they're both here, I can't imagine having them be exactly the same. I love how different they are, it's what makes they both so special and unique. Yet even though they have many dissimilarities, there are certain awesome qualities that they share. They are both such loving and sweet boys. They are warm and affectionate, and they melt when you hold them; they love to cuddle. And they both give the BEST kisses.
Oh, and for some inexplicable reason, they like to do head-stands.
Binker
Bug
