It's time for an update from "Not Quite Twinville."
Size: Megan and Matthew are getting closer to the same size. There's now about 4 pounds difference between them. Megan still feels a lot heavier, though--she's got a solid little build! A lot of people just assume they are twins, although most who look carefully can tell they are not.
Development: Megan and Matthew encourage each other developmentally. For instance, Megan walking played a HUGE role in Matthew wanting to walk, too. He spent pretty much all of his energy for a month focusing on learning to walk well so that he could keep up with her (and boy is he happy he can walk!). It's amazing what a little encouragement from a little bit older sister can do! Megan has learned a lot about babbling from her little brother. And they both help each other out with signing. "Please" seems to be their favorite sign (it gets them what they want). "Daddy" is a recent addition, as U would like to point out.
Eating: Remember Jack Sprat and his wife? Sometimes I feel like that could be describing Megan and Matthew--between the two of them they'd lick the platter clean. There are some foods that one will eat consistently. For instance, Matthew loves grapefruit and avocado while Megan eats meat and apple. However, with other foods it will change who will eat what--one time Megan will eat the pancake and Matthew the pear but the next time it will be reversed. One thing that doesn't reverse is who the neat eater is and who the messy eater is. This applies both to how messy they get themselves as well as the floor.
Pacifiers: Megan and Matthew both still love their passys. Megan seems to have a homing device with which she can sense the presence of pacifiers. It seems like no matter where they are, she knows it, even if it's somewhere I don't think she can see it. I'll often see her little hand coming up onto the counter to get a pacifier for her and for Matthew. It's actually really sweet--both of them will now get a pacifier and bring it to the other one. Megan started doing this for Matthew a month or two ago. Matthew would often show his appreciation by grabbing her pacifier and quickly crawling off. However, now that he's matured and is walking, he can often be seen taking a pacifier to Megan. They do still trade pacifiers often.
Playing: They love to play together. It's fun to watch them follow each other around. It's amazing how quickly the two of them can empty a drawer or pull out all the toys in the cabinet. Or how well they can unload dishes in the dishwasher. (Sometimes the dishes are even clean when they do this...) Of course, there are inevitable squabbles when one of them has what the other wants or one of them takes what the other has. For the most part, they get along pretty well together.
Mothering: Megan mothers Matthew. For instance, if I'm asking them to come into the family room and Matthew is starting up the stairs, Megan will go pull on his legs, encouraging him to come downstairs. If he is having a hard time, she will go over to him and give him a hug and rub his back. I think the funniest time this happened was when Megan took something Matthew was playing with which caused him to start screaming. She came over and patted his back, trying to comfort him, all while holding what he wanted in her other hand. He was too busy wailing to notice this little detail. She checks his diapers and would carry his car seat if she could.
Camera: They are the opposite when it comes to the camera. Megan is our little poser. (I'm not sure how clear it is in the photos, but she totally posed for these shots.)
Matthew, on the other hand, wants to be the camera man! (Makes it a bit challenging to get a good picture of him sometimes.)
Size: Megan and Matthew are getting closer to the same size. There's now about 4 pounds difference between them. Megan still feels a lot heavier, though--she's got a solid little build! A lot of people just assume they are twins, although most who look carefully can tell they are not.
Development: Megan and Matthew encourage each other developmentally. For instance, Megan walking played a HUGE role in Matthew wanting to walk, too. He spent pretty much all of his energy for a month focusing on learning to walk well so that he could keep up with her (and boy is he happy he can walk!). It's amazing what a little encouragement from a little bit older sister can do! Megan has learned a lot about babbling from her little brother. And they both help each other out with signing. "Please" seems to be their favorite sign (it gets them what they want). "Daddy" is a recent addition, as U would like to point out.
Eating: Remember Jack Sprat and his wife? Sometimes I feel like that could be describing Megan and Matthew--between the two of them they'd lick the platter clean. There are some foods that one will eat consistently. For instance, Matthew loves grapefruit and avocado while Megan eats meat and apple. However, with other foods it will change who will eat what--one time Megan will eat the pancake and Matthew the pear but the next time it will be reversed. One thing that doesn't reverse is who the neat eater is and who the messy eater is. This applies both to how messy they get themselves as well as the floor.
Neat Megan
Messy Matthew
Together (I love how Matthew is looking at Megan)
Showcasing their swapped pacifiers
Playing: They love to play together. It's fun to watch them follow each other around. It's amazing how quickly the two of them can empty a drawer or pull out all the toys in the cabinet. Or how well they can unload dishes in the dishwasher. (Sometimes the dishes are even clean when they do this...) Of course, there are inevitable squabbles when one of them has what the other wants or one of them takes what the other has. For the most part, they get along pretty well together.
Playing with Thomas
Yes, Matthew is pushing Megan on Thomas
They love playing with their daddy, too.
Playing phone (notice their hands over their ears)
On a bike ride
Mothering: Megan mothers Matthew. For instance, if I'm asking them to come into the family room and Matthew is starting up the stairs, Megan will go pull on his legs, encouraging him to come downstairs. If he is having a hard time, she will go over to him and give him a hug and rub his back. I think the funniest time this happened was when Megan took something Matthew was playing with which caused him to start screaming. She came over and patted his back, trying to comfort him, all while holding what he wanted in her other hand. He was too busy wailing to notice this little detail. She checks his diapers and would carry his car seat if she could.
Camera: They are the opposite when it comes to the camera. Megan is our little poser. (I'm not sure how clear it is in the photos, but she totally posed for these shots.)
Matthew, on the other hand, wants to be the camera man! (Makes it a bit challenging to get a good picture of him sometimes.)
