16 months old

On Friday, May 15th, Elizabeth and Ryan turned 16 months old. And since I'm using this blog to chronicle my children's childhoods, let me tell you a little about our twins and their personalities.

From day one (literally, in the hospital nursery when they were an hour old), you could already spot differences in their personalities. Elizabeth has an opinion on everything and doesn't hesitate to let you know. She is, by far, the loudest person in the house. She has this ear-piercing shriek that she loves to demonstrate. However, after she complains, she's usually happy and hasn't learn how to throw a fit yet. Elizabeth is a bully and has learned how to head-butt her brothers when she doesn't get her way. It's a good thing she looks feminine and dainty because her personality is not. She's smaller than Ryan and can't climb like he can. She loves being silly and giggles at everything, especially when she thinks she's playing a joke on someone. She loves to sit and jump on Andy and Colin and she's totally a daddy's girl.

Ryan is much more laid-back and happy most of the time. However, once he gets upset, he knows how to throw a fit and he can keep it up for a looooong time. He also knows how to climb and spends most of his day climbing up the back of the couch, standing on the cushions, and climbing onto the kitchen bar. I have a fear of him falling on his head onto the tile kitchen floor, so he is the reason the couch cushions are no longer on the couch. He loves trying to keep up with his big brothers and tries to play ball with them. He's very sweet and likes to kiss. He's also earned the nickname "lap dog" because he likes to hang out in my lap and he even pushes the others out when they dare to sit with me too.

Elizabeth and Ryan are very competitive with each other and we can't give one of them something but not the other. However, they laugh at each other too and have learned that they can accomplish more (trouble, that is) when they work together. Their vocabularies are exploding each day and it's fun to watch them develop simultaneously but differently. Elizabeth does everything first (except climbing), but Ryan always does it better, when he finally gets around to it. Elizabeth babbles constantly and more frequently, but Ryan's speech is clearer. She's also the first one to get sick, but he always gets sicker. They've also learned how to hide from me when it's diaper change time. However, their favorite activity is pushing the buttons on the TV when Andy and Colin are watching it.

We were a little apprehensive at the idea of raising twins, but now we realize what a blessing they are. They are truly double the work but double the love also. And on that note, now would be a good time to tell you that Andy has decided he likes having twins so much that he and Colin need 10 babies instead of just 2. Yes, he wants octuplets. His dream will not come true in our house, so if anyone would like to volunteer to fulfill his dream of 8 more babies, he's up for adoption!!! :)