Personality

Lena Bean

Lena has been a big sucky momma's girl this past week. Luckily, Carmy's neediness of three weeks ago has phased out because otherwise babies would be trampling all over me all day, demanding to be picked up and snuggled (not the worst thing in the world, it's just quite awkward trying to satisfy two babies in need of mamma at once).

Observing the babies go through these phases really makes me wonder about the stability of personality and behavior. I know lots of moms with grown children who say "she was like this since she was born", and there is a certain comfort to know that when you were born you were just like you are now, you have a personality you were born with. But my kids really make me wonder if this is the case.

With two babies at once, people like to compare them (it's pretty hard not to, although I try to do it consciously) and say "this one is this way, that one is that way", but just when I think I know who's who, they completely switch personalities. For the first six months, Carmy was the serious older sister. She was momma's girl, quiet, observant, calm and played easily by herself. Lena was needy, had a lot of physical issues (gas etc.) that made her cry more often. She needed more attention even when she was playing. Then Carmy became the outgoing one, always trying to make Lena laugh, she started becoming quite the little ham. Lena became more serious and quiet, and a real momma's girl. Watching them change and develop in ways that constantly surprise me makes me realize how complex personalities are. I can no longer say "she's the __ one" because I know that it's probably just a phase, and that all of us hold the potential to be all of these things, shy, quiet, outgoing, playful, needy, sensitive and independent. 

I'm wondering if they will express certain traits more often as they grow or if they will continue to surprise me. All I know is, it's absolutely stunning to know these little people so intimately from birth, to find out who they are every day, and how satisfying it is to support them, encourage them and love them no matter what.