My Children are Opposites

Though they may look so much alike that I have to look at their outfit to tell baby pictures apart, my kids could not be more different.

Max loves to eat. Ella generally could go without eating too often.

Max loves citrus. Ella would not put citrus fruit past her lips if you paid her or better yet, bribed her with a trip to build a bear. She eats apples, bananas and grapes (only if seedless) THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

Max will drink any kind of juice. Apple, orange, grape, cranberry, probably tomato (though I haven't tried). Ella drinks 1/2 water 1/2 white grape. Period. She doesn't even like juice boxes because they taste too juicy.

Ella loves milk. LOVES it. She likes chocolate milk, but really truth be told prefers white milk. 2%. Max is ok with milk, he will drink it but he doesn't suck it down like he'll never have it again.

Ella is repulsed by soda, or anything fizzy. Again, not getting past her lips. Max was eying my fountain soda today and I thought I'll do what I did with Ella. Let him taste it, he'll hate it, and never want it again. Well, let's just say it was a little like what someone very prone to addiction looks like when they get their first fix. HE LOVED IT. A good side benefit is I'll probably drink a lot less soda. Out of sight out of mind.

Max sleeps. Ella did not really sleep on her own through the night until she was oh ... about 2. Even now at 6.5, we'll often get a late night visit from her with the popular refrain, "I can't sleeeeep." Max goes to bed and you don't hear from him again until you wake him or its been at least 10 hours. Typically 12.

Ella is a talker. Max likes to let his actions speak for themselves. He understands every single thing that is going on and will express himself quite clearly, but you have to drag the words out of him. He will talk, he just doesn't see why he should. Ella doesn't see why she should ever STOP talking.

Ella is a mama's girl. Max is a daddy's boy.

Fortunately they both do love swimming, summer, broccoli, Popsicles and each other. That's enough for me.