Before we had Cash, Nathan and I had no idea what a little person that we created would be like. Would he have Dad's sense of humor and Mom's clearly superior looks? (Just kidding...) Would he be level-headed like Dad ("it is what it is"), or an emotional trainwreck like Mom (what do you MEAN you ate my Peanut Butter Cups!??)? Based on the printout that we got from Dave and Buster's when we put our two pictures together, our child was going to be doomed in the looks department.
What we got (the first time around) was a sweet, good-looking, and hilariously funny little boy (who definitely falls in the 'emotional' category, like Mom). His likes range from entertaining people, trying new foods, going to the store (especially when we all go), and gardening with Grandma. He dislikes S'mores when they are actually assembled, the part in All Dogs Go To Heaven where he realized that the little girl didn't have any parents (he sobbed over that one), and when the pink bear in Toy Story 3 yells at the other toys. Other than that I've had a hard time coming up with things he dislikes. He's pretty easy-going like Dad, but emotional like Mom.
When Nathan and I wondered what our second child would be like, we imagined this child to be exactly like Cash. We don't have much imagination, so we just figured Molly + Nathan = a child like Cash.
Then along comes Declan. My more independent child. Sweet, loving, and also funny. Those are traits Cash has as well, so how can they be so different?! Declan has been independent from the moment he stopped breast-feeding at 6 months. I cried because he simply wouldn't do it anymore. No amount of coercion could convince him to be dependent on Mommy any longer. He's such a good little boy, but man, does he try my patience. Everything has to be done on his own and done the hard way. He rarely wants help unless it's to read to him. He has very selective hearing (mostly when Mom is asking him to do something he doesn't want to do). And he's a tester. Where are the boundaries? How high will Mom count? Will she really stop at 3? What if I just go stand by the shoes but don't actually get them like Dad asked? Does Cash like it when I sit on his back in the bathtub and and pretend he's a horse (totally not kidding on that one)? I know it's all part of growing and and especially being 2, but Cash never really went through this phase (or it's just a difference in personalities) so it's been strange getting used to it.
He can be trying, but he's also very sweet. He is very smart and picks up puzzles and songs very quickly. He loves to tell jokes like Cash does, but it mostly consists of, "Knock knock" <who's there?> "ummmm...bro-bro" <bro-bro who?> "ummm.... Mama" so we are still working on that. :) And in the morning, and sometimes at night, he'll still snuggle with me. I cherish those moments and try to file away the memory under, "They'll never be this little again."
This doesn't even skim the surface of their different personalities. But no matter what they are like, Nathan and I are so proud of each of them. They are sweet, funny, well-mannered, smart, and they're ours.
In honor of Declan being such a little independent person, here are some shots of his newly acquired mohawk. And a silly one of Cash earning money by taking the cans back to Meijer.
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