Jase vs. McKenna

They say you shouldn’t compare kids.

I say that instituting sibling rivalry to get my kids to compete for my affection gets more chores done around the house.

In all seriousness, it has been fascinating to see the differences between Jase and McKenna...

Independence

Jase has always been fiercely independent. Even when he was a baby he loved his “me” time and would love being in his crib experiencing the world solo.

McKenna wants people around. Aside from wanting to be held constantly, she does not like when she can’t see you.

Physical vs. Verbal

While both Jase and McKenna have shown similar development physically, McKenna has spent more time on her verbal skills - loving to chat (that or making me look like an idiot as we make raptor-like sounds together). Jase has long been more focused physically and only recently exploded with his vocabulary; but, considering a lot of it has been back talk lately I’m ok if he goes back to physical development. 

Patience

I love my son, but patient he is not. Even when he was a baby, Jase would escalate a bottle situation in 0 to 60 and would not stop screaming until he got his bottle.

McKenna will cry but she usually calms down once you pick her up and will wait patiently for you to get situated. 

Preferences

Jase loved 2 things when he was a baby: his swing and his paci.

McKenna. Could. Care. Less.

In fact, I have yet to find something that soothes her so I can stop scheduling my bathroom breaks during her naps.

The “ick” factor

Jase was all about traumatizing us with diapers. By 2 months in he had some epic diaper situations. Epic. Situations. 

In two months, McKenna has successfully destroyed my psyche with vomit. In fact, she’s thrown up more times than Jase has in his entire life. 

It’s been fun reflecting back on Jase as a baby while watching McKenna as a baby. They are their own little person and I can’t believe I get the privilege of seeing them grow together.

Two Months With McKenna

Dear McKenna,

2 months! And yet I still haven’t seen a rent check from you... 

It’s been another fast month with lots of things happening:

• You went on 2 road trips this past month and saw your first fireworks
• You had your first ladies brunch 
• You slept through the night!! (Let’s make this a regular occurrence now)
• You started smiling and talking to us
• You love: being in the action, rattles, Taylor Swift, chatting, curling your toes while you eat, and being held to the point that we’ve deemed you “Snuggle Junkie”
• You can: hold your head up pretty well, turn your head towards noise, kick like Chuck Norris and out-pout your brother

This month was not without opportunities to put you in therapy:

• I dared to put you in an expensive swing so I could fold your laundry
• I make you ride in your car seat while we’re in the car
• Jase called you out for pooping. Loudly. In a store.
• The fact that we dare to put you down for anything... Snuggle. Junkie.

I set you down to get a diaper... way to represent that onesie...

And while your big brother has already broken us in for therapy, you still have added a few things to the topic list:

• You re-enacted what can only be described as a volcano science fair project in your car seat. You demanded to be re-fed afterwards and I now have a slight tick every time I buckle you in.
• Your diapers have made me question how gravity works.
• We got the bills from the hospital.

You’ve been such a fun completion to our family. Even Jase is quite protective and proud of you (don’t get used to it - he’s also pushed you out of his way several times). We love you bunches Snuggle Junkie and cant wait to see what you do this next month.

Love,
Mommy and Daddy