Night and Day

When I found out that I was having a boy the second time around, I was thrilled for many reasons. First off, I now had one of each - a boy and a girl - which was great, because we had decided before his birth that this would be our last child. Second, my husband would now have someone to watch sports and (sigh) professional wrestling with. Also, this being my second child, I figured that I had this whole baby-thing down pat. Late night feedings? Check. Spit-up on my clothes? Been there. Teething? Old news. Right?

Wrong.

If someone had told me then what I know now, I would have been a lot more scared for my second round of impending parenthood. My children - in every sense of the phrase - are night and day different. Oil and water. Hot and cold. Ebony and ivory (not really, but you see where I'm going with this...)

Jocelyn is independent. Jericho needs attention every waking minute of every day.

Jocelyn takes an hour to eat a PB&J sandwich. Jericho can devour 3 hot dogs in a matter of minutes (authors note: this is not an exaggeration).

Jocelyn would never take a pacifier. See "The Mommy Diaries, Binky Style".

Jocelyn has thrown A tantrum. Jericho throws several each day.

Tall and slender. Stalky and moose-like.

Whines about having to carry her backpack in. Power lifts detergent bottles around the house.

Brunette. Blonde.

I kid you not. If you can find a trait in one of my children, you can see it's opposite in their sibling. It's shocking to me. It's like God's own little practical joke. Not to talk anyone out of having that second child, but let me just tell you that just because you already have one, there's nothing like the polar opposite of a second child to put you in your place and remind you that you're an idiot.

Those are this mommy's words of wisdom for today. (But in case any of you ARE expecting your second at posting time - CONGRATS! How exciting! It'll be great!)