Differences

Brooke and Brenna are completely different to me now. It was hard in the beginning. Hard to realize that they are two different kids. I guess because they are both girls? Both born around the same time of year, the same time in my pregnancy, labor starting the same way, born the same way? Because they looked sooo much alike in the very beginning? I don't know... but for whatever reason, it was hard to remember that we are raising a completely different baby than Brooke. It was really hard not to compare.

Now, it is not hard to remember at all. For one, they look completely different - to me. They have similarities, proving their sisterhood, but Brooke was and is a spitting image of me when I was her age. While Brenna could be Brad's little mini-me. It's a little scary actually. Both girls have blue eyes, which they did not inherit from either of their parents. But Brenna's are brighter and lighter...Brooke's were a deeper blue. Both had/have blonde hair, but Brenna's is almost white in some places! Yet sometimes, in pictures, takes on a more reddish tone. Don't ask me? Brooke's was definitely as blonde as a baby, but has darkened some with age. Brenna gives the biggest smiles - her whole face explodes with laughter, while Brooke only ever gives you a big smile...it doesn't extend to her whole face. Brooke was such a personable baby...going to anyone and everyone, smiling at strangers all the time. Brenna, while a happy baby, does not extend the same courtesy to new faces. She always makes sure her mommy or daddy is around and will only bless you with one of her big humongous smiles when you get to know her...or on her own turf. Brooke laughed at 4 mos and never stopped. She would giggle at any little thing. Brenna, though, is a much more tough crowd. She has a stoic look - that "I'm NOT going to laugh, no matter what you do" kinda look. However, now Brooke is completely done a 180 and is sooo shy and slow-to-warm-up. Maybe that means Brenna will be the opposite at an older age? Who knows....

Brooke liked any kind of baby food, but the greener and smellier it was, the more she enjoyed it. Her favorite was broccoli with carrots. Now, she won't touch a vegetable to save her life. Brenna prefers fruits. She'll eat the veggies, but will scarf down a jar of fruits in no time. Brooke sucked on a pacifier like it was the cure for world peace. Brenna will spit it out if she gets tired of it and will even resort to her thumb sometimes. Brooke loved to rock and snuggle. Brenna...not so much. When it's time for bed, she'd rather you just put her in her crib and let her go to sleep by herself. Brooke 'talked' a lot as a baby. Brenna talks as well, but is MUCH MUCH louder than Brooke ever was. We're still looking for that volume control. ;-P

I love my two girls, individually and independently. I can't imagine my life without either of them. And while they are each so different and so unique, I love them with equal amounts of love as they each provide us with equal amounts of joy in our lives.

Oh, and yes, one more difference. Brooke always poses for the camera to this day, while Brenna....well, she kinda does on her own thing. :-)

PS - And for what it's worth, these pics were taken when Brenna was 9 months and Brooke was actually closer to a year (I think from the date on my camera - she was 11mos, 2 wks)