Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Blood Brothers

It's funny how when you have your second baby, you think you know everything already. Especially when they're both boys. What could be different, right? And you expect everything to go exactly the way that it went the first time around. And then it doesn't. And you're like - oh yeah! they're different people - and you just don't know what is going to happen.

Is it just me?

Big C was somewhat of an "atypical" baby. We would faithfully read all the milestones in the parenting books and go "Yeah, that's just not happening right now." He got his first teeth at 13 months, and all of a sudden four teeth popped out with no drooling, no pain. Nothing. They just appeared. He didn't walk until he was 16 months. He would stand. He would walk if you held his hand, but that was it. We dropped him off with my parents one afternoon so we could catch a movie, came back, and he was walking. Nay, running. Boom. Just like that. After that, we pretty much disregarded the parenting books as being useless information..

Little G, on the other hand, has been pretty much right on the marker. And this time around, something would happen - like rolling over, or sitting up - and we'd consult the book after the fact only to find he was no "genius", he was just on track with any other baby in the world. In fact, I had noticed that he was particularly adept in the physical realm. Big C will sit and work at drawing for hours, while Little G is more hell-bent on destruction. He figured out how to open a bank of drawers so that they work like steps up to the counter. He, without any example from any of us certainly, will use anything stick-like to whack at any approximation of a ball. You can't turn your back on him or he will most likely be up the stairs or out the door before you can count to ten.

So we were shocked that month after month went by without him even coming close to walking. He actually didn't even crawl. He "boot-scooted" everywhere. I can't tell you how many people have commented on his crawling style. "I've never seen any baby crawl like that. Look at him!" Like he was a freak of nature, or something. I will admit that he kind of looks like some primordial ape when he crawls, but I have absolutely seen other babies do this. It's not new.

Anyways... he's been standing for ages. And then all of a sudden it happened. A side-step. A moment of free-standing. A couple of steps followed by a crash. Now, he's walking a few feet at a time before he hits bottom. Literally. And he's SO excited by it. He's trying so hard to walk all the time. He's getting it. Slowly. Several bloody noses and countless bruises later, he's getting it. The trouble is not walking. The trouble is that he wants to run.

16 months old. Just like his brother. Should I be so sentimental that they share something that is, in the long run, so negligable? I don't care. Today, it warms my heart.

19 comments:

Jess said...

NOT just you - I was stupid and thought 'Pish! I raised a boy baby, girls can't be THAT different, right??'

Little did I know.

He's gorgeous! Look at him go!

Beck said...

HAHA! Look at him! My dad popped in this morning while your lil' guy's picture was up, and he cooed over him for a while.
And yeah, I know what you're talking about. When I had The Baby, I really thought that she'd be like at least ONE of her siblings, but nooooo.

Beck said...
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Beck said...
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Beck said...

You wanted me to leave a bunch of identical comments, right? Der!

karengreeners said...

Cool dude, indeed.

Things are exactly the same in my house right now - Dove can walk, but doesn't really. It's way faster to scoot - and yes, primordial ape is pretty accurate. Sits on her bum, and uses one hand and one leg to propel herself forward.

I think the second one seems like more of a daredevil because they are scrambling to keep up with the first. Dove attempts feats of daring that her sister never did, and while it gives me several heart attacks a day, it's fun to watch my little tank burst through obstacles.

Anonymous said...

My youngest is the same age, and just started walking too - my older son was walking much sooner. And I'm finding the new walk so much more entertaining this time. :-)

metro mama said...

Look at him!

Tania said...

He's soooooo sweet!

I'm still basking in the glow of immobility. It's going to be short lived though.

Mad said...

Welcome to the big leagues, little guy. There's no stopping you now.

kittenpie said...

Look at him go! That's awesome.

Pumpkinpie was right on target all the way along, walking a little before a year. So far, The Bun seems pretty close, maybe a lag of a couple of weeks - he's starting to stay sitting upright now, but gets too excited and rocks himself till he falls over. Not bad, not ahead of the curve. We'll see!

MARY G said...

My two were so different that they could have come from different planets. Walk? 1. over a year and cautious, held on to something for months 2. nine months and went thump every three steps. Toilet train? 1.) 3.5 and fought it all the way, 2.) same time as big sis at about age two. As adults they still are very different but are wonderful friends; the one may explain the other.
He is just so pleased with his newly mobile self. What a gorgeous kid!

karengreeners said...

dude, what happened to your email address? I want to send you a note!

b*babbler said...

Look at him go!

We, too, totally gave up on the milestone list around here when it became apparent that Peanut was only using it as toilet paper. She does something when she's darn well ready, and then with no practice or warning.

Kyla said...

Look at him go! That's great!

painted maypole said...

look at him go!

adorable!

Mimi said...

Oh, adorable. And he's going to give you trouble, that one, for sure. Eep.

ewe are here said...

Our two boys are so much alike... and so very different... and it's so much fun to watch them together.

bren j. said...

I'm trying to mentally prepare myself to NOT constantly compares The Girls when the second one gets here, but how do you avoid it?
We rejoiced the day when the LG started walking, but I think we'll just go ahead and throw a little shindig if she EVER starts using REAL WORDS.