Boys Versus Girls In The World Series Of Love

OK, love's got nothing to do with it.

So I have *many* observations on the differences between girls and boys. Having one of each (and them being exactly 16 months apart) I feel qualified to discuss my ultra scientific findings. Hey, it's my blog, and I'll draw conclusions where I want to!

Let me set the stage.
Oh, my precious 2 year old Emma. She is funny, she is smart, she is beautiful and she is aaaaaall girl. Painted pink toenails, pink crocs, hair bows, and skirts. Everything must be pink because "Mommy, I yuve pink. It's just so pretty!" Her idea of playing with 5 toys is to line them all up. Perfectly. Alex, on the other hand is my thoughtful, observant, quick to smile at home but takes longer to warm up with others. He is ALL BOY. What is his favorite toy? Honestly, two of something. One for each hand and then he bangs them together. Rocks, toy cars, baby bottles, whatever. Just something in each hand to bang. He is a riot. Now as much "girl" as Emma possesses, she is equal parts, um, less prissy. See she is almost neurotic about needing her shoes on (only pink crocs please...Easter should be interesting this weekend. Easter dress and scuffed dingy crocs. If you see me Sunday, don't judge) to go outside. Interestingly, once outside, she rips off said shoes, lines them up on the windowsill of her playhouse and proceeds to fill them with dirt. She digs in the dirt, fills her shoes, and drags those filthy fingers across her face. Face and feet are subject to blackened mess at any given time. Love that girl. This week, she got out all 15 containers of Play Doh and lined them up. Perfectly. But it gets better. She then proceeded to turn all the containers until the labels all faced forward. Single tear. People, you can't teach that. She is MY girl!!
Even changing diapers puts me at opposite ends of the spectrum. Emma lays there, just as calm and still as she can be. Even when she's got diaper rash, she doesn't really squirm. She just asks for "cream" and lets me fix her up as good as new. Alex, whether wet or dry or even if we're just changing clothes is ALL over the place. Every time. And he's not just squirmy, but he is also laughing hysterically at his antics and my despair! I need 6 arms to contain him and change him. I seriously deserve a medal for changing him. Love that brown eyed boy.
Now this week, Mr. Parnell decided to shock the pants off of me. While I was struggling to keep him still and change his diaper, he started counting. At first I thought, "Oh that's funny, that sounded like he just said one!" Aaand then something came out of his mouth that sounded like "two". Hmm. That was followed by 3,4,6, "seben" (he's been listening to his sister!), 8, 9, 10. Really? He has done it several times since so it's not just a fluke. The little monkey won't come down the stairs by himself but he can count to 10?? Really buddy? When he skips a number, Emma is quick to kindly (no really, she is kind about it) correct him.
Oh she just loves him. And he adores her. One of my *favorite* sounds is the two of them making each other laugh. Not just the sweet giggles I hear, but the big belly laughs. That sound makes this mamma so happy.
We found Easter outfits today (way to wait until the last minute Heather) and I have my first new Easter dress in years. I made the mistake of letting Emma try hers on today and you would have thought I was trying to amputate her left arm when I took that dress off of her. She loves her dress and can not wait to wear it this weekend!!
I'm hoping to get some good pictures tomorrow at our egg hunt.

Sigh.

**update: I got some GREAT pictures. And guess what else? Emma let me put some silver shoes on her cute little feet. I personally wouldn't have chosen silver, I'd have picked up some cute white sandals IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN IT WOULDN'T BE A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY!! But she said yes to "new shoes" and I dug around in her basket and came up with silver. They were cute. But you didn't know of my thoughts pre-Easter! Because, in true Heather fashion, this never got posted. It was actually two posts I turned into one. Let me reintroduce myself for those of you who don't know. I am Heather and I am a perfectionist. See, I videoed Alex counting and wanted to include it on this post. So I didn't publish it because I needed to grab the video off of my phone. But I haven't. So now Easter has come and gone and I now will look silly when I post this. ...off to find the cord to upload the darn video so I can push PUBLISH and be done with this once and for all! grin.