02.25.06
The same, but different
I am amazed that everywhere we go, people make comments on how much Elisabeth looks like her brother. Really I shouldn’t be surprised, because why wouldn’t she? It’s funny how a lot of people also say, though, that she looks like me, while they also say that Noah looks like Dan. So does that mean Dan and I look like each other? I doubt it. I remember when Noah was little, my mom sent me a picture from when I was little, and it could have been a feminine version of Noah. I can’t find that picture now, but it would be interesting to see if Elisabeth also looks like I did at that age. Of course, it also seems that more and more often now, people initially think Elisabeth is a boy. I don’t know if it’s all the dark hair, or if they see Noah and the similarities. I try to look at her objectively and still see girl. It’s in the eyes. But I do have to agree, they sure look alike. I mentioned to Dan that at least he knows she’s not the mail man’s kid, with as similar as she is to Noah. He then pointed out that they could both be. I guess, if the mail man looked like Dan. I have to admit I don’t even know what our mail man looks like. For all I know Noah and Elisabeth are dead ringers for him. Wouldn’t I be in trouble then!
There’s no doubting the love between the two; it’s like a giant gooey love-fest when they start grinning at each other. For Elisabeth, the sun rises and sets on Noah. For Noah, Elisabeth is the cute baby sister he has to tell every stranger in the store about. I constantly have to untangle the two, telling Noah repeatedly not to lie on his sister when he tries to hug her, and prying the freakishly strong grip of her hands off of his hair.
The thing is, there are so many similarities I see between the two, but then in other ways they are so opposite. I wonder how much of it is being a baby, and how much of it is the fact that they’re brother and sister, how much of it is boy and girl, and how much of it is just personality. Noah liked to sit and observe. We never had to worry about him putting things in his mouth. Elisabeth would eat anything. She also wants to socialize and flirt with everyone, and man can she grab. Noah was shy (and still is), and takes a while to warm up to someone even though he desperately wants to interact. I guess in that respect Noah is more like me and Elisabeth is more like Dan. They both devour books, although half the time that’s literally true in Elisabeth’s case. They’re both smart, and easily bored with new things and want to move on to the next thing. Aside from the obvious germ problem, I wish there were a toy library out there, because both of them figure out toys and then they lose their interest. They both have memories like elephants, a blessing and a curse. Noah was more methodical, he’d learn his sounds step by step, focus on the ba, then move to da, etc. Elisabeth has gained an entire repertoire of sounds at once, and makes sentences. “Ba wa wa da va ma ba fffft pa!” They can both be little imps at times and give these sly little looks that lets you know they’re in on something that you haven’t gotten yet. Noah was a grumpy baby a lot, and things bothered him. Elisabeth is easy going until she’s not, and then the drama starts with pure screams. Weird noises bothered Noah. For a long time animal sounds (made by people) scared him to death, but he could bang away to his heart’s content. Elisabeth thinks sounds are funny, but jumps and flinches every time you clap your hands, no matter how repeatedly you do it. Noah would wait and figure something out before he tried it, and Elisabeth tries and tries again until she figures it out. They both love music and are transfixed by songs. Both of them like opera. Elisabeth is desperate to get her hands on Noah’s cars, and he’s sometimes kind enough to share one for a minute before he gets protective and takes it back. Both of them are little shits, and drive me to distraction some days.
But they both are full of love, and smiles, and snuggles. Noah loves Jesus, and we’re teaching Elisabeth to love Him, too. She’s oddly quiet and observant when we pray. They’re both different, yet the same. They’re my precious children. Their smiles light up the world for me, and I can’t imagine life without them.