Comparison Shopping

I know that as parents we are not supposed to compare our children, but let's face it: we do. I remember, around 10 weeks pregnant with Swanny Jr, saying to Dr. E. at my first ultrasound that his heartbeat looked way stronger than Peanut's was when I first saw it....the camparison began. **SIGH** As Swanny Jr. has embarked upon some "firsts" in the past 4 weeks or so, I thought I would show everyone shots of him enjoying his new triumphs and for comparison, Peanut enjoying the same triumphs at nearly the same age (he has almost a month on her with eating baby food).

First, the little man was allowed some new sustinance...we started cereal. I can't imagine that the rice cereal mixed with breast milk is all that tasty, but the boy gobbles it up and cries when it's done. Here are a few shots of his first feeding of the "good stuff."

Don't let his calm demeanor here fool you--he devours the stuff and loves it!

Next you'll find Peanut, "enjoying" her first bites of the cereal.



Perhaps her grief is because I did not mix her cereal with milk, but with water instead...or maybe she knew it wasn't the organic kind like I buy now for Swanny Jr. at any rate, she was certainly less than pleased with the new grub.

Moving on. Here is Swanny Jr. proudly showing off his new favorite hobby: playing his piano.


And of course Peanut playing the same piano.




Now, for Swanny Jr.'s most impressive feat, he's sitting by himself (at the age of 4 1/2 months for this milestone--that's a wow from this therapist!!).



Peanut, sitting proudly in her pool (she was about 5 1/2 months in this picture).

The next new feat for Swanny Jr.--baby food. We started today with Carrots. Here he is before his first bite--the boy knows food is coming.

And Swanny Jr. after his first bite. Can you say, YAY!

I think the pictures speak for themselves about how the whole experience went for this young man!

And our Peanut at the age of 6 months, very unimpressed by the carrots. She loves 'em now, but really could have cared less about the orange stuff at this point.

I hope to keep the comparing to simple things that don't really matter, like the difference in their reactions to starting solid foods, but I have a sneaking suspicion that down the road I'll end up reflecting on and comparing things like tantrums, potty training issues and detentions too...

In final summary and comparison, how stinkin' cute are these 2 kiddos?!

Swanny Jr at nearly 5 months old:

Peanut at a solid 5 months old (this is one of my all time favorites of her as a baby)