Tornado vs. butterfly

Nicole and Allison are similar in ways.  They are also different.  One of the ways they are different is their reactions to certain things.  For example, when Nicole was 1-2 months old, if I ever went out in the bright sun, she would arch her back, panicking.  I had to be prepared so she wouldn't fall out of my arms - especially because we lived in an attic at the time, the entrance to which were tall, rickety, old red stairs, built by the owner himself.  In contrast, as an infant, if Allison encountered bright daylight, she would simply close her eyes.

When Nicole was one-and-a-half or maybe two, whenever the sun shone in her eyes while in the car seat, or if the windows were down when we were driving, she would yell incessantly, "No biiiiiiiite!  No weeendy!" (No bright, no windy).  This became a theme of our car rides, as if combating the sun and the wind had previously proved itself to be a fruitful strategy.

Now, honestly, sometimes Allison does cry about the sun in her eyes while in the car seat, but that only lasts a few seconds.  And, yesterday, after pushing her around in the stroller with the bright sun in her face, when we got her out and put her in the car seat, she said calmly, "Tooh bite."  Other times, she will quietly repeat, "Tooh hot."

Baby in our laps

We love Nicole too.  Just no recent pictures of her in our laps.

The little sipper.  April 2019

Allison trying to smile with food in her mouth.  May 2019

Books

Allison reading.

Side by side.

Allison demonstrating her expanse of knowledge regarding colors.  You might say she considers herself an expert on the color yellow.

Birthday weekend

"Happy doo-doo to Allie."

Nicole had fifteen friends over on Friday for her birthday celebration, as well as four siblings of friends.  It was a full house and full backyard!

We made meringue cookies for her guests.  Nicole made the turtle one.

Instead of cake, Nicole chose to have lemon blueberry cream cheese breakfast buns, which are like cinnamon rolls.

Nicole loved the Moana necklace her friend gave her.  Daddy saw this picture and said, "She looks like a total hippie."

We went to the park this weekend

A typical Allie look

I went upstairs and found my girls drawing together, side by side.  Nicole is an engaged big sister.

I believe the swim diaper was Allison's own style sense.

Like a badger

I forgot to record this earlier.  A few weeks ago, my brother babysat Nicole and Allison.  I had given Allison a bean quesadilla, and she didn't want to relinquish it, so I let her hold onto it when I put her into her car seat.  I let my brother know that the quesadilla in her hand was her dinner.  Three hours later, when we returned to pick them up, I noticed something in Allison's hand.  It was the quesadilla - though it had downsized.  I asked my brother about it.  He told me she had held it the entire time!

Rolling around in blankets or clothes is one of Allison's favorite pastimes

She entertained herself, rolling around the floor for several minutes.  It sounded so fun, Nicole eventually joined her.  We could hear them giggling.  Why don't I have this much fun?

My girls reading

Nicole reading, and Allison doing a solid imitation.

Finished picture

Nicole finally felt like finishing her friend's picture today.  Apparently she was feeling interpretive.