With G and A born on the same day three years apart, comparing milestones is really easy….maybe too easy.   Jason started this blog when G was about one, about the time G started being interesting.   Now that Alana has reached that stage, I can’t resist the impulse to go back and compare.

What I found:

1) We clearly give less of a shit about Alana than we did about Genevieve.   In 2007, we had lots of posts about whether or not G was smart, the minutia of her diet, what she was saying, etc., etc., etc.   Now? nuthin.   Just a bunch of pics of alana eating.   Mostly cupcakes.   They are cute, but don’t really capture the same tone of concern about her intellectual and physical development.

2)   Genevieve is a camera hog.   We barely have a picture that is only Alana.   G horns into every possible shot, stealing the spotlight from the poor helpless baby.   She can’t stand the thought that Alana might be getting even a second of the attention that is her right as firstborn.   I am sure this isn’t at all unusual but note it here for Alana’s future reference as she works with her therapist.

3)   Alana’s a little fatter and slower but may be a little smarter than G.   She was hands down a better infant. Seems like she picked up words a little quicker.   We noticed G saying something that sounded like “Kila” in April.   My mom noticed the same thing about Alana on her first birthday, a couple of months earlier.   Alana has had “mommy” down for awhile.   Another sign of my indifference that I can’t tell you how long….Alana also has “Daddy” down, and “shoes”, two other items of intense interest to her.   she is still way less interested in TV and more interested in toys and developing motor skills than G ever was.   We were impressed when G figured out what a phone was and we called her with Jason’s cell.   Alana used my phone to call home the other day and left a message on the machine….all with no help from me!

4)   Because G is reaching new milestones every day, we don’t get as excited about Alana’s new milestones.   Around this time when G was 18 mths, we were obsessed with getting her to learn how to swim.   We still are, 3 years later.   Our goal for Alana is to keep her from drowning while G still trys to master swimming.

5)   Alana is just more laid back in general.   Sure, she gets upset and pitches a fit on a fairly regular basis, but she gives up faster.   Two minutes or so of crying when I put her down at night and then she passes out.   G went at it for ever, and still does…she’s a persistent child.

6)   She’s every bit as mommy- and blanky- obsessed as G is/was.   They both suck their thumbs and rub the tags on their blankeys for comfort the exact same way…some things are universal I guess.

I guess it’s good that Alana is learning how to talk more quickly.   She needs to learn how to stand up for herself.