Over the last couple of months, I was reminded again at how different the 3 munchkins are in personality (and yes, Amelia has even started developing her own personality at almost 11 months).
Reagan loves to win and gets very upset when he loses ANYTHING (even the race to see who can finish their supper faster, which has become a nightly "game" that we play to get the kids to focus at mealtime). He also wants to be the only "big kid" sometimes and gets upset when he discovers that Evie can now do some of the things that only he was "big enough" to do before. Reagan is sooooo curious about everything and wants to know how everything works, is made, etc. He is also like a sponge with any and all information. For example, on Saturday mornings we let the kids have just a little bit of coffee (it's really more milk than coffee but they don't really care) for breakfast. This past Saturday I happened to have chocolate milk in the fridge, which is a rarity, and so I asked the kids if they would like to have chocolate or regular milk in their coffee. Reagan piped up, "Chocolate, mom. Because that would make it a mocha." Now neither Jared or I can remember explaining to Reagan that when you add chocolate to coffee it makes it a mocha, but somehow he knew. He is also very strong - in opinion, personality, will, etc.. Whenever he chooses to do something it is never half way, which can be difficult at times when he decides to do something that he is not supposed to do. I know that if/when he gets saved this will be a great asset. Reagan is already a leader, and actually has been since about the time he started to walk. Sometimes, when I am trying to let Evie learn how to do something on her own, Reagan will jump in and just tell her how to do. Then I have to remind him that Evie needs to learn things on her own just like he did, which he does not like. He is also almost never shy.
Evie is very tender-hearted and sensitive to how people are feeling. She doesn't like to see other people cry and tries to comfort them as much as she can. She is also very repentant because of this. She can be quick to tears but just as quick to flash a smile. Evelyn will tell us that she loves us, and give hugs and kisses many times throughout the day. She can be very shy around strangers (unless Reagan is with her and then she will talk to anyone that he talks to). She is truly a follower most of the time and Reagan uses that to his advantage on occasion by telling her to do things that he thinks may get him in trouble for doing but wants to see for sure without being the person to get disciplined. She is not as "driven" as Reagan. If she isn't able to do something right away she just tells you that she needs help, i.e. she'd rather have you push her on the tricycle than learn how to pedal it. But in some things, she can be very quick to tell you, "I do it MYSELF!" She already has that strong desire to mother things (I didn't realize how fast little girls develop this). She takes care of her "babies" very well - feeding, changing, hugging, putting to bed, etc. She has a miniature stroller and a baby doll that she always wants to take along when we go for walks.
Amelia is still developing her personality but there are some things that I have noticed. She LOVES attention, but especially from Reagan and Evelyn. She's very content and easy going most of the time, but when she decides to be upset you'd better be ready for a battle if trying to calm her. She laughs and smiles easily and freely. She is already starting to express her independence in little things - she wants to feed herself, stand by herself, etc. I am looking forward to seeing more of her personality as it develops.
Both Reagan and Evelyn have wonderful imaginations already and I really want to continue to encourage this.
I also made an observation about their "security blankets". All three of my munchkins had/have "security blankets" that deal with their mouths. For Reagan, it was his Nuk. For Evelyn, it was a specific bottle. And for Amelia it has been her thumb, which has been by far the hardest to deal with.
