On comparing babies...

My mom has been begging me for this post.  So, here you go, mom.  Two little Bartlett babies.  Very similar, but SO very different. 

Jackson at 7 weeks, Riley at 6 weeks.

Jackson was a pound lighter than Riley at birth, but has well surpassed the weight she was at similar ages.  At 8 weeks, he weighed 12 pounds 2 ounces... I think at 2 months Riley weighed around 10 pounds.  He's clearly got more chub than Riley.  He has a similar amount of hair, similar color, but we'll see what happens as he gets older.  He's getting more and more bald, so looks like I'll have two bald little babies!  He also clearly has big blue eyes like she did/does.

He got pretty bad hormone spots/ baby acne around 4 weeks, while Riley never had any of that.  That picture above on the right is totally unedited, her skin was pretty flawless.  They both had/have cradle cap.  As for who has whose features, I have no idea!  Riley definitely looks like Mark, and so far I've had people tell me Jackson looks like me, but I'm not really sure.  Also, Jack has pretty bad eczema, which Riley never had.

Jackson at 1 week, Riley at 5 days old... jaundice much??

The biggest difference between the two of them so far has been their newborn sleeping habits.  Riley had to be held to sleep right from the start.  She hated to be swaddled.  She adored her paci from the first day we gave it to her.  As a newborn, she barely ever cried as long as she was being held.  She slept in bed with me, in my arms every night.  She never ever ever cried during the night, and hardly had to be rocked, she was happy so long as she was snuggling with me (keep in mind we are just talking about her first 8 weeks, things definitely changed as she got older).  If she was put down, she was NOT pleased, and pretty much required constant attention and interaction.

Right from the start Jackson would sleep anywhere.  In his bed, in the car, in the swing, on the couch, in the MOBY, anywhere.  He loved to be swaddled.  He NEEDED to be swaddled.  He hardly took his paci at first, and never slept with it early on.  The first months of his life he almost never slept in bed with me at night, he was too squirmy and it made me too nervous as he was constantly trying to burrow his face into my body.  He slept pretty well independently in his rock n play by our bed, and around 10 weeks (I think) he started sleeping 7 hour stretches.  Oh how I wish that were still the case...

Riley at 3 weeks, Jackson at 2.5 weeks

Riley hated tummy time until she could roll onto her tummy by herself, while Jackson seems to like it (or at least he doesn't mind it in short bursts).  Jackson almost never spits up, but seemed to suffer from a bit of gas pains in his first few weeks (seems to be all gone now). Riley used to spit up fairly regularly, but didn't have a lot of gas issues.

Riley didn't really enjoy being worn in any sort of carrier unless she was facing out, Jackson loves facing in and snuggling.  If she feel asleep in the car seat, Riley would wake up AS SOON AS the car stopped moving.  In his first few months Jackson would often sleep in his car seat long after we got him out.  Riley used to startle at any little noise- Jackson is totally unfazed by noises, and hardly ever startles. 

Riley at 3 months, Jackson at 3 months

Now at 4 months Jackson is starting to resemble Riley a little more in terms of his sleep habits and preferences.  He would love to be held for all his sleeps.  He also now loves to sleep in our bed.  He sleeps in his crib during the day out of necessity, but often wakes up way too soon.  Jackson is much more independent than Riley was during his awake time- he's happy to play on his play gym, lay on the floor and take it all in.  He loves the stroller (Riley hated it), and is alright with the car seat as long as he's not too hot.   Jackson does occasionally put himself to sleep for naps, whereas I can count on one hand the number of times Riley put herself to sleep without any assistance from me.

Riley at 3 months, Jackson at 3 months

At 4 months, he's way bigger than 4 month Riley.  He's about 16 pounds, in 6-9 month clothes, and is overall just a much bigger, chubbier little dude than she was.  I think she weighed around 13 pounds at 4 months old.  She was a little more ahead in her gross motor and fine motor milestones- she was rolling and grabbing toys much more efficiently, but he's much chattier and laughs and smiles more freely.  At this age Riley was mama OBSESSED and afraid of strangers.  Jackson has no problems with new people, gives smiles freely to all, and is pretty equally happy with mama and daddy (as long as he's not hungry, then he only wants his mama!)

Riley at 3.5 months, Jack at 3.5 months... look at the difference in their legs!!

Another different thing about the two of them- Jack is totally the type of baby that, if left to cry, will get so worked up that he will gag and choke.  Not that we ever leave him to cry, but if we are in the car, for example, and he gets upset, within two minutes he's crying so hard he's gagging and choking.  Scares me every single time and I hate it.  Riley never did that! 

I don't really think they look much alike, and their personalities are also very different, but I love them just the same!!