Identical Phobias

Since the day Davis came into this world, I have been amazed at the differences between the two boys. I don't know why I thought they would be just alike, but in my mind I expected nothing less than an Addison clone. However, the differences occur at every level. From their physical appearance, tiny Davis and solid Addison, to their choice of soother, thumb versus pacifier, to their food aversions, Addison wouldn't touch anything green but Davis eats whatever, I am confronted with the fact that my boys are individuals with distinctive personalities.

I've grown so accustomed to drawing contrasts, that I'm now taken by surprise when I find similarity. The greatest likeness between them is sleeping. They have both been wonderful sleepers since the time they were very little. Second to that is what I discovered yesterday. They have matching vacuum cleaner phobias. Addison's fear is well documented and only now improving. Davis's, though, seems to be in its infancy, pun intended. Last night after hoovering the bedrooms, I left said implement in our bedroom while I got Davis for a last feed before bed. As I settled with him on our bed, he started eyeing the vacuum tentatively out of the corner of his eye, pulled off, and then the chin started to quiver. I thought, "Surely a 9 month old isn't afraid of a stationary, silent vacuum cleaner." Oh how wrong I was. I re-latched Davis but he repeated the scene, this time actually crying. I got up and removed the offending object.

Good grief! The insanity has re-begun.