Two--Very Different--Little Darlings

"Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, 

and do not hinder them,

for the kingdom of heaven 

belongs to such as these.'”

Matthew 19: 14

Lillian and Evelyn 5 months old

      (2012) We have two granddaughters --born three weeks apart. They both live in the same town as us (what a blessing) and see each other often. They have many of the same genes, similar upbringings, similar living experiences, and share me as their grandmother extraordinaire.
     Then why are they so different?

     This is a rhetorical question.  After having three kids of my own--who were very different from one another--I know they're different just because they are.  They're supposed to be.  God created them to be two unique individuals.  But seeing them side by side . . .

     They're both five now, but even when they were just months old we said, "Lily's going to go outside to play and say, 'Look Grandma!  A bug!' and Evelyn's going to go outside to play and say, 'Eew!  Grandma!  A bug!"

     Now it's not that distinct, but pretty close. The fact we could sense this differentiation before they could even run outside or say "bug" astounds me.

     We used to get them similar toys for Christmas.  It sure made things easier.  But now . . . Evelyn wants a "Toddler Ariel" doll while Lily wants a horse (a live horse would be best, but she'll take the toy-kind.)  Evelyn circled all the dolls in the American Girl catalog.  Lily circled all the animals--and the VW car.

     Evelyn likes cupcakes and sweets.  Lily likes salsa and mustard and says, "No, thank you" to cookies.  And ice cream--making me wonder what happened to her Moser sugar-gene. They both like Ranch dressing, though Lily likes it a bit too much.  On everything. In a restaurant she asks the waiter for her own side of ranch. (she's not shy)

     When we kid-sit the girls, one at a time, Evelyn is content to play by herself with the Fisher Price Little People sets. Lily nudges me to do an "art project."  They both like to pick up "sticky balls" (hedge apples) with Grandpa.

     Lily listens to every conversation (some, she shouldn't) and asks, "What happened to that man in the crash?" or "What's a president?" While Evelyn is having her own conversation with her fork and peas.  Something to do with princesses, I think (it's always about princesses.)

     Lily loves to comment on the hair style and color of store clerks.  The best exchange was when she said, "You have pink hair."  The clerk shot back, "You have brown hair."  And that was that.  Evelyn is more interested in pushing the cart back to its stall.

     In regards to fashion, Evelyn always has a matching headband or hairbow--though it's often askew.  Lily came over the other day with one anklet and one footie sock. Odd thing is, it took me 30 minutes to notice.

     I haven't seen much competition between them.  Yet.  A few Big Wheel races down our driveway perhaps.  I see it in small moments, like when they stay overnight and say prayers, Evelyn sings a little song she knows.  Not to be outdone, Lily makes one up on the fly.  And they like coloring contests where I declare a winner (ack! Don't make me choose!)  But I do choose.  I honestly assess the best one.  I don't think it's wise to tell kids they're doing a good job when they didn't try very hard to stay in the lines (but that's another subject.)

     I love being a grandma to the girls, and to our two grandsons, Jackson (age 3) and Jamison (just turned 1.)  The boys are different because two years separate them. But as the importance of their age difference fades, I look forward to see their differences. And I'll embrace each and every them.

     An addendum 2020:  Here's the current brood of 7! Lily and Evelyn are turning 13 this year. Time flies.

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