Monday, February 21, 2011

Two Boys

Yesterday was a birthday of sorts. Isaiah turned four months old.

Surprise! Never heard of him? Well, that's because I hadn't told you. Shame on me.

So ... Isaiah Paul Lewis was born on Oct. 20, 2010. He checked in at 19 3/4 inches and 8 lbs.., 3 ounces. A smidge taller than his older brother, Nathaniel, and about seven ounces lighter.

I have no idea whether the comparison means anything. What I do know is that at his three-month checkup, baby Isaiah had shot up to 24 inches in height. That's more than four inches in three months. At that rate, he'll be a seven-footer in no time! (And daddy can retire.)

Seriously, I'm guessing someone missed an inch or two in the measuring at birth or later. So, maybe 'ol Isaiah was taller at birth, or he's not really two-feet tall after all. In any event, assuming the three-month measurement was mostly accurate, Isaiah is in the 85th percentile for height among his peers.

That makes him quite unlike his brother.

Nathaniel, for all his great qualities (including a lovely yawn I just heard), is not breaking any records in the height and weight games. Since he was born 27 months ago, he's never eclipsed the 30th percentile in either category.

That's all fine, of course. Despite the fact I've written so much about height and weight in this post, I'm not fixated on them. Really. Deep down, I realize these are simply gauges and are not a foolproof oracle of my children's dimensions come adulthood. But I admit to being curious how my children are "faring" vis a vis others their age. I guess I can't help it.

Isaiah and Nathaniel seem to be different in ways other than physical stature. Nathaniel is more in the mold of a windup Energizer Bunny; he jumps around the room, grabs his blanket and screams into it and loves the 1-2-3 game in which he's launched on to the sofa, bed or any other soft surface. Last night, he ran at least 50 laps from the kitchen through the bed room and the playroom. Along the way, he added a snow hat, then mittens, then a scarf, and eventually a teddy bear and a little red doggie. Around and around we went – first with daddy, then Nathaniel recruited mommy and baby in his circular jogging. At least he wore himself out before bed.

Isaiah seems much more placid. Granted, he can't run or jump yet, so all this observation may be a little premature. But he's definitely not as excitable as his older brother. Isaiah is perfectly content to rest in your arms, to snuggle on in, for stretches at a time. Nathaniel, while always affectionate, never went for the cuddling. He simply had other places to be, other things to do. Isaiah, by contrast, will just hang out and watch. That is, until you try to put him down, and he screams like he's been stuck with a needle. (More on that in another post)

This early contrast in personality is really neat to watch. Could this portend two brothers who are distinctly different, polar opposites, if you will, in disposition and action?

We'll just have to wait and see.