Nichols and Nonsense: Nature vs Nurture

First of all, can I just say that I am really glad not to be pregnant anymore? Now that I am back to normal I really appreciate all the things I took for granted before - like breathing, bending down to pick something up, going more than 15 minutes without going to the bathroom, sleeping, getting out of bed without the "roll and heave".... I could go on, but I won't. I was cleaning up my room and found a purse that I quit using back in May because I found it to be too heavy. The contents....

Ginger candy, sea bands, maalox, snacks, ginger tea...clearly I felt great

Today we had our first outing with all three babies. It was only to the pediatrician and Jack went with us, so it actually was not bad at all. I really was not prepared for all the stares and questions. The babies were great and we had no diaper/spit up/screaming incidents, so I consider it a success. Also, they are gaining weight really well. Brooks is 7 lbs, Irene is 6 lbs 13 oz, and Anna is 5 lbs 3 oz.

Getting ready to go - Irene on left (always yawning), Anna in the middle (sleeping soundly), Brooks on the right (wide awake).

I am completely fascinated by the personalities we are starting to see with each baby. A true nature vs. nurture study because we do the exact same thing for each baby but they are so different.

Brooks is the wild child. She does not want to miss anything. Very alert and active. You can see it in her pictures - eyes almost always open. When she is ready to eat she shakes her head back and forth rapidly trying to get the bottle in her mouth (which I find hilarious and I may or may not tease her with the bottle just to make her do it). And VERY expressive with her face and hands. For example...

This is how she looks one second

And the next second.....

Brooks at the doctor today

Irene is the exact opposite. Very laid back and she falls asleep doing everything. One minute she is eating and the next she has gone completely limp and her head and arms just fall back. Occasionally she gets worked up, but not very often and doesn't put too much effort into the cry.

This is pretty much Irene's pose 90% of the time.

Irene at the doctor today.

Anna is a mix between the two. She is laid back and generally pretty calm, but occasionally she gets worked up fast and lets you know with her high pitched cat cry.

Right before this picture Anna was asleep, then suddenly crying out

Anna at the doctor today. She did not have to get a shot like her sisters, so she was hiding out in her car seat (no, the blanket was not suffocating her although it looks that way).

It will be interesting to see how their personalities continue to develop.