Girls vs. Boys

I am learning, rather quickly, how inherently different boys and girls are wired. I've always wondered if gender differences are the result of nature or nuture. Watching my little boy grow and develop has taught me that nature really plays a huge role. Despite his sister's love of dolls, princesses, and fairies, Matty's favorite toys at this time are his cars. He received a car ramp from his grandparents over Labor Day weekend, and the kid has not stopped playing with it since. It's adorable to watch him send his cars down the ramp over and over and over... and his excitement (and the mimicking car noises he makes) never ceases. He also loves to line his cars up - either side by side or front to back. He will spend an hour moving his cars around our family room, lining them up on the couch, the lining them up on the coffee table, then lining them up on the floor. It's so cool to watch his little mind working.



Matty working on his cars... moving them from one couch cushion to the other.

Last week, I left the kitchen for about two minutes to use the bathroom and came back to this: one almost naked boy, on top of my kitchen table, tearing up a napkin. Dangerous, but cute.

Taylor, on the other hand, loves her dolls. She is currently collecting princess dolls and has somehow grown a nice assortment already (I swear I have only purchased one doll!). She's got Sleeping Beauty, Merida, Rapunzel, and Ariel. She told me over the weekend that she is going to ask Santa for Cinderella, Jasmine, and Pocohontus. Sounds like a tall order.

On another note, Taylor and Tommy made a countdown chain last week for the new baby. Every night before bed, Taylor runs into the baby's room (which is beginning to take shape as a real baby's room!) and tears off a link. I love seeing her excitement, yet it is also scary to see how quickly the due date is creeping.

Taylor and Daddy working on the countdown chain

Although Matthew is all-boy, he still has a sweet side. When asked where mommy's baby is, he runs over and pats my belly. He has also started hugging and kissing my belly. Adorable.