Can't Stop, Won't Talk

Quinn, Dec, and I headed to preschool to pick up Fiona last Friday. It was a beautiful day, so we went a little early and I let everyone play on the playground. One of Fiona's teachers commented (as has been commented many times before) how similar the girls look. Another mom said that if she didn't know better, she would have thought they were twins. Yet in the last week, we have been reminded repeatedly how unique these girls actually are!

We are all a little tired. The croup turned into a cold turned into an ear infection for Declan and sleep has been slightly (or largely) disrupted by coughing and crying. The girls have been troopers, but little bro's sleep habits have impacted them too. Fiona is coping by talking. Non-stop. To us. To herself. To inanimate objects. It really doesn't matter and listening is totally optional. It's just a constant stream of words. At one point, as Mike's eyes were bugging out of his head, he said, "Bugs, please at least take a breath."

Conversely, when you need her to answer, Quinn is mute. You can ask her something and she will simply turn and walk the other direction. Apparently that's supposed to give us the impression that she didn't hear us ... However, if she asks you a question and you don't answer STAT, she will repeat it four hundred times in the next ten seconds.

I let the girls watch a little of Dancing with the Stars (the Disney night episode). Bugs sat enthralled, silent, watching every move, soaking in every sequin. When I asked her what she thought, she looked at me, sighed, and said, "Mom. It's like my shirt. You know dance is my life." (She has the cutest t-shirt that says "Dance is my life" on it)

Meanwhile (and I'm barely exaggerating), here is what watching it with Quinn is like:

"What are they doing? Is it a commercial? What are they dancing there? What song is this? Why are they doing that? Why is her dress that color? Does the boy wear the pants? Is this still the same dance? Why does her hair look like that? What are the names? Did she get hurt? Is it over now?"

One is still mostly mute and the other talks non-stop. They just switched roles. These girls - we love that they are each uniquely themselves. Even if they continue to look a bit alike.