Sharing

When people ask me how Harvick and Jarrett get along, people are surprised by my response:  They are best friends.  And, worst enemies.  Already.

Harvick, having emptied his snack cup, reaches for Jarrett's.

Jarrett, annoyed by someone trying to use his cup, empties the snacks (MultiGrain Cheerios) onto the floor.  He screams as he does this - the child has a temper.

Harvick is appreciative of his brother's efforts.

Both boys sat there until they had ate all of the Cheerios.  And, yes, they do eat off of the floor...oops...

Comments . Clothing

We are often asked whether or not we currently (or will in the future) dress Harvick and Jarrett in matching outfits.
.
Our answer is not usually.
.
Our boys wear hand-me-downs.  We buy clothes at Kid to Kid.  We occasionally purchase them the same outfit.  But, really, it has been few.  Honestly, I have the tendency (surprise!) to buy them the same shirt in orange and blue, more than the exact same.  We have been given the same outfit for each boy, but that is when family and friends are spending their own money on new things!
.
Something that has been surprising to me is just how many outfits we can put together, using what we have already, or have been given.  A recent Sunday was a great example.  The boys each wore a shirt we had bought for Ryder, and between the hand-me-downs we were given, each had similar plaid shorts.  Seriously, so cute!  As expected, I wanted to capture a picture of them together...and, rather than showing you just the look-at-the-camera picture, this time, you get to see our attempts...with no great result...
.

An attempt at getting a picture of each separately...neither were what I had hoped for, so I moved on to the "together" shot...
(Harvick in blue, Jarrett in red)

.

When they (quickly) tired of my antics, and crawled away, I tried putting them side-by-side, but switched their sides...

.

.
I can't decide which is the best - I think my favorite is the second to the bottom.  Which is yours?!

Comments

Having a child (or even just being pregnant) brings out the comments from complete strangers.  But, having twins . . . (or, even more I would assume) . . . brings out the weird/strange/obnxious ones.  Patrick and I have frequently commented we should write some down, so that we remember in the years to come.  Posting them here accomplishes that.

A little backstory.  We don't know if Harvick and Jarrett are Fraternal or Identical.  I carried them the one way that either can be carried in pregnancy, and given they are the same gender, neither option was ruled out.  We chose not to have the genetic testing done at birth - there was no medical necessity, and it costs additional money.  When they were born, there was a pound difference, with an inch difference (Harvick was heavier and shorter; Jarrett weighed less and was longer).  It appeared that they were Fraternal . . . but, every now and again, a picture of them will make it seem that they might be Identical.  If they were the same weight and height, maybe they would look more similar??  All this being said, Patrick and I are now fairly confident they are Fraternal.

The most frequent question we get asked: "Are they twins?"

Situation #1:
Us: Yes
Stranger: No, they don't look anything alike, they must not be twins
OR
Stranger: No, they don't look anything alike, were they conceived on different days??

Situation #2:
Us: Yes
Stranger: Oh my, they must be identical
Us: Well...
Stranger: (interrupting) What are their names?
Us: (pointing to each) This is Harvick, and this is Jarrett
Stranger: I bet this one (pointing to Harvick) is Jarrett, and this one (pointing to Jarrett) was born Harvick.  I'm sure you have mixed them up so many times that it is impossible to know which baby was born with each name.

True story.  The above situations have happened more times than either of us can count.  And, it has even happened back-to-back, within minutes of eachother!

Harvick (left) and Jarrett (right)
05.11.2011