This afternoon Bryn happened to be taking a late nap while Claire and I painted. She loves to paint, and loves to have me paint her hands and feet, even though it tickles her to death. At one point I was just staring at her as she was painting, lost in her own little world and I said "you are so pretty Claire, did you know it?" and she goes very absentmindedly "I love you too Mommy." She wasn't even listening, she just knows that when I say "Did you know it?" I've usually said "I love you" before it. What is so funny to me is how different she and Kaitlin are. I literally have to beg Claire to say "I love you" and I have a game that I play to make her give me hugs. I have to force affection out of her pretty much. That's not to say she isn't sweet - if you are hurt she is the first to run and get the boo-boo buddy out of the fridge, or to ask to kiss your boo-boo. But I love you's and hugs and direct forms of affection are just too much in her busy little world. Kaitlin is the opposite - so emotional it is almost painful to watch. If I get hurt, I end up having to calm her down because she gets so sad for me. She will cry at the drop of the hat (and often does, and I have to remind myself that she is uber-sensitive so I can't be so short with her). It just really struck me tonight how very different they are, but how they are such a good fit for each other as sisters. Thin skinned older one with thick skinned younger one seems to work well in this way. I can't wait to see what we have in Bryn and how she will fit into the mix.
