Now that we have two babies, it's easier to see what's personality and what's just being a baby. Personality is a lot. Here's how theirs differ.
The first time eating solid food
Liam needed it now. When he first got it, he seemed to say, "What are you doing? What is this? Well, don't stop!"
Charles: "Is this really necessary? I was perfectly fine with just Mommy."
Trying new foods
Liam: we took him through the pediatrician-approved sequence: 3 or 4 days on rice powder. Then 3 or 4 more on oatmeal. Then add another food every few days, so if he's allergic, you know what to. He said, "Whatever. Just feed me." (He's picky now.)
Charles got this strained look on his face when we fed him powdered cereal or pureed vegetables, as if he were too polite to say anything but couldn't keep the distaste off his face. We saved out some butternut squash, a baby-food staple everywhere, from the curry, and he said, "That was (ack) interesting. Please don't do it again." So we gave up and gave him curry, red pepper and all. He said, "That's what I'm talking about!"
Self-feeding
Liam: "This is outrageous, and you are cruel, cruel parents to expect me to touch my food!" Then he'd sweep his tray and throw it all on the floor and cry.
Charles: "Get out of the way and let me eat!"
Toys
Liam: "That toy is evil. That one's scary. Stop telling me what to pick up. I'm going to go play with something familiar."
Charles: "Give it to me."
People
Liam: "I love Mommy and I love Poppa and I think Meg is totally cool. But so are my toys. I'll just play with them now, alone."
Charles: "Is there a reason we can't just live in a party all the time?"