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DD was a serious baby, very picky eater, but a great sleeper (we did CIO at 4 mo). So we got lots of rest with her. DS is super laid back, happy, enthusiastic eater, but not as good a sleeper. So they really are opposities. I think it a combo of their different dispositions , AND how we are different as 2nd time parents. We are so much more laid back, so I think it helps DS to be laid back. I wouldn't be discouraged! Whatever the disposition of the child, your family dynamic will morph and compensate for it!

Day and night!

My oldest is really quiet and thoughtful. She is emotional and sensitive.

My second is a little spitfire. She is bossy and loud. She has more character than anyone I have ever met.

I am really struggling picturing how this third baby is going to fit in with the two of them being so different.

They're alike and they're opposites, depending on the area. Both of my kids have been generally happy kids who hit milestones early, and both of them hav struggled with sleep. Both of them are great eaters with big appetites and both of them have been very healthy, so far.

DD is pretty disciplined for a toddler; she tells when she's tired and needs to sleep (and has been doing this since about 15/16 months), she potty trained super early at 18 months, and she's pretty self-directed and independent in both play and daily life. The biggest challenge with DD was just backing off enough to let her figure things out on her own, and she really thrived with a child-directed parenting approach.

DS has been better natured than DD from day 1. He laughs and smiles super easily, he 's really social and loves everyone, and he rarely fusses or cries. On the other hand, he needs a lot more structure, and I have to be very strict with his schedule. He also developped physically faster than DD did so he's really big and heavy for me to carry around and he's been teething almost continuously since four months, which has really taken a toll on all of our sleep. The biggest challenge with DS is his advanced physical development; carrying a 20 pound 8 month is a lot of work!

So they are alike in a lot of ways but they're also different. There's just no telling what you'll end up; it's all chance and luck!

My oldest didn't sleep through the night until she was over a year old. My younger one slept through the night the week she came home from the hospital. Older cried non-stop the first four months and was/is extremely clingy to me. Younger is the happiest baby you'll meet and loves everyone.

Of course, you never know how it'll end up. I was totally prepared to have another one just like the first- and then I got the easiest baby ever! I love them both like crazy, but the first few months with the older one were REALLY hard. They flew by like nothing with the younger one.