I will not lie. When I was pregnant with Ben I thought I was having a girl. I wanted a girl.  I was completely shocked (and if I'm being truthful, disappointed) when I found out I was having a boy. A few days later, though, after I had time to process the surprise, I started to warm to the idea of having two boys. Someone said that they'll have an instant best friends..."first and best friends" is the phrase I heard often.  And by the time Ben was born I was on board with my life as a "mom of boys"

I'm so thrilled that,so far, my kids have grown up to be very close.  Because they're the same gender, they are really the best of friends.  My brother and I are close, but because I'm a girl and he's a boy, we were often separated. We had different friends, played different sports, liked different toys and tv shows.  That's not the case for my kids.  They'll play on the same t ball team this year, they share most of their toys and they're both big Perry the Platypus fans.  They're like two peas in a pod. And I love that.

It also makes it easier on me. I don't have to buy as many different toys or clothes, and Mike and I are not (yet) pulled in different directions when it comes to birthday parties, activities and sports.  As much as I wanted one child of eaach gender, this two of the same thing isn't so bad ;)  Sure, they fight and have their moments when they ask me to "take him back to the hospital" or "make him go live with another family" but for the most part, they're just the best of friends. Matthew protects his little brother passionately and Ben admires everything about Matthew and wants to do just what he's doing.  And that makes me so happy. I'm glad they have each other in their lives.

The other day Ben was "helping" Matthew play a game. He had been "helping" him constantly for the entire day.

Eventually Matthew stopped, looked at Ben and said "You're always on my team, Ben.  Even when there are no teams, you're on my team". 

I will cherish that phrase forever and pray that they'll always be on each other's team.