Now that my babies are 6 months old, I'm starting to see their little personalities coming through more and more. Before, I would take every angry cry or easy giggle as some hint of their future selves, but only now is it really starting to feel legit.

That being said, how much can you really tell about your child at this early age? I mean, one day, I've decided that "Herman" is lazy and loud like Mommy because he's not so into rolling, but loves just babbling away. Then, the next day, he's rolling left and right and flipping over and my whole "lazy" theory flies out the window. Point being, young babies change and grow and learn so quickly, can you really assign personality traits already?

Yes, I think so. 

Our babies grow up so fast. Sometimes the moments seem slow, but the process itself is often a fast one. One minute we are holding helpless little creatures and the next they can walk, talk, climb, and run. It's so emotional. And while we wait months for them to do all the things we want to see, sometimes when they do them, they actually make us cry.

For many moms, the first smile is the biggest one. In those early postpartum weeks, we are just hoping for some indication that this eating, pooping, and sleeping machine we take care of 24/7 actually notices us. So when they smile, it lights up so much more than just their face. Then, a few weeks later, they laugh. And that laugh makes our hearts explode with joy.

The first year is a blur of milestones. Our babies start the process toward becoming toddlers from the moment they exit the womb. Some of the bigger milestones are these:

It's the biggest fear of every working mom and the mean thing stay-at-home moms say to working moms when they want to hurt them -- what happens if you miss your baby's "firsts"? It makes sense. Because what DOES happen when baby starts crawling (or walking or talking) and only the nanny is there to see it. The answer: Nothing.

Seriously, ladies. This is much less of a big deal than we all fear it will be. And I say this as someone who was a stay-at-home mom through both of my children's baby-hoods. I saw all their "firsts" (and their seconds and their thirds and their fourths) and I promise that what matters way more is the first time YOU see it.

Both of my children were kind enough to save their milestones to times my husband was home, so we both saw their first steps together. But maybe we didn't.

People always say not to compare your babies to help avoid sibling rivalry. But when your babies are born 18 months apart, it is sort of impossible. Every move my younger child (my son) made was immediately compared to his sister who was just 18 months ahead of him. And my poor boy did not fare as well.

Through every milestone except talking, my boy was slower. He pulled up a month later, grabbed things weeks later, walked months later and is now potty training 18 months later and counting. People say boys develop slower than girls, but I had always believed that to be one of those things "they" tell new parents. But in our case, it has been so true.

Alan, my sweet and curious and gentle little boy, has done everything just a bit behind his sister.

It's a classic moment every parent wishes they'd caught on film: Baby's first lemon. That face! I'll never forget the look my daughter gave me: Have you gone mad, woman? What made you think I would want to eat that?!

And then she wanted to try it again.

Just like the baby in this video, whose lucky parents did manage to record the citrus fruit milestone for posterity. It's a good one, too -- and if the setting looks familiar, that's probably because most babies end up testing out their first lemon wedge in this place ...

There is not much that stresses parents out more than their baby's development. It is enough to make any mom (or dad) nuts as they wait for their baby to make eye contact, smile, laugh and eventually walk. Many people are under the mistaken impression that children who do these things ahead are special or behind have problems.

Well, rest assured mom and dad. These things mean nothing. Milestone charts are more like an approximation and a bunch of averages. If your baby falls ahead or behind it no more means he will be the next Bill Gates than it does that he will be the next Pauly Shore.

So, relax. For those who are concerned, here is a simple milestone timeline to help gauge your baby's progress:

It's obviously important for your baby to like and eat those mushy and colorful solid foods you feed her for the first time. But it's even more important that YOU like them. Your baby has never tasted food before. Only you know if a baby food fruit or vegetable actually tastes like a real peach or carrot and not some artificial representation with an icky aftertaste. Trust us, a lot of the baby food on the shelves tastes this way -- and that's no way to set the stage for a lifetime of healthy eating habits. The moms at The Stir felt a baby food taste test done by grown-ups was long overdue and we recently took the gastric plunge. Trust us when we say DO NOT buy another jar or package of baby food again until you read our surprising -- and at times unpalatable -- results. Your baby will thank you -- and us.

I recently read a post entitled, "10 Reasons Why I Wouldn't Trade Having a Daughter for a Son," and having one of each myself, I got a pretty good chuckle. I've always wanted a girl, and I enjoy the hell out of her. But I do have to say: Boys are pretty darn cool, too.

I know people are always saying they prefer one gender over another. Still, I have to admit I was surprised by a recent Gallop poll that said 40 percent of adults would prefer a boy and only 28 percent would prefer a girl. Really?

So it got me thinking ... there are a lot of benefits of both genders, but a lot of downsides, too. If we compare the two, which gender is cooler?