So many people (including “many of you”:/news/2006/youd-be-cranky-too/#comment-442) have pointed out a family resemblance in Lucy. That is quite a compliment, since we think she is quite a beauty. But frankly, I often have a hard time seeing the resemblance, especially to either Jon or myself.
I was talking with my friend Dora about this recently. I asked her if she thought her son looks like her or her husband. She said she doesn’t see it at all. What’s weird about that is that, in our opinion, her son looks *exactly* like his dad! So, it got me to start wondering: is it difficult for parents to see the family resemblance in their own children? What do you think? Let us know with your comments (below).
Jon has said to me that, while it is hard to tell whether Lucy looks *like* one of us, she does look familiar. He says he wasn’t surprised to see her face at birth — she somehow looked just right.
In any case, we are glad to get to spend lots of time looking at Lucy’s face.
We have always had a hard time seeing the resemblance in Benjamin. I think he is a good mix, because some people we know say he looks just like James, while others say that he looks just like me. There are some traits that obviously came from one or the other of us (he has James’ blue eyes, the red in his hair is from me), but beyond that I say he just looks like Benjamin!
My sister and I joked that you had to wait until your third child before they resemble the mom. Alex is a spitting image of Andy….most days. Joseph looks like my brother in law, but then he looks like my dad as well. Charles and a cousin of mine look like identical twins 15 years apart. I see me in Naomi, but I also see her cousins on Andy’s side. It is fun and fasdinating to see how God has put a little of each of us in our children….but then they alos each look like themselves.
I have seen you both in the pictures of Lucy. The one one this post seems just like Jon.
Enjoy,
Nicole Wetzel
I think it must be like hearing your own voice on the answering machine or seeing yourself on video. Familiar, but not quite what you expect. I do see the resemblance!
I see resemblance in actions and attitude with my two. They sleep in the same positions as their daddy, but stretch like me. Kaia is wild and stubborn like daddy, but is sassy like me. Mo seems to be a pretty laid back guy and I think will have more of my attitude (thank you Lord!)
But do they look like us, no not really. And I’ve yet to find someone who thinks they do. Sure Kaia has daddy’s fair skin and blue eyes. Mo is a bit darker complected like me, and looks like he may have my dark hair. I do see that Kaia looks like my Mother in law. It took a niece saying it for me to see it, but sure enough that’s who she looks like. And Mo? Well he looks like his sister.
I think it’s the same way for grown children, too. EVERYONE tells me I look just like my mother. I don’t see it. I do think that you need to compare photos of the same age. Dig out some baby pictures of you and Jon. I know that when we were recently going through old family photos last fall, I had a hard time telling the difference between my dad and his brother and their sons given just a baby face to go on. Same thing with a lot of the girls, me included.
For what it’s worth, I think Lucy has your mouth and Jon’s eyes. We can’t wait to see her in person!
Ann,
You may find it interesting to know that I also get a lot of comments about the ways that Quinn resembles me. These are most often from folks that don’t know Danny and therefore don’t immediately realize that we adopted Quinn, but not always. I have come to the conclusion that people will always hunt for a resemblance between you and your children whether there is a genetic link or not.
Regarding your considering a resemblance to be a compliment to you since she is such a beauty (and I agree she is) I have to say that I can’t imagine you and Jon not having a beautiful baby. Since meeting you I have considered you to be one of the most beautiful women I know. There is just something about you that simply radiates. And Jon ain’t so bad himself, but don’t tell him I said that. (Don’t want it to go to his head.)
Lucy is a very blessed little one.
Lynn
Golly! Lynn, thanks for the super-nice compliment! I’m just glad that we get to be the ones to look at Lucy all the time. :)