Let's take a closer look...

I am sure that those of you who have given birth to children have gone through something like this. In fact, I have spoken to several different friends who feel the same way as me. It is a new concept for me because, as most of you know, our first two children are adopted! Ok, so what the heck am I talking about, right?
It goes a little something like this. Your pregnant, yeah! All our lives we have wondered what kind of beautiful babies we would one day make. Would they have my eyes, my chin, my nose, my ugly feet, etc.? And secretly (most of us I think) want to have that baby coming out looking at least somewhat like us right!? I mean we are the ones that are incubating and creating them for 9+ (+ in my case!) months! 
Don't get me wrong, I love my husband and want my baby to look like him too, but, call it selfish or what you may, I want them to look more like me... insert selfish girly laugh here. 
I know we are all different. Many of you will not agree with me on that. That is ok. I just grew up feeling such a connection to my family, my ancestors, and wanted so badly to have that feeling of pride when I saw my baby and they had some features that came from my gene pool (as I said before, maybe a little more of mine then my hubbies... there is that laugh again). 
Well, lucky for me I married a Mormon. Not just any Mormon, but a Mormon that looks like a Mormon. I mean he has some hard core Mormon genes going on. I have my theories as to why that is (some cross pollination going on back in the pioneer days maybe? ;) ) But still, you can tell those are some strong genes. I mean everyone in his whole family looks the same ( and yes, he is the oldest of 7 children). So, I thought I was doomed. That none of my kids would look like me.
Fast forward, past us finding out we could not have kids, to adopting 2 kids. Yippee! I was fine (remember, I realize this whole post shows some of my true colors, so don't judge me monkey) with our kids not looking like me in that case, just as long as they did not look like him either! And it did not hurt that they both are so beautiful. You can't really complain about that!
And then, fast forward to last year. I get pregnant! Oh how nervous I was. Here comes another confession... I would pray that the baby would look like me. Is that so selfish!? I mean really, that sounds pretty superficial. But really, I was so grateful to be pregnant and immediately repented of my selfish prayer and just prayed for a healthy baby. I felt the situation was helpless and braced myself for a mini-Mike to come out of me. 
Then he was born! He was/is gorgeous! The minute I saw him I was full of gratitude! He looked like the perfect mix of us both. I was so happy.
Then came the "people" as I call them. Seems as soon as you have a baby (birth a baby) everyone wants to put in their two cents about who they look like (remember, no one really did that to me with the first two). The overwhelming consensus was that he looked just like Mike. What!? NO, I swear he looks like me too.
So, after just over a year I have come to today. Time to do a study. I am good with detail right? I mean I am a wedding photographer for crying out loud. I am here to prove my point... this kid is a PERFECT mix of the both of us! And... don't worry, I still love you and respect your opinion if you don't agree with me. ;)

Subject #1- A one Michael Jones. Age:6mo. old

Subject #2- A one Elijah Jones. Age: 6 mo. old 

Subject #3- A one Becky Jones. Age: 6 mo. old 










So, let us begin. What do you think? Want to know what I see? 
1. The obvious, Eli has Mike's mouth, but a little different. Might have a mix of mine in there ?? He has a bigger upper lip than mike did anyway. 
2. He for sure has my eyes. The shape and color. 
3. The hair is a recessive gene, both Mike and I have blonds in our families. My sister has white hair like Eli does. 
4. I believe his nose is a perfect mix of mine and Mikes... a little more like mine though... he has my nostrils.
5. He has my forehead. 
6. He has my huge hands. 
and 7. The rest is just a mix, his face shape is a good mix of us both. Mike says he has my ears but I can't tell. 


Bottom line... I love this kid and am so grateful for him! I hate that, because he is from us, we tend to nit pick more about where he gets what. Think about it, when you see a negative quality in your child you tend to point the finger at yourself or your spouse, like, "oh, he got that from you!". The beauty of adoption, you don't do that! They are completely unique in your eyes, truly their own individual. 
My goal is to try to remember that and treat Eli the same. Give him credit for all of his own good and bad qualities through his life, and be the best Mommy I can be. Thanks for reading my ranting.


And here, just for fun, a Disney moment brought to you by Eli Jones and one from back in the day by Becky Roberts-Jones...