The Wonder of Genetics

I have always had a hard time telling people who the boys look like. Sure, I can tell you who acts like whom (mostly their father, especially when they are challenging!), but the physical attributes have always left me scratching my head. If I am pressed, I'd tell you that Shawn has the skin tone of Isaac's side but physically takes after my side of the family. Jason is the reverse. He has the skin tone of his poor pasty pale mother, but looks more like Isaac. Still, I would only say that because other people have told me those things--not because I actually see that myself.

But sometimes, I look at the curve of Jason's mouth and am struck by how much it resembles Isaac's mouth. Other times, I look at Shawn and am amazed at how much he reminds me of my nephew, Jeffrey, when he was a toddler.

Usually though, I just think of them as their own people. Each boy is a wonderful mix of the best (and worst at times!) of both of us. They look like...well, themselves!

Then the other day, my aunt sent me this picture and asked me if it reminded me of anyone.



Oh boy did it. It was like someone took my little Shawn and photo shopped him into an old photograph.

There it was.

Proof.

This picture is of my dad (left), my uncle Norman (right), and my aunt Sandy (center). I'd guess my dad is about 3ish years old here.

The look on his face...

The way his hair falls across his forehead...

Shawn looks like that now! To be honest, he also has that same look that Norman has on his face often enough. Jason gets that look, too. :-)

It blows me away, frankly.

I guess he really does look like my side of the family!