our siblings, our selves

of course people always compare children against their parents ... "he has your eyes" ... "that's my coloring" ... "he's just like his father" ... "

but what if you compare a child against his aunts?

well ... in jack's case we see a few similarities recently.

first ... jack's comfort object for many months has been a little blue blanket. but, recently, he has begun calling this his "beebee." this likely comes from mommy and daddy's unsophisticated code for blue blanket (i.e., "jack's going for a nap. do you know where b.b. is?")

this is particularly funny for daddy, who remembers his sister carting around a blanket named beebee with her everywhere she went, until it was nothing but a little rag tucked into her prom dress. okay ... we took some literary license with that one, and maybe she didn't *actually* take it to prom with her. but still ... it was a constant companion and well known to all as her beebee.

also, daddy claims that aunt amy used to like to sit on her potty chair in her clothes and just hang out there. apparently there is even photographic evidence of this (grandma??). and that's about where we are in our potty-training efforts. another similarity - check!

but it's not only in the paternal lineage that we see such similarities with our siblings. jack also bears some resemblance to his aunt megan.

first, as we've mentioned previously, jack seems to have a stubborn -- some might say willful -- streak. clearly that comes from his maternal aunt, since it most certainly does not come from his maternal mother.

second, jack has a priceless expression, mostly used when he's showing-off, that involves a knowing look with one raised eyebrow. this has most recently been observed during jack's ball throwing escapades, which we recounted to you yesterday. just as he returns to "ready position" jack looks over for an approving reaction with a raised eyebrow and sly grin. (and, yes devoted readers, we will endeavor to catch this on camera or video at the next possible opportunity!)

when she saw it, mommy recognized this look immediately. it is the same look that often accompanied all kinds of sisterly hijinks with aunt megan.

some may say this is just a proxy war about who jack is more like. maybe, maybe not.

but just tell me the similarities to his aunts are not totally eerie ...