Ever since Annabel was born people have been saying things like, “Oh my goodness, Mike. She looks just like you!” I always smile when I hear this sort of thing, not just because it irritates Heather, but because there is something truly wonderful about having your own little clone baby. Unfortunately for me, I have been hearing these kinds of comments less and less of late, and I think I know why. Annabel is turning into Heather!
Heather, you may remember, talks in her sleep. Amazingly, though Annie’s vocabulary is, shall we say, limited, it appears she takes after her mother in this department. Last night Annie was fast asleep when she raised her arms in the air and said, “Uppa!” I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. During Annie’s waking hours, you see, she wants nothing more than to be picked up, and spends much of her day saying “Uppa!” with her arms in the air. She must have been dreaming about being picked up. So sweet.
The similarities don’t end there though. Every new day sees my little clone baby turning more and more into Heather’s little clone baby. For example:
- When Annie is happy she has started to smile with the same giddy, open mouth smile Heather does.
- Annie has grown strong-willed like her mom, and likes to do things herself. Now when I try to brush her teeth she snatches the brush from me, puts it in her mouth, and says, “I do!”
- While playing with her toys, Annie has started to sing the “Baby, baby” song from Yo Gabba Gabba. This, dare I say, is more charming than when Heather sings Britney Spears’ songs while working.
Perhaps the most worrisome similarity between my two girls though has to do with hair. For years I have had to wait (and wait and wait) for Heather to finish doing her hair before we can go out. Lately, however, I have had to wait even longer now that Annie’s locks are long enough to need a little extra grooming too. And the look of ecstasy on Annie’s face as her hair is fussed over? It tells me I will be spending a lot of time knocking on the bathroom door yelling for her to hurry up.
Hmmm. It seems in hindsight they may have been clones all along!
This is all okay though. I love Heather, so if Annie ends up a chip off her mama’s block I don’t mind. I do hope though that, from time to time in the future, I’m lucky enough to hear people say they can still see something of me in my amazing daughter.
karen says:
Mike,
She still looks a lot like you. It maybe that people are a little hesitant about suggesting you look like a very pretty, definately girly, toddler!
And if she takes after her Mother in personality… it’s not such a bad thing – loving, strong, intelligent, articulate, driven – you can also take some credit for that as you are too!
Madi G. says:
That’s too funny about her dream and the sleep “Uppa!” So sweet!
To be honest, I don’t see it. I don’t think Annie looks like you at all. I don’t think she looks like Heather either. Same with Maddie – I don’t think she looks like either you or Heather.
I see only minimal resemblance between Maddie and Annie (I think it’s largely the weight — Annie is so much heavier than Maddie ever was. Their coloring/complexions are entirely different and Annie doesn’t have any of Maddie’s most prominent features — her eyes, her eyebrows, her lashes, her nose and that incredible smile!!
Sometimes, it seems like Maddie was just too beautiful to be true.
It’s funny, as kids grow, they go through phases. One minute, they’re a Daddy clone, and a week later, they’re just like mommy! So cute.
Annie’s at the most precious age; keep on enjoying her!
-Madi
Sarah says:
I’ve been lurking this site for over 2 years now and never commented, but I couldn’t help but respond because I find this comment to be incredibly insensitive. Annie is heavier than Maddie because Annie didn’t have to struggle the way Maddie did to come into the world. It doesn’t make Annie more or less beautiful than Maddie was. They are each stunning and precious in their own way. And if you actually took the time to look, you would see that Annie DOES look like Maddie. Their profiles are almost identical. That larger-than-life smile, mouth wide open, eyes big as saucers that Maddie was so famous for? Annie makes that face too. And often times, even though siblings may share common physical features, it’s the facial expressions, habits, quirks and ticks that make them appear so similar. Those things often can’t be translated properly on a blog, but I see enough snippets here and there to know that Maddie and Annie’s resemblance to one another goes deeper than their coloring and complexion.
I’m sure you meant well with your sentiment about Maddie being “too beautiful to be true,” but it really trivializes everything that little girl was to those who knew her and loved her.
Mike and Heather, I don’t know you guys, but I admire you and your family every day from my cubicle across the country. Keep up the good work
Alexandra :) says:
I agree with Sarah. That WAS insensetive. Maddie had Heather’s colors and Annie has Mike’s colors (except for the eyes, which both come from Heather). Both babies more or less got Heather’s face and extremely beautiful curly hair. Annie is chubby because babies are supposed to be chubby, Maddie was skinny because she was born so early. Maddie inherited beautiful eyelashes that Annie didn’t but might get later on. And both girls are absolutely adorable. It’s as simple as that
Madi G. says:
Oh my goodness! I absolutely meant no offense by my remarks! I hate that my words have been construed so much differently from how they were intended!
I was simply highlighting the differences — differences that anyone can see — as to why Maddie and Annie looked very different to me. I had no idea that calling a baby “heavy” was un-PC. Last time I checked, baby fat was cute (and totally healthy! Though I say this with caution, as I don’t want anyone to think I’m bashing beautiful Maddie!) I wasn’t saying that any of these traits were better/worse than the other — just that they were different! No insults intended. Goodness, no.
As a parent of 2 NICU babies and 2 typical babies, I would have no problem if another parent pointed out that my kids looked very different as babies and toddlers, largely in part due to the weight differential. (In fact, many have pointed this out!) It’s a fact! It doesn’t make anyone more/lesser; it’s just a difference!
Maddie had her own unique features — her eyes and lashes, her eyebrows, her smile; and Annie has hers — her doe eyes, her ringlets, her chubby cheeks and that adorable nose! I’m not saying one is better than the other; only different. (And thus, they don’t look similar to me. Each has her own unique set of dominant features.) But they’re both gorgeous little babies! That’s all.
I love Heather, Mike, Annie, Maddie and Rigby. I’ve been following their story (and commenting!) since Maddie was just a few months old. I apologize to you guys if you thought I meant anything negative! Oh my goodness, no! Never!
Ugh…this is why I don’t comment frequently. I hate having my words misconstrued.
-Madi G.
Ellie says:
Madi,
I read your comment as one that was totally positive!!!
There will always be people who take your words out of context ; I daresay they enjoy causing a kerfuffle. Particularly when it comes to blog comments, where you can hide behind a computer screen. Only on the web will people find fault with a comment where you’re heaping praise upon others, calling them “sweet” and “beautiful.”
And in no way is it negative to say that someone seems “too good to be true.” It’s an incredible compliment!
They’re just taking your words out of context and nitpicking because they *can.* Don’t give it a second thought!
-Ellie
Ellie says:
I agree, BTW.
I don’t think Maddie or Annie look like each other, Heather or Mike. I think they look like their own beautiful, unique individuals!
Personally, I prefer it that way! My three girls all look exactly the same and like me. You can’t tell them apart in baby pictures (in fact, you can’t tell them apart in real life! They’re constantly confused, despite the fact that there’s nearly a year between each girl’s DOB.) I’m constantly asked if they’re twins (despite the fact that there’s three! LOL)
Looking so much alike causes identity issues that we’re just starting to see emerge (i.e. instead of being “Emily”, she’s one of “the Cottonwood Girls” or “Simone’s and Dakota’s sister”). Never under value your unique appearance!
Ellie
Skye says:
I think she still looks like you. And I’m sure Heather could put together a list of Annie’s habits that mimic yours too!
Lisa says:
Hehe, love that picture of Heather and Annie. You definitely should have seen this coming
MOnica says:
she is definitely a replica of you! I love coming here to read your stories and look at her adorable face. You two crack me up with your videos too!
Leslie says:
I still think she looks like you! I just saw it the other day and thought, WOW, she looks like her Daddy!
The other night my daughter, who is 3, said “peekaboo” in her sleep. It was SOOO cute!
Trisha says:
I see both of you very much so in both Maddie and Annie. While Maddie did show her Irish, fair skinned side more and Annie shows her portugese side, they both nonetheless, look like each other and like you and Heather.
As for personality, I definitely see both you and Heather hamming it up in videos and pictures, and I see that in both Maddie and Annie as well. As she gets older and starts really stringing conversation together, I am sure we’ll really get to see whose personality traits are stronger in her.
My 2 year old has started to talk a little in her sleep too. I am not a sleep talker and neither is my husband. She will sit up and say something and then right back down on her pillow. Very cute indeed but sometimes it startles the crap out me.
Rachel says:
I think Annie looks like someone took you, Heather and Maddie, and mooshed you all together into one person. She is so cute her pictures literally make me squeal when I pull them up on the computer screen. If I met her in person, I might pass out from cuteness overload. She is just precious!
Glenda says:
I think she looks like you a lot. I know what you mean about being Heather’s lil clone.
I have a son and a daughter. My son looks like his dad, but his ways are a lot like me. My daughter looks like me, but her ways are a lot like her dad.
It’s an even balance and I love it.
Christina says:
Lovely post and it so beautifully describes the wonder that is watching a tiny personality and tiny features grow more and more complex. Thanks for sharing!
Audra says:
She definitely looks like you. One of the most fascinating things about the todder/preschool years is seeing which personality traits children get from each parent. Sometimes it is funny, like when we see our three year old’s sense of humor and how it is similar to her daddy’s. Other times it can be almost heart-breaking, like watching my sweet five year old grapple with the anxiety that I struggled with as a kid.
Expat Mom says:
She definitely LOOKS like you. We’ve found in our home that our sons are opposites in personality and looks. Dorian looks like his papa, but is exactly like me in everything down to pickiness in food and temperment. Dante looks like me and has his papa’s personality. So, I think Annie is doing the same thing, looking like you, but taking after Heather in other ways.
Jenn says:
I am reading this suuuuuper late. But, anyway. I had to laugh when I read this, because I came from the last post (a photo of Annie) and the only thing I thought when I saw it was: “She looks JUST like her dad!” haha