Parental features

Now that Rowan’s here, our family and friends are quick to identify who he takes after in the looks department. I have to confess that I was eager to see what he’d look like after our experience with the 3D ultrasound… There’s no way to phrase this without coming off as the most shallow mother ever, but based on that picture, I was convinced and horrified that he’d have a hooked nose. Arthur and I also presumed he’d be bald, or at best have peach fuzz, due to our lack of hair as infants.
So imagine my relief and our surprise when Rowan came out with a cute, non-hooked nose and a full head of hair! One of the first things Arthur said when he laid eyes on our son was that he looked like me, which other family members concurred later that evening. But when I took in Rowan’s face for the first time, I immediately identified his features as his own. I know that sounds strange, and I’m not sure how to explain it other than that I saw him as his own unique self. I didn’t see Arthur, and I didn’t see myself – he just looked like Rowan!
Now that he’s a few weeks old, we’ve heard from many people that he looks like Arthur, others think he takes after me, and the rest see a combination of his parents. I’m still bowled over by how adorable and precious he is and don’t see anyone beside himself in that sweet little face. However, that hasn’t stopped me from trying to identify parental traits in his appearance. I think the little bow in Rowan’s lips comes from his papa, and he definitely has my heart-shaped face. And his long feet and fingers probably come from both sides.
At the end of the day though, he’s an original. Admiring Rowan eats up a lot of my time now – between all the feedings, diaper changes, laundry, cleaning, etc., there’s still time to appreciate this perfect little baby. As exhausting and overwhelming as these first few weeks of motherhood have been, I’m reminded how lucky we are to to have our son be safe, sound, and above all else healthy. His charming good looks are just the cherry on top.