Are Those Really My Genes?

There is no doubt that Woodstock is definitely, genetically, the offspring of Himself and I. For one thing, she has Grover's nose - which means it must have come from Himself's gene pool at one time. For another thing, she has Himself's laid back approach to life. She has the same white-blonde hair we both had as kids, as well as the same obsession with hats I had as a child (every photo of me as a toddler/pre-schooler has me wearing a hat and sunglasses). She also loves books (me), is fiercely stubborn (both) and wants to please (me).

But there are times when I wonder where the rest of her genes come from. I was not a girly-girl as a kid. I don't love pink. I didn't play with dolls. I've never been into fashion (other than shoes, where my practical streak still overrules any longing for a shoe over $40). When we played house, I was always the cool aunt who went away to work, cooked and stayed away from the baby cradle.

On the other hand, Woodstock is OBSESSED with mothering. She hauls Baby and Meow around in her stroller (complete with "vroom" motor noises - she has not dismissed her love for things with wheels). She spends copious amounts of time putting them down for "nigh nigh", feeding them, checking Baby's diaper, etc. She is also fascinated with purses - and now owns her own. She'll carry anything in it she can get her hands on. Lately, she's been taking her purse with her every morning to the car, two twin blondes marching down the driveway with bags over our shoulders.

She loves clothes - if the closet isn't kept shut, she can be found in there, taking her clothes off the shelf one at a time and exclaiming "cute!" or "cute pants!" over and over again. When I was trying dresses on her the other day, she was twhirling around and saying "cute!" "pretty!" over and over again. She mimics my every move as I put my make-up on in the mornings and loves nothing more than to sneak into the bathroom to play with her hair things and my make-up brushes.

Most of all, she's so ... caring. So nurturing. Not at all like I was prior to her arrival. When she's tired or sad she'll ask for "Nuggles" (snuggles). She is very sensitive to how others are feeling and tends to mirror her emotions accordingly. She's soft and snuggly - like hugging a teddy bear (vs. hugging a cactus, which someone once compared me to, due to my tendency to tense up when hugged).

This little girl delights and baffles me all at the same time. It makes me realize how much of her, while created from Himself and I, is really her own person. One whose early-morning calls of "Mama! All done" from her crib, no matter how early, still make me smile.