Our Family Tree

Like most new parents, we've spent part of each day looking for the familial resemblance in our child's face, perhaps in attempt to make better sense of him. What's really fantastic is watching his natural expressions and matching them to ours. We can see Chris's moon-face sheepish grin and Christine's open-mouthed squeal-smile on our boy. It's hard to pinpoint, but somehow his eyes are both of ours in shape and expression. (We do have the advantage of looking alike.)

So here is a visual family history to place this beautiful face we wake to each morning...

Christine, shocked.
Avery makes this expression when he accidentally hits the wall with his fluttering hands. We can see resemblance in the "ooh" mouth and the eyes.


Uncle Peter (with sisters).
Avery has this toothless smile and signature Braunohler kid under-eye puff.


It could come from Christine's mom, Vivian. (And yes, Christine is wearing a baby bikini!)


Okay, so now it's clear that the three Braunohler kids couldn't have gotten away without inheriting the under-eye puff. Christine's dad, Bob, is the little one on the left. (We also see Avery's long face in Bob.)


Avery definitely inherited his Aunt Ingrid's bee courage. I took him to the hive today and he did not bat an eye.


Here is possibly where Avery gets his full lips: Otto Braunohler, Christine's paternal grandfather.


Now let's look at the other side.

Here is Chris's mom's family. Pat is the little one with curls. We hope Avery gets her hair. It seems like Avery has Pat's chin and cheeks. (His namesake, Vincent, is the younger boy in front.)


Here is Chris in his grandparents' arms. Avery has a similar hairline and wispy hair.


Chris's uncle Frank (the older boy in the Barbaria family picture above). Now there is a head of curls! Avery has the Barbaria family cheeks beautifully pictured here.


Chris's Dad, Carl, the carrier of the blue eyes on Chris's side. He is also really chubby, not unlike Mr. Avery.


And Chris, on Easter in his blue vest. We expect Avery will have this level of egg-hunting enthusiasm next month.


And finally, the expressions...

Avery's squeal-smile expression is captured here on Christine.


And Chris's moon-face sheepish grin. This expression is one a sleepy Avery does while being burped over the shoulder in his milky stupor.