Appearances are deceiving

You will note, as these pictures show, that Abby (in the red) looks a lot like Owen did at about the same point in his young life. The pic of wee Owen was actually taken at about five months, so he's a bit further along than wee Abby is now. But still. Pretty similar.

That's about where the similarities end. I wanted to find a picture of Owen with a big smile to compare with this new one of Abby, but it was hard to dig up. One reason: Owen didn't feature too many big smiles. He was a contented baby, but also very serious. Some might even say surly. He didn't cry or wail very much, but put him in a room full of people and he would sit there with a blank expression on his little mug. If you wanted him to break out in a grin, you had to earn it.

Abby, it is becoming clear, is the opposite. She will sit on your lap, head flicking about the room like an owl, and when she makes eye contact with you immediately break into a smile. 'Hey! It's Daddy! How have you been!' Then back to looking around. Eye contact again. 'Hey! How are things!'

She's also much quicker to become upset, and seems to cry a lot louder and with more enthusiam than Owen could ever muster. She's just expressive with her emotions. Like her mother.

Hopefully she doesn't inherit the same passion for shoes.