Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Elephant, What Elephant?


Maybe I have just become accustom to peoples natural curiosities and so it doesn't occur to me that there are people out there who do not know the story of our family but before I get to the "Elephant" that has apparently been living in our lives for many years now, I will flashback a bit.

When my brother was um I dunno maybe 7, 8 something like that, he was in school. Anyhow he had been struggling with some things in class and one night as my sweet mother was tucking him into bed he says "Mom, how come Marylin & Janna are smart and are from Dad's side of the family and me & Alyssa are from your side of the family and we are, well, you know?" I am not quite sure how my mother responded to that question at the time but as a family we have laughed about it for years. In fact my brother has gone down in history with many a one liners but I will save him the embarrassment and refrain, for today. :)

That story came to mind when this past Sunday Alexis was faced with yet again the inquiry of "So where do you get all your hair?". When Lexi was very little people thought they were "smart" and would ask her when I wasn't around, "So who do you look like?" or "Where is your Daddy?" or "Where did your brown eyes come from?" and she would later tell me about it.

Over the years we have just gotten used to it and don't pay much attention to all of it. Although there have been moments where I have felt like saying "None of your darn business!" but I usually just hold my tongue and act as if they are asking a rhetorical question and smile.

On to the Elephant, for those that have been on the edge of their seats dying to know (I seriously doubt there are too many of those) but just in case. Previous to being married to Jimmy I was legally obligated to someone, he was the sperm donor to Alexis. She was 10 days old when we separated so she has no memory of co-habitation with said "Sperm Donor". Lexi was just 3 when Jimmy and I began dating and not quite 4 when we were married, she was sealed to us two years later (along with Grace), and then Jimmy's adoption of Alexis was final in Jan of 2007.

I honestly do understand why people look at her and maybe wonder, but because Jimmy and I just look at her as our daughter we don't give it a second thought. In fact Alexis thought that her DNA had changed with the adoption, she was heartbroken when she found out that she was still in fact Spanish. Poor thing, if only it worked that way.

I have often told my girls when they are acting silly that they are "Nuts", well a few years back Lexi said "Mom, I get my nuts from Dad huh?" I just laughed and said "Yes, honey you do get your craziness from Dad." Perhaps she gets her "one liners" from her Uncle Jack!!!


8 comments:

Janna said...

I love you my Lexi!!!
I am so glad she is part of our family. I love you Marylin:)

Ipuna Black said...

Marylin, Nice seeing you today! The website I was telling you about is:
http://www.slingsbysarah.com/Slings%20by%20Sarah/Welcome.html

She does a good job and is inexpensive. Jy LOVES his.

Ipuna Black said...

I just read your post. I know the feeling. Try having a brown skin curly haired child who is so handsome :). I get looks and questions all the time.

I didn't think Lexi was part Spanish. I would have never known if you did't tell me the info. Our stories are very similar.

Ipuna Black said...
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Ipuna Black said...
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Heather B said...

Well, I didn't know any of that, but what a cool elephant story!
:) I had to read it twice to make sure I was understanding it...you can explain it all later if you want. That is such a fabulous elephant picture too. (I hate to admit this but I clicked to enlarge it to see if that really was you/your house). I hadn't read the post yet though! Teehee.

Liz Prisbrey said...

I can't imagine why anyone would need to ask who Lexi looked like. She is the spitting image of you!! She is a beauty!

Shelley said...

You are too funny! I really love that pic of the elephant in the room.