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red roses that J.J. had delivered to his bride that morning.
One of the perks of parenthood is the ritual of doing a little daydreaming about what to expect when you’re expecting.
Sometimes crazy stuff like wondering if all ten toes will be where they’re supposed to be. More rational things like will the baby have the father’s blue eyes or the mom’s brown ones. And the biggie--is it a boy or a girl?
For Antoinette and J.J., that last one was a no-brainer. The answer had been let out of the amniotic bag when the couple found out their fourth and fifth children were twin boys.
As parents of three boys already, Antoinette and J.J. were hoping the law of average would deliver a girl. J.J. was especially all in on the idea of breaking up the streak of males in the house.
“I had three boys, and I wanted a girl,” says J.J. “We tried and ended up with two more boys. We said, that’s it, no more (trying).”
Funny how life seems to work out
just the way it’s supposed to. And there’s something to be said for the message found in that country western song that says sometimes some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.
When the boys were young, J.J. was confident one or two of them would be jockeys. Ten years ago, Sebastian was 14, weighted 90 pounds and had his heart set on following in his dad’s footsteps. Jesse James was six and even at that age J.J. could see potential just by the way Jesse straddled the arm of a couch.
2021 NMAA State Football Champions.
Sebastian’s jockey aspirations ended when he had a growth spurt between his sophomore and junior year in high school. He’s now 5-11 and 175 pounds.
Jesse James’ athletic genes took him to the football field and basketball court. His height--5-foot-5--is still jockeyesque but he’s up to 135 pounds and likely to add weight over the next 2 1/2 years of high school.
Nathaniel is nearly six inches taller than Jesse James but 15 pounds lighter. Jesse James is a running back who last year ran for over 800 yards and scored 11 touchdowns on Robertson’s state
Matthew, Nathaniel & Jesse James.
J.J. and Antoinette on their wedding day with James, Sebastian and Matthew. Nathaniel & Jesse James.
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