Jared Padalecki's 9-Year-Old Son Shepard Looks Just Like His Dad in Adorable New Photos

The 'Supernatural' actor shares his three kids with wife Genevieve

Jared Padalecki has a mini-me!

The Supernatural actor's 9-year-old son Austin Shepard, who goes by Shep, looks just like his dad as he gets ready for back-to-school season in new photos featured in Austin Lifestyle. Posing with his long hair across his eye and wearing a button-up blue polo, Shep is his famous dad's twin as he looks to the side.

In other photos, Shep poses with other kids, including his dad's Walker costar Odette Annable's daughter Charlie. The kids smile for the camera as they play on a playground together and model adorable back-to-school looks.

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Jared, 41, shares his sons Shep and Thomas Colton, 11, and daughter Odette Elliott, 6, with wife Genevieve Padalecki, 42.

In 2014, Jared shared a sweet anecdote about a then-baby Shepherd. "Little Shep just started to scoot, so Shep is 7 [months] and he just started to crawl," he said, adding, "he also started … to [accept] me as part of his life."

"Usually, he was like, 'What do you want?' 'I want Mommy.' Now Shep smiles when he sees me."

Shepard loves animals and nature. To mark his 8th birthday, Genevieve shared a carousel of photos of her son throughout the years, including shots of him holding various different animals.

In the caption, she penned a touching message, writing, "Dearest Shep, our nature lover and adventure seeker, thanks for teaching your parents about patience and kindness."

"You always bring an unique perspective with a smile on your face," she continued. "I hope you never stop saying 'sure thing mom.' ?? We love you to the moon and back. Happy 8th sweet boy."

In 2017, Padalecki opened up to PEOPLE about the biggest lesson he'd learned as a parent. "Ideally, we have plans, but one of the things I've learned has been letting go of control and just trying to be who you want to be in every moment," he said.

"Once I think, 'Okay cool, we're going to put the kids to bed at 7 tonight, we're going to have a glass of wine together, wake them up at 6 and go to baseball,' then that's the night they don't go to bed until 10 and one of them gets sick at midnight, and then the other has nightmares at 2."

"Once you make plans with kids, it goes out the window. It's more just about being there with love and support for whatever comes up," the star added.

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