Hardheaded Baby: The Final Chapter

First, an appointment update. Then, a little bit about why having a "hardheaded baby" may not be the worst thing in the world.

Dr. Norwood is so darn likeable. I actually enjoy talking to him. This morning we talked about art; he wanted my opinion on some paintings he hanged around the office. It was really flattering and also fun to put my master's degree to use like that!

My blood pressure was really good this week, so after last week's work-related blip, I was pretty relieved. Like I said previously, I'm content to wait as long as I have to for Baby G to be ready for his debut, but I was curious about when Dr. Norwood thought we might expect him. The baby's head was still pretty high at this appointment, which seemed to surprise the doctor. I was expecting him to tell me not to get to attached to 07/25, but toward the end of the appointment he said he gives me another week and a half or so -- which would be exactly 07/25! I expressed surprise, saying I thought I'd go late, and he said there's no reason for him to think I'll go past my due date. He said he usually tries to mentally and emotionally prepare his patients who are obviously way behind, and he's not worried about me. Guess we'll see what happens. I'm still not contracting at all and feeling very comfortable.

I asked Dr. Norwood to level with me: the last three appointments, he has said that the baby's head is exceptionally hard. So I asked him if that means it's going to be more difficult or painful to have the baby. He apologized for scaring me and said no, that the baby's head still hasn't "sutured up," so it will compress and be fine. He also said it may only seem harder because I don't have a lot of body fat compared to some of his other patients, so it's easier to feel the head.

Honestly, I have been a little scared about the head thing. That's why I was really blessed by last Sunday's message at our church, Watermark. Todd talked about when Ezekiel was first called to prophesy, and how God knew it was important that the prophet have a "hard head" in order to reach a "rebellious people":

"I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint." (Ezekiel 3:9a, NIV)

Todd made the point that too many "Christians" don't have hard heads; they want to be gentle, loving, and accepting, which is key, but they scrimp on justice. They are afraid to say the things that hurt, even though they are true. Part of love is justice, and the most loving people will not relent for the sake of being "nice" or sparing feelings. They have to have hard heads but soft hearts.

It may sound silly, but I was really encouraged by that message, relating it to my own hardheaded spawn. I don't know what's in store for him, but I have been praying that he will come to know the Lord at an early age, and that he will accept the responsibility God chooses to lay on him. So for the first time, I started thinking about what a cool heritage that is: to be hardheaded from birth!