"At least he has hair"

Before Jackson was born, we wondered what he would look like and who's traits he would have. We wondered if we'd have a bald baby or a baby with hair (though, everyone's response to my complaints about heartburn were quick to inform me that I'd have a "hairy baby") and of course what color his hair would be, if he did in fact have hair. We were actually doubtful that we'd have a baby with hair because we were both fairly-bald-babies.

Of course, Jackson DOES have hair and much to our surprise (and delight!) his hair is RED. The first thing the doctor said when he was born was "he has red hair!!"--even though I was strapped to the operating table & had just had major surgery, this announcement made me smile! I was so excited, we had never really considered that he would have red hair!

**Now, I know that baby's often lose their newborn hair and that the hair color can change more than once before they have their "real" hair color, but for now he definitely is a redhead.**

So, I've done some research on redheads.

Did you know:

Red hair is a genetic mutation. The gene responsible for red hair MC1R was discovered in the late 1990s. Both parents have to have the recessive gene to have a baby with red hair.

Though red hair is commonly connected to people of Celtic descent, it has surfaced in all ethnic backgrounds.

An estimated 40 per cent of Scots carry the red hair gene and 13 per cent have red hair. In Ireland, 10 per cent of the population has red hair. In America, it's estimated between 2 and 6 per cent.

Red hair is often associated with a feisty personality. Some famous redheads include Lucille Ball, Elizabeth I, Red Buttons, Anne of Green Gables, Leonard "Red" Kelly, Sarah Ferguson (the Duchess of York), Little Orphan Annie, Prince Harry and the Wendy's hamburger girl.

If you google 'red hair' or 'red head' you'll come up with all kinds of interesting facts and folklore about people with red hair. It's pretty fascinating.

One of the things you'll find during your study of redheads is the undue criticism/descrimination that redheads have faced over thousands of years.

Today was my first real-life experience with redhead discrimination.

Phone conversation:

Me: "Our baby has red hair just like his Uncle Tyler!" (excitement in my voice)

Woman: "Ohhh...maybe it won't be so bright..." (obviously trying to find something to say to 'make it better'?)

Me: "Oh, uh..."

Woman: "I had a cousin who had bright red hair as a baby but when he got older it darkend up very nicely. "

Me: "Oh, really? Like an auburn shade..." (trying to sound interested and not bothered)

Woman: "Yes... Hm. Well! At least he HAS hair...and, well, he's healthy. So that's two things! He has hair & he's healthy..."

Me: "Yes, yes he is. Ok, I'm sorry I have to go..." (crying baby in the background, perfect way to get out of a conversation)

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ARE YOU SERIOUS!?

"AT LEAST HE HAS HAIR"

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I am telling you, this baby is darling and his red hair is one of my FAVORITE features!!