Sunday, June 13, 2010

Musings from the Mother of a (somewhat formerly) Hair-less Baby

Because she was whisked away so fast, if you ask Sean what my first words after Wren was born were he will tell you with a little smile on his face (because he loves this story) that I asked him "Does she have a lot of hair?"

Oh, the irony! At 18 months old we are just finally starting to really get the first sprigs of real hair, not just bunny fluff... but here are just a few observations I've made over the last 18 months.

1. No, I'm not the most vindictive mother ever... but people must think so when they ask how old my little boy is (wearing head to toe pink clothes and sparkly flip flops). The powers of observation aren't as strong in some of the population apparently.

2. If you think that combing non-existant hair will acclimate them to it later on you are just wasting your time.



3. I am thankful for not having to worry about shampooing ketchup out of hair the 3+ meals a day we eat involving Wren's favorite condiment (side note: did you know that 1.5 year olds think you can dip everything from bananas to popcorn in ketchup... and that it tastes "Mmmmm"?)


4. It's easy to laugh at episodes of Tyra involving wigs for babies.... until you actually consider googling it.

5. I've been told on many occassions that if we bravely shave off Wren's hair, it will grow back thicker and fuller. Oh sure, let's throw away what it's taken 18 months to acheive and just hope it pans out. THANKS, but no-thanks.


Recently it has really started to grow, but it is still so fine that we will consider each little strand a gift from above (just like this little lady). But isn't it funny how the one thing you picture or imagine about your baby actually isn't even close to being as important as how much fun you have with them?

51 comments:

Rachel Moss said...

Wren's sprigs are adorable!

Corrabelle said...

My friend's daughter had hardly any hair at all until about 24 months. (yes, even less that your little one. MUCH less.)
She's 7 now, and has long beautifully thick chestnut brown hair!
Don't worry, it will come in, in it's own, sweet, quirky time:)

Laura said...

I was going to ask that same question when Noah was born but before he was even OUT the Dr said "wow- that's a BALD baby!"- and he's only gotten a couple more hairs since! :)

Kiri said...

So funny Holly! Wren is too cute and totally looks like a little girl! You're right, some people's powers of observation really just aren't up to par! And if it makes you feel any better, I didn't have hair until I was two and then it grew in thick and curly..so she still has hope ;) Have a great week!
~Kiri

Paint Me White said...

Holly you and your husband have very thick hair by the looks so I would say Wren is going to have a bumper crop in no time at all. Love the images of her on your crisp white bed linen. Sandy x

Shannon said...

lol, she is adorable and just think how much she will love hearing you guys laugh when you tell her how you waited forever for her hair to grow in :)

Sarah said...

Ditto what Mayberry Sparrow said!
My friend had a baby with the exact wispy hair that Wren has (until at least 2 years old), and she now has the best hair ever.
Besides, Wren's short hair calls attention to her adorable face.

Luke and Hailie Girl said...

this post of yours cracked me up because I have thick long naturally curly hair and was born with a ton of it.. so naturally when I found out I was pregnant with my daughter hailie I knew she was going to look just like me.. nope..out she came and low and behold a spitting image of my husband..complete with the bald head! She is going to be five in July and I have to say just in the last 6 months has her hair started to thicken and grow..but no curls sadly.. but man did I get frustrated like you becuse here you see all these girls that are the same age as yours and you think they have all this hair whats up with that..and wait till Wren can talk and asks why she doesn't have long hair like everyone else...hang in there though, there is hope.. just have to wait till they are 4! HEHE

Kelsey said...

She is such a doll! I have a friend who's daughter is not only bald but the peach fuzz she has is white blonde. Her poor head is round and veiny and she always gets the "oh your cute little boy" comments even though she dresses her super girly. People are totally oblivious!!

Rebecca said...

Yay how exciting Wren has sprouted more hair :D!!! And if it makes the situation any more awesome...she has more hair than me lol!!! I cherish every strand on my head too! And try to avoid sudden gusts of wind at all cost! And at least you know that both you AND Sean have full heads of hair and so Wren can look forward to growing some more :) I at LEAST know that there's hope for my future children since Nathaniel is a pretty hairy guy hee hee!

Amber's Notebook said...

LOL she's a cutie, hair or not! But umm chaving her hair sounds just sad lol!

TaylorCristen said...

Shes adorable! I didnt have much hair at all until I was 3 years old. My mom would glue bows to my head with petroleum jelly. lol

Janine Claire Robinson said...

She is such a little cutie! I have 2 little girls - one came out with a mane of hair and the other not ... but both are absolutely gorgeous, just like your sweet Wren. Now they both have to fight of mommy coming at them with a brush and ponytails nonstop :)

Melissa said...

My nephew was a doorknob until he was two-- at three he has curls so thick it is hard to brush them. Here's to hoping! Both of my babies have flourishing mullets-- I'm not sure which is worse!

Anonymous said...

I can not believe someone actually suggested you shave her head! I believe you but people are downright crazy! Hang in there. This is coming to you from a mom who also had the most gorgeous baby girl with blue eyes and the pinkist complection.We would joke that she was born with only a hairline. I also dressed her all in pink. I still got the "boy" comments. I even used velcro bows and giant headbands! Well when her hair did come in (started at around 18 months like Wren) it came in like gangbusters!!Lots and lots of wavy blonde hair.Do you know what happen then.... people and I mean more then one would ask me if I colored my daughters hair! O I forgot to mention that I have brown hair. People are crazyyyy. Did they ever stop to think that maybe her dad was blonde? Nope. So, I know how frustrated you are but hang in. Things are goin to change. Promise <3

Ashley said...

I had no hair as a baby and didn't get hardly any until I was around 2.5. But now I have a full head of hair, so don't worry. She is adorable and just think of it as a super cute pixie cut--not everyone can pull that off!

CourtneyKeb said...

Girl, I'm right there with you.
Before my daughter was born I made her at least a dozen hair bows. She's 17 months now and still can't keep one in with the little hair she's got.

and ALL passersby even think she's a boy.
With a purple polka dotted onesie, a pink tutu and purple boots, I even got, "what a handsome little man"

lol and I too, won't shave my daughter's head.
That took a LONG time to look fuzzy like it does now.

aLena said...

In regards to point #5 I know many people that have shaved their kid's hair at 1-2 yrs old hoping that it would go thicker and stronger ... Honestly I doubt that it works .. My friend has 2 daughters and she did it with the first but not the second one and 5 years later their hair looks exactly the same ....

I wouldn't worry about it ...give it a couple more years and she'll have gorgeous long hair like her momma ;)

Anonymous said...

She is so pretty, congratulations!!!

Moments and Impressions said...

We have a bald baby girl too... hair is over rated!

I agree - bald or short hair does not mean they are boys! Come on people!

Amanda said...

Sooooo true Holly! I had a bald little baby boy for quite some time. In fact, he's 2 years and 8 months old and JUST NOW does he have enough to give him the faux hawk I've imagined for so long. So, we did it the other day. And, it made him seem to grow up way too fast. Sooooo, enjoy that bald, precious, soft, fuzzy little baby hair. :) If anyone can make it look good, it's Wren!

Amanda said...

Not sure if my original comment will show up because my computer had a hiccup while processing.
But, if anyone can make blad beautiful, it's Wren. My little man just got his real looks changing haircut last week (courtesy of moi) at 2 years and 8 months old, and let me tell you, that little faux hawk took away my baby and gave me a "big boy". He grew up right in front of my eyes in that moment. Enjoy that sweet, fine, soft baby hair while it lasts. :)

Heather said...

My niece didn't have much hair either until she was about Wren's age. THEN...the curls came and came and came. She's 10-1/2 now, and has 3x as much hair as anyone I know! (And, she's adorable!)

Anonymous said...

I bet she'll have a lot of hair at some point. My little girl, Willa, was a bald baby, and didn't start getting much hair until she was about 18 months.
Here she is at 6 months: http://www.flickr.com/photos/torrie/2082509388/in/set-72157603231631103/
Here she is at 18 months: http://www.flickr.com/photos/torrie/3112348532/in/set-72157611095748878/
Here she is now at age 3: http://www.flickr.com/photos/torrie/4683381880/

Terrell said...

She is just precious from head to toe! ;-) ADORABLE!!!

Elisabeth said...

She is adorable just how she is- I wouldn't shave or cut a thing! Someday she will have a nice head of hair. Oh, and I don't think it's her hair that makes people ask if she's a boy- I've had my daughter who has a ton of hair, dressed in pink, and people think she's a boy! Esp some older people. I don't know why, but all my friends say the same thing too so no worries!

My House, My Garden said...

Boy, can I relate! I have a daughter dressed in pink head to toe, earrings, bracelet and long blonde curly hair. When someones asks me her name and I reply "Conner," 5 out of 10 times they respond, "It's a girl?"
Then I say nicely (restraining myself) "Oh, yes, it's a girl."

MrsKBJ said...

Madison loves ketchup too!!! Madison was born with hair, but then lost some and had a huge bald spot in the back. It is finally getting all one lenght. Once Wrens hair does get longer, just trim the ends and it does seem to become fuller. You will be able to put her hair in a pony tail before you know it!! :O)
Kelly

K said...

She will get hair eventually, meanwhile think of the money you've saved on haircuts and all those hairbows! Have people seriously said to shave her head? I'm still in thought over that..yikes!

I also am cringing at the thought of all that ketchup on all your white but like you said I guess it washes!!!

The Brick Cottage said...

She is adorable! Well, based on my own experience and the others commenting on this post, Wren is going to eventually have one lovely head of hair! I didn't have hair until I was well into toddler hood and I have countless pictures of me where my mom tried to put a barrette in my hair and it's just sitting on top of my head. Now, my hair is so thick that I have to get it thinned on a regular basis and when I go to a new stylist they always comment on how thick it is.

Audra said...

Wren is adorable-don't worry about the hair. I am sure her hair will fill out and be beautiful in time; however, she will be beautiful with or without hair. People often speak without thinking is my philosophy. I have been asked if I highlight my son's hair! I have been asked this since he was about 3 or 4! Isn't that child abuse? Of course I don't 'highlight' his hair!!!! As if!!!!!
Enjoy your beautiful little girl & she always looks like a little girl form the pictures I have seen!

oneblessedmama said...

I was practically bald until the age of 4. And now I have a full head of hair, according to my stylist- I have a LOT of hair, even if it is fine and not thick. She will one day have hair to put barrettes in, lol Just you wait and see! :-)

Momma Rhyne said...

My boys were the same way : blonde and bald. So I assumed my daughter would be too so I bought the stick on bows by the truck load and she came out with TONS of black hair, what the heck? Maybe your NEXT baby will have tons of hair, LOL.

D&D said...

thanks for sharing these photos. they make me want to be a mama!

Meghan said...

Don't worry! I didn't have much hair until I was about two years old. My mom had to tape bows onto my head for pictures! Now, I am 26 and have so much hair on my head that I don't know what to do with all of it sometimes! Hang in there!

kaylan said...

My parents lovingly remember my "baby buzz cut" that stuck around until my second birthday. It was about an inch long and stuck up everywhere, refusing to grow. I do have thick blonde hair now so don't lose hope for Wren! She is, by far, one of the cutest babies I have ever seen.

Melanie Beth said...

Wren is too cute! My son is almost the exact same age as her, and has about the same amount of hair! I can't wait for his hair to grow in! On the shaving note - as a hair stylist I can tell you that it is a myth that shaving will do anything. All it does is shave off the baby fine ENDS of the hair, so that when it grow in again it will have the APPEARANCE of being thicker. In actuality, it does nothing...aside from giving you a bald baby. Wren is too cute to shave bald! Not to worry, her hair will grow in eventually!

Tessa said...

Of all the beautiful posts with pretty furniture that I've never commeneted on, I choose this one instead. It made me laugh. Wren is adorable with or without hair. My oldest son was bald until age 2 and now has the thickest hair I've ever seen (and I've never shave his head :)). My baby was born with a headful and everyone (still) thinks he's a she. Just goes to show...

Anonymous said...

I was bald until I was almost three (a little peach fuzz was all I had!). My mom would sunscreen my head and I am wearing hats in every outdoor photo taken. Don't fret, she will eventually grow lovely hair :)

bryn alexandra said...

Oh holly this post is close to my heart! I didn't have hair until at least two... but now it's so thick and curly. But I just know when it comes time for me to have kids, they, too, will be hairless.

I wonder why hair grows differently on different babies?

christine, just bella said...

I love her pretty little wisps! She is so adorable.

JoLynn said...

She is adorable. I have three girls and my oldest didn't get hair until she was at least 2. Today she's 4 and has thick and curly hair. She hates getting it combed, so I'm actually kind of thankful my kids don't appear to get any hair until they're a bit older. Little kids don't keep barrettes or ponies in very well anyway, so life is easier for us moms! :)

Anonymous said...

Awwh! how adorable! But you know that shaving a baby's head is a ancient Chinese tradition? My mother did it to both my brother and I, and we have really thick hair (it's true!). But your Wren's little head is adorable, so I wouldn't change a thing.

Unknown said...

I have the exact opposite problem... My almost 2 year old boy dressed in head to toe blue has long hair, and is constantly mistaken for a girl.
why is hair the only thing that matters?

Christina said...

Ha, ha!!! I love the ketchup pic!! My son suddenly LOVED ketchup at that age. One time the only way we got some peace and quiet at a restaurant was to hand him some ketchup packets and let him eat the ketchup plain. Yes, totally gross but it bought us some time to eat!! :o) And now he won't touch the stuff.

As for Wren's hair, my daughter Lily had spiky hair FOREVER. She was constantly mistaken for a boy, regardless of how much PINK I had on her!!! She was almost two before her hair would lay flat on her head. So, I feel your pain. And you'll be putting pony tails and bows in her hair before you know it!!! PROMISE!

Tales of Our Journey said...

I think she is the most adorable little girl..with or without hair.

Katharine said...

I've had two very bald little girls and with my first I found some bows that will stick to anything! I reccomend the,m all the time because they really are incredible.
http://www.bittybowsboutique.com/

Sa-Sea said...

SHE IS TOO CUTE! MY DAUGHTER HAD NO HAIR UNTIL HER 3RD BIRTHDAY! SHE IS ALMOST 6 AND I AM ABSOLUTELY OBSESSED WITH FIXING IT BECAUSE I HAD TO WAIT SO LONG! :)

Leslie G said...

Cam has really fine hair too! Holly, I love hearing tidbits about Wren- she is just such a doll. You should write about her more! =)

Tina Crespo said...

my 5 year old niece cayla always had red little fluff on her head until she was about two :) now she has the longest dark red hair, and naturally, thinks she is Ariel from The Little Mermaid.
I'm sure your little darling will get some golden locks in time!

Anonymous said...

I was bald till age 3 AND it was the early 70's so my mom dressed me in "boy" clothes. Navy pants. Primary colored shirts. Keds. Of course everyone thought I was a boy. Oh, and I have a huge head.
Thankfully the hair arrived and Mom learned about Polly Flinders dresses so I looked like a girl!
And I now have enough hair for me and three other people.
Wren is beautiful!

 
Blogging tips