Big Boy with a Little Head

Garrett visited the doctor yesterday for his check-up. He weighs 18.02 pounds and is 27.5 inches long. This puts him in the 80th percentile for his weight and just shy of the 100th percentile for his height. BIG BOY! Somebody asked me the other day if he is ten months old--I just laughed and told her he was only 5 months. Neither the Petersens or Phillips are especially petite, so I guess it's to be expected. Interesting side note--his head is only in the 40th percentile--a phenomenom neither Greg or I understand because both of our families have very large heeds. Go figure!

He was such a big boy and didn't even cry when he got his shots. YEAH RIGHT! I learned yesterday that Garrett is indeed capable of sitting himself up. When the nurse stuck the first needle into his chubby little thigh, he pulled himself up off his back and shot straight up. It would have been pretty cool if he wasn't screaming his head off.

Now for my spiritual thought of the day...Taking Garrett in for his shots is something I dread as a parent. I absolutely HATE looking at him smiling at me on the table, cooing and giggling, just knowing in a few seconds I am going to be subjecting him to great pain. I feel as if I am totally betraying my sweet little boy. In fact, every time I take him in, I am so tempted just to tell the nurse not to give him the shots because I know they are going to hurt him. However, I know the pain is brief and protects him against the potential for much worse pain later on. I think of how awful I would feel if Garrett got something like polio, hepatits, or the measles because I am not strong enough to watch him suffer for a few minutes. It occurred to me that this must be on a small scale just how our Heavenly Father feels about us as His children. It must break His heart to watch us suffer through our own trials, knowing He could prevent them if He really wanted to. However, with His omnipotent understanding, He knows these trials are really strengthening us and making us better, stronger people. Taking away all of our pain and suffering is not the best thing for us and will not lead to the greatest happiness in the end. I think I am beginning to understand why Heavenly Father had to hide himself while His son, Jesus Christ, was atoning for our sins. In the grand scheme of things, Christ's suffering was for just a brief time and brought about the potential for eternal happiness for all mankind, but it was still hard for His Father to watch. We are so blessed to be children of a Heavenly Father who loves us enough to let us suffer, knowing it will ultimately bring us great happiness.