Exhibit A

Yesterday, when I thought Will was better and before I realized he wasn't (more on that later), I took him to get a haircut. I usually take him to Sports Clips (I think it's a chain?) and they generally do a good job. His hair is thick and wavy and it's hard to make it look bad. Yet the Walmart salon lady found a way.

ExhIbit A:
Notice how he has no sideburns anymore. Not that he needs huge ones since he's a toddler, but a little curve wouldn't hurt. It's the way nature made him. And she cut it straight off. And you can see where she didn't cut the hair near it. This is just one part I'm disastisfied with. You can find something from every angle if you look.

(This is what will typed while I was away from the computer trying to comfort Reed: kdsddddddddddcdccddcssss

kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkdscdnkedddddzc'

Not quite 2 and typing. Very talented boy.)

Anyway, when we first got there I asked if there would be a wait, because I'm all about not waiting with a baby or toddler in tow. She said no, so we signed in. She proceeded to spend the next 5 minutes acting like she was looking for someone or something and didn't say anything to us. Then she finally got her supply case, a towel and an adult drape out and gestured toward a chair. I asked if she had a booster for him or if she wanted me to hold him. She looked around for about 30 seconds and spotted the boosters behind her. After she got a towel around his neck she then realized she would be needing a drape for a child. I was starting to gather she wasn't their star stylist.

I explained what I wanted (cut a short as possible around the sides and back without using clippers and then a little longer on the top). She then cut about 1/3 of the hair on his head and asked if that was good. I suggested maybe she should trim the hair that was hanging over his ears and could she maybe do it a little shorter. So she did what you see to the areas over his ears, though obviously neglecting certain patches. She trimmed the top of his head about 1/2 a cm. And then asked if that was good. So I asked again could she just do it a little shorter because his hair grows so fast and really he could use a haircut once a month, so I like to get it short. So she trims his bangs pretty well and takes about a mm off what she's already done and asks a third time what I think. By this point I'm just done with her. She was obviously new and apparently in some sort of community program where people with learning disabilities can get jobs.

I'm kidding.

But then we tried to check out. Oh boy.

She rings us up for an ADULT HAIRCUT. We got 1/2 a child's cut.

"That will be $14.95."

"You rang us up for an adult haircut."

"Oh. That will be $13.00"

"Are you sure, because it says right here - 'Child's Cut and Shampoo: $10.95'. And you didn't shampoo, so is the haircut only cheaper?"

"I'm not sure, let me check."

Insert Will starting to FREAK OUT because he has used up all his toddler patience sitting still for a haircut and oh the injustice of having to sit in a basket and wait for a special needs lady to check us out.

(sorry. she irked me)

FINALLY we figure out that shampoo or not, full haircut or not, it is $10.95 for a kid's cut. So I give her my debit card. I am not sure I have ever had it take that long to process a debit card. Bless me and Will's patience by this point.

I finally get the slip to sign and begrudgingly gave her $1.50 tip because I just feel like with haircuts or restaurants, you give SOME kind of tip, even if it's not totally deserved. So that's $12.45 for a terrible haircut. And tomorrow (if he's feeling better), we're going to Sports Clips to get it fixed.

Will feeds the ducks

A couple of notes:

1. This was his first time going to feed the ducks. When I handed him the first piece of bread, before the camera was one, he stood there and took a couple of bites of it.

2. There are normally a ton of ducks at the lake. Not sure where they all were.

3. I fully expected him to try and chase them or get close to the water and debated on whether it was a good idea to take him and Reed by myself. But as you can see, he stood in one place! Amazing!

4. I didn't mean to stop the video when I did - I accidentally hit the button. Oh well.

5. Right before we left, I was kneeling down by the stroller talking to Reed and an 8 year old kid (he told me his age) walked by Will and made some funny faces at him, then came and stood behind me and made faces at Reed. I'm pretty sure he gave me bunny ears, too.

6. I littered for a minute. I was feeding Reed and Will took the last piece of bread and the bread bag blew into the water. But it was at the edge and I was able to get it and throw it away. When I got to the trash can I saw 6 or 7 bread bags, so no wonder the ducks weren't going nuts over the bread. Guess we'll have to get there early next time.

What were you doing a year ago today?

I was taking pictures of my sweet 11 month old Will.

And looking quite shocked at this:

A year ago today I found out I was pregnant with Reed. We were shocked. Stunned. Excited. Scared. I smiled. I cried. I thought I wasn't ready. How in the world were we going to do this? But looking back, that day ranks as one of the top faves in my life. Oh my precious Reed. I don't know how we lived without him.

Reflecting on today and Reed's pregnancy and birth, I decided I should post his birth story. I retro-dated it to the day he was born, and you can read it by clicking here. It is long, and you may find it boring or graphic, but I wanted to be as detailed as possible before I forget.

Lucky Girl

Today is my birthday. I'm a St. Paddy's day baby, so some may call me a 'lucky girl'. I feel pretty lucky, but I think blessed is a more appropriate term. I have so much to be thankful for on my 28th birthday. My life now is by far more full and rich than I could ever imagine. And by rich I don't mean money wise. Our house is modest and in need of improvements we can't afford. Our cars are a little older and our bank account looks quite sad sometimes. But man, are we wealthy in other ways! Just look how full my arms are!


Last year on my birthday I thought we were quite complete for the time being. And just 5 days later I learned we would be adding to our family. Now I have a wonderful 5 month old to love and cuddle. God is so loving and giving! I never could have imagined how happy that sweet little baby could make me but God knew. And He sent me my precious Reed.

Will delights me daily. Even though he can be a challenge sometimes, he is such a joy! I have a wonderful husband who takes care of us and such great family to help. Just this morning my mom came over at 5:30 because Brad was out of town and I had to be at work at 5:45 (and I woke up at 5:27 - whoops! I DID shower and clocked in at 5:48! Good thing I live so close to work!). She got the boys up, fed Reed and drove them to daycare. And she even did dishes while the boys slept! My dad made my lunch and she delivered that this morning, too. How thoughtful! Tonight she came by and brought me a birthday cake and card.

Will loves his Nana!

Tonight Brad and I went to Applebees while Brad's parents kept the boys. Will was pretty excited to see Gigi and Poppy since he doesn't see them everyday now.

I received many wonderful phone calls, texts and facebook messages for my birthday this year and a few cards in the mail. Haven even blogged about me! How sweet! Oh and my friend Laura sent me some spatulas with shamrocks on them. That may seem like a random gift to some, but I thought it was perfect! See, last week I was making some of The Pioneer Woman's cinnamon rolls and I broke a spatula. I had also previously broken another one, so I was down to just 2 and made a mental note to buy some more. Of couse, I didn't tell anyone (wouldn't that be a boring conversation?), but Laura sent me some!

My life is filled with so many people who I love and even though it can be hectic at times, it feels so perfect. Some may call me lucky, but I am definitely blessed!

5 Months

Reed,
You are five months old today! FIVE. That just seems so wrong! How is it possible that nearly half a year has slipped by already?

You are such a happy boy! You smile at me all the time, unless I have the camera in my hands, of course. You love to coo and make noises and do a big, noisey yawn. It ALWAYS makes me yawn if I see you do it. I actually yawned just thinking about it a second ago!

I am still waiting to watch you find your feet and roll over and sit up. I know you will do all of these things and more very soon! For now I am just enjoying you being my sweet baby. I still take you to church with me and I love holding you and watching you sleep. Sometimes you are so BUSY staring at everyone and looking at the stained glass windows and sometimes you go right to sleep. I will probably have to take you to the nursery soon but I glad I have kept you with me this long.


Somedays you look so much like Will to me, then somedays you look nothing like him. I think you will favor him but you look more like a Gibbs to me and my mom. You have lots of hair coming in and it looks brownish red. Your eyes are HUGE and a beautiful light blue. Speaking of your eyes, your left eye cleared up a few weeks ago! Now we just have the drainage in your right eye. It drives me and Ms. Honey crazy trying to keep it clean and you get annoyed with us constantly wiping it. Hopefully the right one will clear up soon! You weigh around 15lb and can only wear a few 0-3 month things. Most of your clothes are 3-6 month and a couple of 6-9 month. You wear a size 1-2 or 2 diaper.

You are a happy boy but you do have opinions about things. Like when you are tired you start crying and want to go to bed RIGHT THEN. And you want to be put on your tummy to sleep. You will sleep in my arms, too, but you prefer your own space. You sleep from around 8 or 9 until 5 if I have to wake you before I go to work to 7 if you wake up on your own. I miss having you right next to me, but I am loving the sleep! You still nap a lot during the day, usually inbetween each feeding. You eat about every 3 hours during the day. I nurse you in the morning and before bed and you take 4 bottles varying from 4-6 oz. We haven't tried any cereal or baby food yet. I still don't think you are quite ready.

I really wish you would stop growing so fast. The days and weeks pass by too quickly. I love spending time just holding you and talking to you, especially in the mornings (when I am usually very short on time) because you are so happy then. It makes me hate to leave you when you talk to me so sweet, but it always makes me smile.

Daddy and I love having you as our second son and we look forward to seeing you grown and learn new things.

Love,

Mommy

Newd Balance and Little Boy Blue

Where's Will?

I stole this from my mom's iphone tonight. I had forgotten about it. She took this during a visit one night while I was in the hospital trying not to have Reed. Will LOVED playing in the cabinet. It occupied him for several minutes during each visit.