Curls Gone Wild

Times have definitely changed in just a year. Little man is officially a fifteen-month old boy. I find myself accidentally telling people he is two. I just can't believe that my giant of a toddler is still considered a baby at his age. He's over three feet tall and over thirty pounds already. We are due for another check up, but with our move across the country, there is still some setting up to do.

Regretfully, we just had his hair cut last week. I find myself missing his adorable long, baby curls. It took me about a month to get used to the idea of cutting Brady's hair. I'd roll down the windows to let the breeze flow in our truck and the poor little guy had his bangs flying in his eyes. I just couldn't punish him for my fears of "losing" my baby. So we found the cutest barbershop for kids and scheduled an appointment. It seemed like the very day he was scheduled to go in, his hair cooperated. This is a typical event for me whenever I plan to do something drastic to my hair. Just seems natural it would be hereditary. Bman just had the curliest, blond-streaked, perfectly tousled hair I wish I had (the remorse is dripping off my words). He looked like a surfer dude.

Reluctantly, I held my resolve and met Kyle to get the deed done. Surprisingly, there were no tears. Not even from me. The barber bagged his locks and attached them to a certificate with a picture for us. I think the souvenir was more for me than for the young client. Sometimes I think he looks like one of the characters from the movie, "Dumb & Dumber", when his bangs form a straight line across his forehead. I guess it's partially my fault because I couldn't commit to crew cut like his dad's. Apparently, a lot of moms have trouble completely going for it with the first cut. I asked for a "longer" short style. When we comb it fresh from the bath it does look great, I have to admit.

It's amazing how the simple act of cutting Brady's luscious baby ringlets would make him look so much older. I try not to, but I find myself expecting more out of him. Strangely enough, he has been doing more. It is probably pure coincidence, but he's saying more words like "Daddy, Monkey, Doggy, Ice". To his own demise, he's climbing the stairs (and tables) with confidence. It's probably the appropriate age to start exploring and become more independent. Just worked out it was perfect timing with the transitional haircut.

Brady does tug on his hair from time-to-time. I wonder if he knows he's different too. I think he wants to grow up and be a "big boy". I'm okay with him growing up. I want him to be a thriving person in society. I just want him to do it at a steadier pace. At his rate, he will be reciting the Declaration of Independence and Pythagorean Theorem by age two. Maybe I will be okay with his accelerated growth if he grows his curls back...

Tired of bedtime

It's been a while, I know. My little man is almost a year old already. Boy, has time gone by in a frenzied hurry. I often repeat how I miss my "little baby". B-man is toddling about and babbling. He has been crawling for a long time now. As far as I can remember, he started around six months old. At about ten and a half months old, he started to take some steps. He's up to five steps in a row before he gets nervous and plops down on his diaper-padded butt.

Our little boy has learned how to point, clap, "gimme five", feed himself, among other skills. I just can't believe how much he has learned in less than a year. I am so proud of my boy.


The latest dilemma we've been facing is bedtime. We have an established routine to read to Brady every night before bed. Because his attention span isn't as long as necessary for detailed books, we keep it simple. He brushes his eight teeth (or we try to brush and he sucks the baby toothpaste off the brush) and then we read "five little monkeys jumping on the bed" every night. Brady tries to babble along with us. I think he knows the words. Since he's practicing to walk, he has learned to explore the world so much that when it's time for bed, regardless of how exhausted he is, he fights it. Luckily we've only had one long crying-spell night. He's been whimpering and whining for a few minutes before going to sleep lately. I'm relieved he doesn't go into his all-out panic attack mode like he did a few night ago. I've never been a fan of crying it out and felt really bad about leaving him in his room. It's just not like him to cry like that at bed time. He usually opens his mouth for his pacifier, grabs his blankey friend and goes right to sleep. I think he's learned to protest. Hopefully this transitional period into toddlerhood phases out quickly.