Big Boy Haircut!

I finally talked myself into taking Zach into get his first "real" haircut. I've done a little trimming here and there, but this is his first all-over haircut. I think I put this one off longer than I put off Malachi's 1st. Look at those beautiful eyes under all that hair!

My baby is getting so big - I almost can't believe it! Next week is his first birthday!

Currently...

1. I just finished the second book in the Divergent Trilogy by Veronica Roth. I can't believe I have to wait A YEAR to find out what happens. Seriously... this is why I usually wait until the whole series is out before I start reading it.

2. I have a lot left to unpack from our move, but I've squirreled most of it away into the back bonus room so that Malachi is the one who has to look at it most of the time. =)

3. I have been spending WAY too much time on Pinterest lately.

4. I am planning a Jane Austen bunco party at my house next month - and getting super excited about all the fun prizes and food and decoration I'm going to have.

5. Our new house has a fireplace with a mantle! I've been super excited to decorate it. Here's the beginning of my Fall mantle:

Oil lamp from Grandma's | Harvest jar candle | Picture of Malachi | 3 votives covered with burlap | Pumpkin 

pillar candle w/ acorn & leaf ring from World Market | Two old frames from Grandma's | Malachi's baby 

pumpkin from the Cider Mill | Hurricane holder from Partylite | Leaf garland from Dollar Tree 

I have a burlap project to finish it off.... but I've either misplaced or used up all my burlap...

6. I'm trying to get through the BBC's version of Jane Austen's Persuasion. Usually I don't like to watch a movie before I read the book, but Austen novels are the exception. I've decided the novels are so involved that it actually helps me keep it all straight to watch a movie first. So... the next book on my list is Persuasion, which will fulfill one of my Fall reading goals and 2012 goals. =)

7. Last night I baked my first pumpkin recipe of the season - Banana Pumpkin Muffins. The recipe said it made 12 muffins, so I doubled it. We got almost 3 dozen muffins... hmm...

8. My friend Lisa came over a couple days ago and helped me cut Malachi's hair with our clippers. I usually spend about $18 every couple months to take him to the local children's salon. He has a crazy cowlick in the back and it always grows out weird. I'm thinking I can do this... and save myself some money and cut the cowlick back whenever it needs it, rather than when I have the money. Apparently I need to get some thinning shears though....

The BIG CUT

A while back I decided I'd donate my hair to Locks of Love. I've never cut my hair above my shoulders before, so this was kind of a huge step for me. I've been just about dying to cut it though for the last couple months. It's taken SOOOO long to grow it out long enough. I needed 10 inches - and of course I did want some hair left on my head. So today was the big day. I had my husband take a couple pictures to commemorate just HOW LONG I got it.... because it's never going to be that long again.

And here it is... the finished product. You can't really see them in this 1st picture, but I think I might regret the fact that I cut my bangs shorter.... but other than that I think I'm going to like it. Sorry, the picture is bad... I'll take a better one tomorrow. =)

(This one is right after it was hacked off and before the actual cut)

Locks of Love

Okay... so I've always had this THING about new moms who chop off all their hair a few months after they have their first baby. I honestly don't understand it.... it's like "oh! I'm a mom now and have no time, so I'm going to chop my hair off!" When actually - long hair is pretty easy - just throw it in a ponytail and go. Anyway... I vowed I would never do that and so, I made it through my first year as a mom with my long hair intact AND I didn't even wear it in a ponytail everyday (just most probably).

But now... it's getting to that too long point. My hair is extremely thick and once it starts taking longer than 10 minutes to dry it with a hair dryer I usually chop off a few inches. Well... it's been so long since I got a decent cut (ah... no more than trimmed for probably 18 months ) and my hairstylist was telling me how healthy my hair was... blah, blah, blah... that I got this crazy idea to donate it to Locks of Love.

So... I picked out what I think will be a cute haircut (although super scary short!) and now that I've decided to do it.... I wait. And wait. AND... you get the idea. Because I need 10 inches of hair to donate and since I must have it at least chin length, I have to grow it a couple more inches. That doesn't sound like much until you're already ready to chop it.

I went to my hairdresser yesterday to get my color done and was hoping I'd have only an inch at the most to go.... but alas.... TWO inches to go! Granted it had grown an inch since my previous visit, but still. So.... I wait still. I was so tempted to not stick it out for the last couple inches... but if I don't I'll probably just cut my usual 2-3 inches off and call it good - so I'm standing firm. For now. =)