Hair Cuts (Toby's first!)

We did it. We took Toby to get his hair cut. It's been a long time coming, I was nervous. I have no idea about boys hair, I didn't know how it would look, what kind of cut suits a toddler boy and most of all I was afraid he'd look too grown up. And well, he does. But that's OK. I've come to terms with it. The event wasn't without trauma, for both kids. Willow clung to me when it was her turn, not wanting to sit down in the car. She didn't want the lady to cut her hair as she kept saying. Toby was OK with it at first, but disliked the combing and water spraying and scissors close to his ears. I don't blame him. I felt so bad when he was crying. It was hard to watch him and not be able to comfort him except with my words. So I took pictures. I'm so mean.

BEFORE

AFTER

THE BIG EVENT

THE RESULT

Merry Christmas

Well, Christmas is over. We had tons of fun, lots of visiting, dinners, presents. I get a fail on capturing the Christmas memories.... I barely touched my camera. I think so much photo work in the last couple of months turned me away from photographing my own kids. I'll have to make some New Years resolutions.

Willow was completely thrilled with her wooden doll house. She doesn't play with it very much- but will rearrange things a few times a day, setting the dolls up with a new activity. Her favorite thing for them to do is use the potty and watch TV. Toby didn't really understand why we were acting so silly around Christmas, but enjoyed saying "riiiippppp" as he opened his gifts.


On Christmas Eve Willow made a card for Santa. She decorated the front and inside wrote the gifts she would like (a new rubber ducky and a mommy doll). We left him a couple of Gingerbread Softies and cranberry juice. She insisted on leaving it all right in front of the tree, to make sure he saw it.

Here are the only Christmas photos I took, all on Christmas morning.

Willow enjoyed everyone else's gifts as much as her own.

Toby, just as happy playing with old toys.

Willow loves her new housecoat.

Love the Candy Cane Christmas jammies.

Toby got 3 teeth for Christmas! One molar just before, one on Christmas day and one a couple of days later. Still one to go, probably in the next week. And now just a few days left to get back on our schedule. Kids are staying up much too late and sleeping in (that part I don't mind). We'll all be in shock next week when we're back to work.

The Grinch

Why do people insist on bugging Willow because she's so shy? James gets this too, all the time. It's like he's a magnet for weird people. Anyway, Willow gets singled out all the time in places like the grocery store where people will stop and make strange faces at her, stare at her in weird ways just because she's so shy she doesn't look at them when they talk to her. If she doesn't want to talk to you so badly that she looks away, GET THE HINT! Leave her alone, don't continue to scare her and give her even more reason to be wary of strangers. Personally, I think her being shy of strangers at this age is a good thing. And it's not everyone, often she chats with other kids in carts and their moms. It's just the strange ones she avoids- smart girl.

This grinch was riding on a mini bike at the Santa Claus parade. Around and around,and around, and then he noticed me taking a photo of my kids and decided to jump in. Poor kids. They didn't like him at all.

So much

So much is happening. Mostly work. Working 2 days a week is strange, for some reason. I've never worked part time before- it seems like just another thing on my to-do list. And the list is long. As well as work, I'm trying to get my photography business off the ground. Right now that includes a lot of practicing ie: working for free/next to nothing for family & friends. I like doing it, I'm just wearing out. I haven't had a spare moment in weeks. As you can tell by the lack of posts on this blog.

The kids are great. Willow loves being at Stacey's while I work. So much that she bursts into tears and dramatically throws herself on the floor when I walk in the door. "Pleeeeaaasse let me stay 2 more minutes" she says. Toby is much happier to see me, starts crying and runs over to me. Grabs my hair and sucks his thumb. He likes it there too but likes to come home more. He has changed so much in the last few weeks, he walks, he runs, he talks a bit. Much more communication in the form of whines and grunts.

I've barely taken any photos of my own kids lately, this is probably the best one. I've been trying to take some Christmas shots but it just isn't working out. In a studio setting kids just don't listen to their own parents well. I've got a couple more chances to get a better one in the next day or so. If not, this is what's going out in our Christmas cards!