First haircut

Well my little baldie got his first cut at 20 months old. It was getting real shaggy around the ears and the back of his head was a constant matted mess, so I trimmed it up. Yes, I did it myself. It was half on a whim, half to save a buck. I sometimes feel that my years of working at salons as an esthetician qualifies me to do hair...haha. That is far from true but the last place I worked at I did a lot more sitting and watching the girls cut hair than I did acutal work. Therefore I am a pro.









Before

After

how I found my son one afternoon

 

(that face above...what on earth.) My son, in my bed, hogging the ipad. Like, how is this possible? what is he, 12?

what we are up to!

We haven't been up to much lately. Chris gone all weekend, and I am so busy still with photography. I have 7 weddings booked this year so far! I am enjoying being at home with my son and I finally feel like this age is something I have under control (watch, he will wake up with a whole new dose of terrific two's!). He is very funny, and bright. He catches on quickly and chats up a storm. He is really into Yo Gabba Gabba and Elmo. Most days we have to leave the house to get away from him asking for TV.

      

This cold weather is blessing us with 8:30, sometimes 9am wake up times! (the above picture was 9:15!)

 

I bought the two above books because disciple is not coming easy or natural to me. I started Love and Logic and so far I am enjoying it, and even seeing results applying them. I do have a hard time consciously thinking of these things unless I am reading the book. I feel like I will have to read it several times for it to sink in. It is about giving your children choices and, if it is safe and harmless, letting them fail and teaching them about it. For example, (and I know Everett is a young toddler and may not understand this yet) Everett is not allowed to walk around in stores. He doesn't stay with me, he runs and runs. We were with my mom and she let him walk, but ended up chasing him. I told Everett, "you may sit in the cart or hold my hand". He held my hand for a second, before running away toward a small pile of rugs that I knew he would trip and fall onto. I let him (it was a very soft fall). I took him up right away and said "this is why you hold mommys hand, you can fall!". I don't know he is young but I want to get in the habit of giving choices and maximizing those "teaching moments". The second book I have yet to start. I did watch this video early this morning, and WOW, my heart longs to be a "hero" to my children, to speak life into them and encourage them in everything!

In the past, I have struggled greatly knowing where I belong in this community of young moms, new moms, or stay at home moms. I felt lost or unconnected, alone. I was angry with others or frustrated at being left out. I know I had no right, and I feel like I am finding my own way and friends. I do have great family, in-laws and friends, I know I have to reach out to them too. I am grateful to my sister in law Tara who invited me to a moms night and is always willing to let our boys hang out.  My old friend (also named Shannon), who I have know since kindergarden moved here with her little girl, Ava, who is a few months older than Everett. We have been hanging often, a few times a week, and it is the most refreshing thing to happen to me. Everett loves his friend Ava and us Shannons have a blast. I hope she feels the same, ha.

I have also tried to go to story time by my house every Tuesday. Everett ran to the door and left last time, so I am kinda embarrassed to go back!
Also, for a while I was feeling so iffy about our church. Mainly because I knew no one there. After a few conversations with Chris, and some other people who have great insight, I know we belong there, and again, I have to CHOOSE to get to know people. It is not something that will magically happen (obviously, we have been there a year now). I joined the Thursday morning bible study and they watch Everett and teach him about the bible while we go through 'The Power of  a Praying Wife'. That is one awesome thing about attending a very large church, they have stuff like this for the women and the option to leave Everett is such a blessing to me. He needs to socialize too!

Ok, enough Wednesday morning randomness! Be blessed! 

being a mom made me dumb.

hi. I'm Shannon. I will ask you the same question twice and never hear the answer. I worry for the future helping with homework. If I don't respond to a text or e-mail its because my phone is 'lost', which really means its in my back pocket.

I addressed and mailed an empty envelope thinking there was a Christmas card in it.

I reported my car keys as missing at Target (even had help looking for them), meanwhile they were in my pocket.

On top of COUNTLESS  "WHERE IS MY PHONE" stories, this is favorite:

While at the zoo one day, I couldnt find my phone. I thought I left it in my car, so when I returned I looked and looked for it. It wasnt IN my car, it was sitting on top of it. 4 hours my phone was on the roof of my car.

I got ready for church. Got all the way there. Stepped out of the car and realized I was wearing house slippers.

I drove to Scottsdale for a client, forgot my wallet (which happens WAY too often), and then my gas light came one. What was I supposed to do? I was stranded with nothing. Thankfully my bank let me do a cardless withdraw using my pin number.

This is only 4 stories. I am constantly losing things, mainly my phone and car keys. I feel like my  brain cells are dwindling day by day...
Why is this? Where are they going? Sometimes I wonder if staying at home with little stimulation is causing it? Or all my attention going to my Everett? Sometimes I sit and ponder these things...and then realize how dumb all THAT is? 

12 months in 2012

The beginning of the year I attempted to take a photo every day with my dslr, and that stopped about 2 weeks in. Whoops. So much for that resolution. But I did manage to take some photos of him or us every month, and here they are! Can't wait to see what 2013 looks like!

January

February

March

April

May

 

June

July

August

September

 

October

November

December

...and here were some of my favorite instagram photos. I posted this and said it was "my 12 favorite from 2012" but clearly I AM SO DUMB and its 16 photos. I seriously have no brain anymore.