Haircuts: Milestone or Abuse?

Jack got his first haircut this weekend. We wanted to have it cut before we took him in for his one year pictures. He doesn't have A LOT of hair, but the front hangs down in his face. Up to know we've been getting by with combing the top over to the side, but he reminds me of Donald Trump with the comb over, so I decided that even though he ONLY has hair on TOP of his head, we're getting it cut.

Now, I don't know about you, but for me this was an exciting milestone we were hitting! I was all ready to take home my little scrap of hair to put in the baby book and was all set with the camera to catch the excitment on his face. We even went to a special kids place to get his hair cut, complete with chairs shaped like cars and TV's to watch.

Everything started out really well. Jack played on the slide in the lobby while we were waiting. There were two other little boys getting their hair cut too.When the other little boys were done, Jason took Jack over to a race car to sit in. He looked around in awe at the hair combs, scissors and blow dryers. He looked a little confused, espeically after the lady put the bib around him to catch all of his hair.

He sat all by himself while the lady started cutting his hair. Jason and I were so excited as our little guy sat all alone being such a big boy getting his hair cut for the first time.

At about the second or third snip, all hell broke loose. Jack started twisting and turning trying to get out of the chair and away from the lady. She asked me to hold him down so she could continue and what insued looks like nothing short of child abuse! I had to hold the kid's face, hold his arms and try to pin his body down so she could finish the cut! There was no way we were going to go get pictures taken with half a hair cut, so it had to be finished.

After our wrestling match, Jack's hair turned out pretty well. We did end up with a small piece of hair to put in his book and he will look super handsome for his one year pictures...But man! What an ordeal just for a bang trim! So I ask you this...is getting the first haircut a milestone or abuse?! I'm going with abuse, but parental abuse! It took a lot of physical effort to hold the little sucker still! Next time he can go alone with his daddy and mommy will stay home and do something more relaxing...like have a margarita!

The "after" photos. Jack sitting in the car and showing off his new do!

FRIENDS!

This was a busy weedend for friends visiting. My friend Mel who lives in Wisconsin and my friend Megan who lives in Philadelphia both were in town this weekend visiting family and we were lucky enough to get to meet up with both ladies.

I met Mel online while we were pregnant. She has two girls, a two year old named Layla who Jack and I got to meet on our trip to Madison, Wisconsin last October and Lily Harper who was born in May like Jack. They are four days apart. Layla is the sweetest little thing you will ever meet. Jack instantly fell in love with her, even though he was only four months old then! Since we'd gotten to meet Layla, Mel decided to bring Lily for our brunch date at Eva's Pancake House in Muncie. We met Lily and Mel and enjoyed catching up with them. Jack and Lily had a really good time sharing snacks, pacis, and playing outside after eating. It was so good to see Mel. We mostly just get to talk online so it was a nice change to actually get to spend some time with them.

Jack and Lily waiting to eat.

Sharing pacis is always a good time

Playing outside

Such a pretty girl!

After leaving Mel and Lily Jack and I headed back to Indy. My college girlfriend from IU was also in town this weekend visiting her family. Megan is one of my dearest friends. We met at IU our freshman year and you could hardly ever find one of us without the other. Usually we were chatting to people online or eating Mrs. Grass Noodle Soup and watching Days of Our Lives. After I came home my sophomore year, Megan and I continued to stay in touch, though sporadically. But she has kept a special place in my heart and I love her more than words could ever express. She was maid of honor at my wedding and that's when she told me she was pregnant with her little boy Remi. I don't get to see Megan near enough, so it was great getting to spend a little time with her. Her whole family is awesome and we enjoyed our visit with all of them.

Megan and Mandee...together again

I love this girl!

Remi, the handsome little guy

Jack loving himself!

Expo

Twice a year Indianapolis hosts a Baby and Toddler Expo at the fairgrounds. I went back in the fall when Jack was four months old. It was pretty cool...lots of baby and toddler products, some free samples and interesting mom items. This weekend was the spring expo and Jack and I went with my friend Lori who is due in late June. This time Jack had a lot more fun. He enjoyed the play areas set up by Gymboree and Toys R Us. He even got to meet the Colts' snapper, Justin Snow. He's getting so big and soo much fun! Hard to believe he'll be one in less than two weeks :(

Tunnel of fun by Gymboree

Justin Snow and Jack

Jackaroni and Cheese

We went to get family pictures taken with my parents and sister tonight, so we stopped at Kentucky Fried Chicken for a late dinner. We got home and gave Jack some of the Mac & Cheese. The kid went to town on it. I think he ate the entire container. So this is what you get when you mix Jack with neon orange macaroni and cheese!

Like the little piece of green bean on his chin?!

Swimming with Daddy

Jason signed Jack up for swimming lessons at the Y. It's a 7 week course for 30 minutes each week. They're not actually teaching them to swim, it's more a getting used to being in the water class. There are two other babies, two girls, in Jack's class. Jack wasn't too sure of the water at first and it took him a while to warm up to the idea of Jason bobbing up and down.

He seemed to enjoy chewing on the toys more than bobbing up and down in the water!

Easter

Another "first holiday" has come and gone for Jack. He really enjoyed getting a visit from the Easter Bunny. On Saturday night Jason, Jack and I sat down to color eggs for the Easter Bunny. Jack really enjoyed getting to drop the eggs into the cups of colored dye. Even though he had no idea what was going on, he loved every minute of what was going on! Sunday morning we all got up and found that the Easter Bunny had hidden all the colored eggs and left a basket of goodies for Jack. After helping Jack find the hidden eggs he was a champ at crawling around at getting them. Each and everyone one got smashed into the floor as Jack tried to carry them in his hands while crawling.

After having promised Krystal, Jack did get his first taste of chocolate at Easter.

After getting cleaned up, we headed out to my mom's house to have Easter dinner with her family. Jack enjoyed sharing a snack with Braylynn and playing with Miyah and the other big kids. Mom had an egg hunt for the great grandkids. Jack found all the eggs on the front porch...after Mom shooed all the other kids away! LOL!!

We got a picture of the "Strole" girls. There are six girl granddaughters (seven with Noodles) on my mom's side. There are 18 grandkids and 5 great grandkids. All seven were there on Easter...here we captured five of us. Funny since we all belong to Patty, Cathy or Keia...the only girl daughters.

Jack also got to see his Grandpa II, Granny and Aunt Linda. He did a little walking for them before we had to leave. It was a great first Easter as a family.

Krystal and Zoey Con't

A few more shots from the museum. Jack at the sand table and views from under the Chihuly statue.
I like the second one the best...I love how the light shines through the dark shadows.

My itsy bitsy spider was sooo tired by lunch time. He fell asleep in line for lunch! Poor guy!

After a lunch and a nap, we went home and walked to the new park down the street from our house. Zoey really liked the swings and slide. Jack liked the slide too...but LOVED eating the wood chips. Silly kid!

We had such a wonderful visit with Krystal and Zoey. We were sad to see them go. They time just flew by to quickly. Hopefully we'll be able to make a trip to Minnesota as a family to visit them.

Zoey and Krystal

My good friend Krystal came into town this past week to help celebrate my birthday. Krystal lives in Minnesota. We met online while we were both pregnant. Krystal has two boys who are 5 and 4 and Zoey who will be one in May like Jack. Zoey got to take her first airplane ride to come visit us while the boys stayed home with dad. We had a lot of fun together.

Jack and Zoey playing together

Getting a bath and ready for bed

Thursday morning after feeding the kids breakfast we headed out the the Children's Museum. Jack has been there several times with Lincoln and Charlotte, so he was excited to take Zoey for a visit.

Zoey and Krystal enjoyed meeting the Lego Men who are "helping" with all the construction. The museum is adding on a new welcome center, so the front of the building is under some heavy construction. We decided to ride the carousel first on the top floor of the museum. Zoey really seemed to enjoy herself while Jack was a little concerned about the man with the puppet .

After getting off the carousel, we decided to check out the maze of mirrors. Both Zoey and Jack thought it was funny to see themselves in the mirrors and crawling around under the "escapes" in the maze.

After passing through the black light part in the maze, Jack and Zoey found the bears just sitting down to tea. The bears invited them both to stay and have a cup before moving on the final part of the maze.

Jack taking after his daddy serving ice cream at Braum's.

After playing on the upper level for a while, we decided to head down to the playscape area for kids 5 and under. It's got a lot of fun little areas for babies and toddlers to crawl around and play with. The water table was out of order the day we visited, but we were still able to play in the sand. We even made it on time to join in a sing along where we also got to play instruments. We sang The Wheels on the Bus and Old MacDonald Had a Farm while playing tambourines, it was a lot of fun! Zoey liked riding in the rocking airplane too. The Children's Museum always has so many things for kids to do and it a lot of fun. I'm hoping that Jack will get a membership for his birthday. That would be super cool!