Clip, clip! A Hairy Change

This weekend started out like any other. Lately we've been frequent visitors of the pool. I forgot how much I love swimming. On Saturday, there was a little boy named Colin at the pool. Each time Stephen would throw Piper in the air, Colin would squeal and laugh. I think it safe to say he had a lot more fun than Piper did. Our little buddy Colin kept us entertained at the pool.

Friday night I told Stephen I wanted to cut my hair this weekend. I wasn't 100% certain I wanted to. After swimming, Stephen asked if I was going to go cut my hair which started our long conversation on my struggling hair.

Following you will see pictures of painfully, struggling hair. This are not pretty pictures, but they prove my point. Proceed at your own caution!

Exhibit A:
Right after Piper was born, I was LOVING my hair. Those pregnancy hormones did great things and I had very little hair fall out during that time. Last August when we were in Utah, my sister took our family pictures. Piper was 9 weeks old and my hair was still doing fabulous! I was thinking I was the luckiest girl since I wasn't losing my hair like was foretold post pregnancy. A few weeks later, those dreams were dashed. My hair was falling out rapidly. I was so sad but knew eventually it would regulate.

Exhibit B:
When visiting Kristen in Georgia this spring, she pointed out my many baby hairs around my forehead and ears. She told me I'd never had so many fine baby hairs. It looked like someone had taken a pair of scissors to the front of my hair. When I got home I even asked Stephen if he had somehow cut my hair. No hair cutting from him!

I knew my hair was struggling but it was hard having someone point it out to me. Since then I've been in panic mode about my hair. I've taken vitamins, biotin pills, changed my shampoo, washed my hair less, and used less heat on my hair. Has any of it helped? Nope!

Exhibit C and D:
In Utah this summer, I talked my families ears off about my hair. They were probably quite happy to have me and my hair leave. The right side of my hair was really struggling. There were lots of little hairs above my ears and only one long strand in the right front section. To compensate, I started moving my part further over so there was a little more hair on right side. 

Exhibit E:
When I get out of the shower, I usually end up letting my hair air dry and eventually pulling it into a ponytail. Some day's, Piper and I just like the crazy hair days. We always make sure were all pretty-ied up on Sunday's though.

Exhibit F:
Enter 1 1/2 weeks ago. My hair was in the usual quick ponytail, nothing special. There were lots of fly-away hairs towards the back of my part. Recently it looked like someone had taken a pair of scissors to that area also. To make them stay down, I felt like I was using half a bottle of hairspray and a handful of gel.

Exhibit G:
A couple months ago we bought coconut oil to cook with. I've read that its healthier than other cooking oils and also great for your hair. Last week I thought I'd try it in my hair. I read a website that said to put the oil in your hair, wrap it in saran wrap, and wear it to bed. I refused to wait until I went to sleep and I was NOT wrapping my head in plastic, especially to bed! I was impatient and wanted instant results! I slathered that smelly goodness on my hear and wore a beanie for 2 hours. 

Piper didn't like me wearing a hat around. She kept trying to pry it off my head. Did I have instant results? Nope, but my hair super was soft. The website said over a course of time you would see results. I know I was being unrealistic but I wanted my hair to stop falling out NOW! 

Exhibit H:
This picture was taken moments after we got back from swimming on Saturday. I know I look awful, but this was the turning point for me.

A few minutes before, I started talking about completely cutting all my hair off. For years, I've had many people tell me I should get a pixie cut. No way! I could never cut all my hair off. This goes to show how desperate I was at this point to even consider this option.

While sitting on the couch I found a picture of a haircut I liked. Stephen snapped my picture, and with those mad photoshopping skills, showed me what I'd look like with a pixie cut.

I didn't love it but we decided to go cut my hair anyways. Before leaving our apartment, I saw the picture Stephen had taken moments ago. I could see how unhealthy and awful my hair looked. As we walked out the door, I made him take one last picture.

 
In the car I told Stephen if I chickened out, I could always just have it cut the normal I cut it. 15 minutes later I sat down in the chair and showed the beautician a picture of what I wanted. She grabbed her scissors and started to cut above my right ear. There was no going back from that point on. It was so hard watching all my hair fall. I didn't know whether to smile in the mirror or be nervous. I wasn't sure if I liked the change.

Stephen was surprised when he finally looked up and saw all my hair gone. He was certain I wouldn't actually do it.

45 minutes later Stephen and I walked out of the shop with new haircuts and Piper with her a dum-dum. I'm not sure whether she liked the sucker or not. Maybe we should have grabbed more than one.

I still can't believe I cut my hair. I'm a little afraid I look like a boy. Good thing hair grows back!

The Twenty Seventh Birthday

Twenty seven years ago, a sweet baby boy was born to John and Karen Sitton. He was born at 12:18 a.m. in American Fork, Utah.

In January when our front room and storage closet flooded, I came across all of Stephen's baby pictures. They were slightly wet but thankfully we were able to save them all. I love seeing pictures of Stephen and his family. He was such a little cutie!

At random point throughout the day, I let Stephen opened a few more presents. He didn't know there was a stack of presents in the closet waiting to be opened, but by the end of the day he figured out where my stash was hidden. After that, there was no stopping him from opening them.

Piper was a big helper in opening the presents. Good thing there was lots of wrapping paper to rip. She was much more excited about the wrapping than what was on the inside.

When I was in college, I was asked to be the birthday specialist in my ward. I'm pretty sure this was a made up calling but I enjoyed it! Anytime one of the girls in my ward had a birthday, I decorated their door.

I'm glad I made these little beauties. We've used them for a couple years now and they're still stickin'. I decorated the whole door early in the morning and by the afternoon there were more chewed up on the floor than on the door. I realize now that this is what our Christmas tree will look like this year.

During the summer Stephen's work does Summer Madness. Every other Friday, the employees are able to leave early if their work is completed. I love summer madness and wish there was a fall madness, winter madness, and spring madness. Heck, I wish madness was celebrated all year long!

Luckily Stephen was able to get off early on his birthday. While Piper took her nap we hung out and Stephen played his new x-box game. This summer I bought a pair of capris' with a bedazzled bum. When I bought them, Stephen told me they were my wanna-be teenage girl pants. I have no idea how I persuaded him to try them on, but he sure has a cute bedazzled bum.

He calls this picture blackmail, I call it too-cute-not-to-share. I was super surprised he fit into them, although I was slightly afraid he was going to rip them if he even breathed.   

During the day I came across this cool looking comic shop I wanted to take Stephen to. Sadly, I told him we were going to see a cool looking building on Cooper Street and he knew right away where we were going. He told me he'd always wanted to go but never had.  

Yes, we were that couple that stand in front of the building snapping lots of pictures. But hey, it was a super fun looking building!

Inside there were tons of shelves full of comic books and all things that Stephen loves. This was most definitely a store made for him.

Stephen walked out of the store with 4 new comic books. He found a stuffed Yoshi he wanted to buy Piper but it wasn't worth the $13.00 they were asking for. She found a Superman to maul while Stephen browsed though.

After, we then headed to the Cheesecake Factory where we had lots of yummy food.  I'm not sure whether I accidentally ordered a head of lettuce or a salad.

We had super delicious avocado egg rolls and Stephen ordered steak and halibut.  I have never been a big fish person but he talked me into trying it. Surprisingly it didn't taste super fishy but it still makes my insides crawl when I think about eating fish.

Piper was happy until Stephen put her in the high chair and pinched her leg in the buckle. After that she didn't want anything to do with that chair so she spent lots of time on my lap. Good thing we brought lots of animal crackers.

I LOVE birthdays and wish we had more to celebrate, especially if it means we get to go to the Cheesecake Factory!

We left the cheesecake with full tummy's and a bag full of cheesecake. There was no way we could eat cheesecake that night so we saved it for breakfast the next day.

How I love this boy! I am so grateful he was left here on Earth so that Piper and I could be with him. Our lives would be incomplete without him in our life. We love you big guy! Thanks for being the best dad and husband these girls' could ask for. 

A Package Arrives

Last week, I FINALLY got around to ordering Piper's big girl car seat. After waiting several days, the FedEx man delivered our package. That car seat was begging to be let out of the box and put together. So I obliged!

Once it came out of the box, it looked all funny and was laying down. Great! I was hoping I would just have to pull it out of the box and it'd be ready to go. I know. Its not that hard to snap some thing-a-ma-gig and move some straps around. Even Piper was expecting it to be perfectly snapped together. That girl couldn't wait to try it out. She was so impatient she couldn't help but crawl all over the thing.

After reading the instructions and moving Piper several times to do my thing, the car seat was complete!

This girl was ready to go somewhere. However, I refused to strap this thing to my bag and haul her around town since we had no car. That girl just had to play the waiting game till her Pop got home!

Good thing she had a new car seat to break in to pass the time. When Stephen got home, he strapped that new car seat in the car and we were off, with no where to go. That sweet man drove us around and finally stopped to buy us some frozen yogurt.

This little girl had no interest in that frozen goodness. The minute it touched her tongue she spit it out. I guess she takes after her Pop. While we were eating our heavenly nectar it started raining cats and dogs. When we got home, we couldn't pass up a little dancing in the rain. Piper squealed and had so much fun in the rain "dancing." I think the neighbors thought we were a little crazy.

Piper and I had fun in the rain and that's all that matters!

Who Needs a Doctor

While taking a walk with Piper in Arkansas, on the 4th of July, my knee started hurting. Darn wandering so far from the house! At the time, I just kept walking and eventually it was fine again. When we arrived home from our trip, I got out of the car and noticed it was swollen. Each time I took a step there was a double pop. Uh oh!

During my high school days, I had to have surgery on my knee. My knee cap would slide out of place occasionally, so the doctor tried to prevent this from happening. Too bad it only sort of worked. Thankfully its been several years since this happened.

Last week, I had to deal with a swollen, pop, grinding knee. Stephen made a doctor appointment and told me I had 5 days to either get better or I was going to the doctor. I was hoping for the getting better option. By the time my appointment rolled around, I decided I was going.

I would have been better off staying home. At the office I filled out 35 minutes worth of paper, had my knee x-rayed, and had the doctor tell me things looked good. And if I wanted, I could have an MRI. No thanks! Here's to hoping it gets better on its own.

P.S. Stephen loved my x-ray shorts SO much he just HAD to have a mugshot of them for keepsake purposes.

P.S.S. It's fabulous going to a doctor appointment with Piper. All she wanted to do was what she shouldn't be doing. Such as: stealing an old ladies cane, trying to escape into the women's bathroom, taking people's phones, and playing with the hazardous waste basket. Yep, whoever said having a kid was easy was lying!!! Somehow we left that doctor's office unscathed, hopefully to never return.

A Mattress Party

College Days:
While living in Rexburg, Stephen and I would occasionally pull our queen size mattress into our front room. We loved watching movies on our comfy mattress, especially since we had the most awful, uncomfortable couch ever! Unfortunately, mattress movie parties didn't happen very often since it was a pain to move the mattress through our tiny apartment.

Present Day:
Piper loves it when you lay a blanket on the ground. She rolls and twists and turns all over it, flipping from her front to back, and over again. Don't even think about sharing a blanket with this girl! It makes me giggle every time I see it.

Last week we decided to re-visit our mattress party days just for kicks and giggles.

This girl loves to climb! It doesn't matter what it is. We've started taking the couch cushions off and letting her climb over the couch. It keeps her entertained for a short while and us happy.

When we pulled out the mattress and took off the cushions, Piper was in heaven! She had so much fun. This was most definitely a mattress only built for two one. I'm surprised she let Stephen have enough room to lay on it. Someday we might have to grow a bigger mattress.

Those mattress in the front room days just may have to be re-visited more often now.

A Party to Remember: 4th of July

The day before the 4th, we left bright and early for Arkansas. For years, I have been told about the 4th of July party the Sitton's have at their house. At the party, Wally flies his Piper Cub overhead and throws candy out the window. Before Stephen and I were married we planned on flying out for the party. I was even told I could throw the candy out of the plane that year. Things fell through and we didn't end up going. This year, Stephen's parents made sure we were coming. They even promised if we came I could throw the candy out of the plane.

When we arrived at the house we found bags and bags of candy and streamers. It was like Halloween on steroids! Each candy had to be taped and then wrapped with a streamer.

We spent several hours wrapping the piles of candy. Good thing there were lots of helping hands!

Of course, how can you possibly wrap that much candy without a little sampling? We wouldn't want to hand out any bad candy. I gladly took one for the team by sampling the first one. Thank goodness it tasted ok. Piper even tried to help out with the sampling! I think some lucky people ended up with smooched candy!

Because Piper loves Signing Time so much we decided everyone needed to watch it while we finished wrapping. Stephen's cousin, Chris, loved it SO much he decided he was done rolling candy. It was a good distraction for the baby monster but not so much for the grown-ups. Oh how we love Signing Time!  

The 4th of July started early for Piper and I. Instead of waking everyone up, we decided to go for a walk. In Arkansas there's lots of hills so we had a good walk. During our walk, we walked right past the cemetery so we stopped to visit grandpa, grandma, Scottie, and Marie.

By the time we got back from our walk, people were starting to wake up. On our drive to Arkansas, Piper looked so uncomfortable in her little baby car seat. I've been meaning to get her a new car seat for awhile but hadn't gotten around to. We went to Walmart, found one we liked, and tried to pay for it. Unfortunately it was on recall for buckle problems so the store wouldn't sell it to us We were sad to walk out of the store without a new car seat.

On our way out, we had to stop by the garden section to pick up some flowers and try out their nifty wagons. Pretty sure we need one of these at home! Piper had so much fun being pulled around. I was surprised she didn't try to stand up.

When we got back home from the store, people were starting to set up for the party. There were tons of people setting up all the fireworks, getting the grills and food ready, and setting up tables and chairs.

Before too long everyone from the ward started showing up for the party. There were games, yummy food, singing, the candy drop, and fireworks planned for the evening.

Piper loved having little kids around to play with. There were a bunch of bats and balls laying around to play with. She had no idea what to do with a bat but she carried it everywhere with her that night.

A mini table and chairs were setup for the kids. We sat Piper in that chair and she could have sat there forever. The little kids liked feeding her and Stephen chips. It was kind of cute!

Before dinner started Piper and I were playing on the side of the runway. A bunch of missionaries were tossing around a football and ended up throwing a bad pass. Piper and I were in our own little world and didn't realize what was happening. The ball ended up hitting Piper right in the stomach and knocked her over. I think I was more scared for her than she was. She didn't even cry! I think a little bit of the mama bear in me showed up. This girl is physically strong. I've seen many times before she got hit with a football. Many times people have commented how strong she is. I sure believe it now!

Soon after, it was flight time. Wally, the boxes of candy, and  I made the long walk down to the end of the runway where the Piper Cub was waiting for us.

How I love flying! I love the feeling as the plane begins to pick up speed and the wheels begin to lift off the ground. Its absolutely thrilling. Being in the air lets you see the miles and miles of rolling hills covered in trees.

As I would get ready to toss out handfuls of candy, the streamers would catch on my fingers. The second I put my hand out the window the wind would rip that candy right out of my hand. Ever since Piper was born my wedding ring has been pretty loose. I don't wear it much because I'm afraid it'll slip off my finger. Its the worst when my hands get wet. I know, I should have my ring re-sized.

While flying with my hands out the window, I was afraid the intense wind would rip my ring right off my finger. I put that little beauty in my pocket and luckily nothing happened to it.

After we finished throwing out all the candy and landed the plane, Wally handed me all the candy that was in the back of the cab. With all the candy he handed me, he must have looked like a mummy wrapped up in candy and streamers. That's a picture I wish I could have seen! I had enough candy to fill both of my vest pockets.

Once it got dark enough, the fireworks started.

There were some pretty fantastic fireworks. I was quite surprised. I was expecting cheap, little fireworks not the big 'kaboom' ones. Surprisingly Piper did really well with the fireworks. She was more than ready for bed by the time they were done.  

Saturday morning, Stephen, Piper, and I visited the lake early in the morning. It was so pretty with all the steam coming off of it.

While we were on the dock, Piper walked right to the edge and tried to walk off. Good thing I was holding her hand! This girl has no fear.

Later, we went out on the lake for a boat ride and some cliff jumping. The lake was super nasty green but it sure felt refreshing to get in.

Even though Piper was uncomfortable in her baby seat, she did super well on the drive. Armed with some music on Stephen's phone and her milk, we had a semi-happy girl. Thank goodness she FINALLY fell asleep!

We had a fantastic 4th of July spending time with family and friends. I sure hope we get to be there again next year!