It's Haircut Time!

Before

Mayhem's been looking a little fuzzy lately.

Before

I've already given him two trims over the ears, but it's been bugging me and I wanted to really cut his hair.  I'm not the type that cries when he gets shots so cutting his "baby hair" hasn't bothered me at all.  It's just hair, it grows back!

I've kinda got a thing for cutting hair.  I cut my dog's hair, Boots' hair, my uncle's hair, my cousin's hair, my brother-in-law's hair.  Mayhem is my latest (and youngest) follicular victim.  I'm not really good at cutting hair, I just like it.  Sort of how I like cutting grass and pulling weeds.  Instant gratification.

Before

So I busted out the clippers!  Boots helped me entertain him and occasionally hold his head steady.

After

It is nowhere near perfect and it's got this reverse mullet thing going on.  (Party in the front, business in the back!)  I kinda wanted it that way.  Didn't want to cut it all.

After

How does he know how to comb his hair?!?!

Equinox!

It's official!  Spring is here!  I knew it was coming two weeks ago when I started hearing the birds singing at 5:30 in the morning before the sun even comes up.  Twitterpatted birds are so encouraging when you're tired of being cooped up all winter and are ready for sun and sweat.

The weather this week has been perfectly springy and Mayhem and I have spent every afternoon outside after his (...our) nap. 

This weather has drawn us out like the bees to this tree. 

He plays on my old yoga mat with some toys that aren't really toys (empty pasta box, measuring cup, metal box Boots' new wallet came in) while I putter around the yard cutting the grass, digging in the garden, and planting carrot seeds that will most likely never grow after this joint gets all Sherwood Forest-y in a few weeks.  But dirt under my nails makes me feel better.

Today I decided to join him on the mat with an old blanket and my camera to just relax instead of work.

While I was soaking up a few rays (fully clothed, mind you, because drones!) he marched plastic animals across my back like a human land bridge.

He's so silly these days!  Slobbery kisses all over your face and giggling like a deranged monkey because he's finally getting brave enough to stand up and let go for a few seconds.

I'm so excited about all the fun that awaits us!

Excessive Accumulation

Sometimes I have these super-organizing crazed fits (usually after watching Hoarders, because y'all, being buried alive by your possessions is scary!) and I'll go through various drawers and rooms of the house bagging up things in a million little bags to donate to the Methodist church's thrift store. 

One thing I've learned in a year of Mayhem- babies are not minimalists.  There is so. much. stuff. that comes with children!  All the different stages of clothes and equipment and toys!  And you can't get rid of anything because you're going to need it for your next baby.   So as the kid grows you accumulate more and more stuff and run out of space for it, but have no choice but to pack your closets and attic to the point of probably being unsafe to stand near.  Or get rid of everything and then buy it all again a few years later. 

Cue my blank/"Are-you-serious" stare over the top of my glasses.

A few months ago I read that to encourage creativity, kids only really need 20-40 toys to play with.  Sounds good to me.  I want Mayhem to be creative one day and see no reason for there to be 9,478 stuffed animals and plastic cars everywhere.  Plus see above sentence about organizing. 

So I periodically go through his things and count out 40 toys (I'm a maximum of the minimum kinda girl) excluding blocks and books.  Everything else gets tucked away under his bed and in the closet and forgotten about until I decide to do it again and swap things out.  This keeps things interesting for him I think and as minimalist as possible for me.

I've even got a few birthday presents that haven't been played with and are waiting for the right time of boredom to strike.

Did you do this with your kid(s) or were you more relaxed than me? Haha

Mayhem's First Birthday Party

  Prepare yourself: we took 443 pictures Saturday and I have ruthlessly cut them down to 43.  That's still a lot and your device may implode with the download so be warned!

Now...

Go forth and birthday party!

He really didn't want to stick his fingers in the cake at first.

I think he decided the taste was worth the mess though.

Whistling...

Spoon banging...

Ice cream was not a big hit for him, too cold!

Waiting...

Oh, thank you!

He immediately picked the cup up and stuck it in his mouth!

This was and is a lot of fun.

We're still working on him not running over his feet.