Locks of Love

About a week before Atticus was born Zach got a hair cut, then committed to growing it out to donate it. Since he was a young boy he wanted to donate his hair, since we've been together he always talked about it. So for the past two years and few months he grew his hair out. He went through every possible awkward stage of growing your hair out from practically nothing to down to the middle of his back. When he set his appointment it was so bittersweet and I was pretty emotional about the whole process. The first organization he wanted to donate to was called Wigs for Kids, that is such an amazing organization. Unfortunately since first doing our research they extended the inches that donors can give. So Zach looked into Locks of Love and contacted someone and it was the length he had.

With the appointment set, we went to the coolest barber shop I've ever seen called The Man Barber, and David helped with Zach's long thick locks. I'm telling you, Zach has the thickest hair I've ever felt. Every time someone goes to do his hair they say, "your hair is so thick!" then they start touching it and come back saying, "wow it's even thicker then I thought." He has broken stylist clippers before, quite a few times. The guy cutting his ponytails off this time around was struggling with his little scissors even. Anyways, David divided Zach's hair into three 13 inch ponytails and cut them off. Just like that. Two years of this process to be cut off in just minutes. It was so cool to watch, and we brought Atticus along to see the whole thing so he knew what was going on. He just kept asking, "what's happening?" or "Dada, what happened?" and "Dada are you okay?". It was pretty cute, he was running around the store then would run back and say, "Dada haircut! What happened?"

When Zach was all finished he got a new hairstyle and a beard trim. The guy cutting his hair had a sick handle bar mustache and so he detached Zach's mustache from his beard so that Zach can have one too. It looks so good on him! I'm so proud of Zach for taking the time to grow his hair out and do all of this so that someone can benefit from it.

This hair cut is also just a great new phase for Zach, he's ending a job this week and starting another one on June 4th. He just walked from UVU a few weeks ago, and he's just more motivated about this new chapter with all of this being over now. Atticus still talks about his haircut even days later, but now he is just telling Zach how cool he looks. "looks cool dada" and pats his head. I couldn't agree more!

Now I have to send off the bag of hair that's sitting in my kitchen haha...kinda weird, I know.

Atticus watching Zach get his first ponytail off. He look says it all.

26 MONTHS

Dear Time,

Please slow down.

Sincerely,
A Momma


Atticus, my little bud, is thriving at this age of TWO. It's amazing to see how much he is learning and growing every single day. Maybe I'm biased, but to be fair there are countless times people are telling me he is so advanced for his age. He's talking in full sentences, telling me that he loves me so much, saying excuse me, asking if Zach and I are okay if we get hurt, he is curious and loving, and pretty patient for a little boy. Atticus is such a funny boy as well, he always has been but now he has taken off with his personality and it's just amazing.

Some things he has done recently that have made us laugh or smile or cry...I was singing "you are my sunshine" to him during nap time on a loop, and randomly he starts singing it with me almost word for word. He loves to rub my face and arms and cuddle me. Since he was a newborn he has always rubbed the back of my arm, it's been a comfort for him since. It would bother me when I nursed him because he'd pick at a mole I have on my arm and try to rip it off...but now it's cute haha. He will tell me randomly, "I love you so much" or when I tell him he says, "I love you too mommy." Often times he says, "oh come on!" when he doesn't get his way or he will joyfully say, "come on mommy!" But when we put his shoes on he says it in a growling type voice, "come on shoes!" I laugh every time. He will reenact the Trolls True Color part of the movie in real life. He full on will sit on the floor and tell me to sit with him, then sings to me, grabs my hands and tells me to stand then dances with me. When he first did that I was dying laughing, then cried because it was the sweetest thing ever. Right now he is obsessed with Zach's car and will tell me, "one sec mommy I want to see Dada's car." then stare at the window asking for us to honk the horn. And one more thing he is saying a lot but we try to make him stop saying is, "what the heck?" I laugh but really he needs to stop haha. I love anything he does though.

There are so many things I want to remember about my growing boy, it's hard to remember everything obviously, but I'm just so happy I can be in these sweet moments with him. Atticus is in a toddler bed now, as of two weeks ago. It's been hard but we try to make it fun for him. We have started reading the book Pajama Time, and he loves it...not reading it really but singing it. Atticus tells Zach, "Dada drop the beat!" then he beat boxes and I rap the book. It keeps him smiling while sitting in his new bed, and eventually we get him to sleep. It's a new favorite tradition of mine.

Other then that, he still is so silly and loving and always wants to be outside playing. I love my boy more then life itself. Here are some of his 26 month photos.

ZOO

A few weeks back I bought plane tickets to California for our Thanksgiving break! While we were planning with my parents they really wanted to take us three to the LA Zoo one of the days. I'd been so excited to go with Atticus since he loves animals. He was constantly going through all of the different animals and their noises. He just loves can't get enough of every single animal. So we finally got in to California on Friday and went to the Zoo on Sunday. It was so much fun with our little guy! Of course he only wanted to be with his Papa the whole time. But he loved every animal he saw. We visited the 50 year old Elephants and watched them get fed and washed, the bird show where one of the birds flew off for a good 10 minutes, and all the other animals you could think of. I'll share some photos of our day. Also, I can't believe how big Atticus is right now, this week he has really picked up copying just about every word we say...it's the cutest! He will say, "silly, silly papa", "where puppy go?" and so many other cute things. We had such a great time with my parents and they even gave him the wagon he got to ride in during the Zoo trip. He is one loved boy!

Anyway, here are some fun ones!