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- It was haircut week for the Abbeys.
Let’s just say: going to get a haircut for 3/4 members of our family is no problem at all. In fact, Braelynn had big plans for her haircut this week (more on that in a moment). But for Leander? Getting a haircut is the worst. The last time we had his hair cut was at the end of February – and it was a bit of a disaster. He refused to sit or stand still, he cried/screamed the entire time, and no amount of bribery (candy, special treats, pretzels, the iPad, his blankie) would calm him down. I literally had to sit in the chair and hold him prisoner so that his hair could get cut. Needless to say: it wasn’t the “best” haircut anyone’s ever received (it was actually pretty bad). But what were we supposed to do? The kid hated the process of having his hair cut.
So, it’s been 6 months and he was a bit overdue for a trim. Leander’s hair was in his eyes and curling up in the back because it was so long.
Knowing that getting a hair cut was inevitable, I did my best to prepare him for a different outcome than the last time. Over the last few months, I’ve been making more of a conscious effort to brush his hair and rub his head with a towel after getting out of the bath (just trying to get him used to someone touching his head). I’ve been talking to him about getting his hair cut, and how we need to sit up in the chair, sit still as a statue, and let Ms. Debbie cut his hair like a big boy.
Well – Monday was the big day – the day to find out if all of my work would pay off.
And believe it or not: it did.
It was an ENTIRELY different experience this time! He was a little nervous at first (suggesting that Braelynn go first, when we had talked in the car about Leander going first), but after I reassured him that he was going to be first, he climbed up in the chair, let Ms. Debbie put the cape on him, and proceeded to sit as still as a statue while she trimmed his hair. No screaming. No bribery. No pleading. Just a little boy, slightly nervous, but being so big and listening so well.
I could hardly believe it. In fact, our hair stylist joked that she had taken a nap that afternoon, knowing that “Leander” was coming in – and here he was being such a good boy!
I still can hardly believe it.
He did so so so good.
After he finished – he was rewarded with a popsicle, and then it was Braelynn’s turn. She requested that her hair but cut as short “as Mom’s”. We’d been talking about this for a few weeks, so it wasn’t a surprise, and off went about 5 inches of hair. She suddenly looks so grown up!! In the long run, it was really good for her hair, which was getting pretty straggly. She really loves it and we all do too. - On Sunday afternoon, we went to Idlewild Park for a few hours. It was really strange being there on a “non-community picnic day”. We mainly went to swim, but all of the water slides and the lazy river were closed, so everyone was packed into the wave pool and the two kids’ splash areas. It was a really fun, relaxing afternoon though.
The kids had money from their Great-Grandparents and they wanted to play a game. They decided on the fishing game, since they knew they’d both walk away with at least a little prize. Believe it or not, Leander won enough “points” to score one of the larger stuffed animals, but he had his heart set on an avocado stuffie – which was the smallest prize he could have. It was quite hilarious. - I’ve been working like a mad-woman over here, trying to keep up with everything, but I did borrow a new book from my cousin and I did find a few spare minutes here and there to start it! I can’t wait for this weekend, when I should have some down-time to really dig into it – it’s really good so far!!
- A technician from Orkin came out this week to check our attic for bats. (If you missed that story, go back & read it here.) Derrick has been super petrified ever since that night and having a bat in our house – to the extent of him climbing all over the house, sealing every crack and crevice he could find, along with duct taping the attic door shut. Thankfully, the guy got up into the dormer of our house and declared us “bat-free” – he found no evidence of bats at all. He said it’s that time of year when bats start moving around, looking for new places to live, and he said it’s super common for people to get random bats in their houses this time of year. And a singular bat doesn’t necessarily mean anything at all. Needless to say, we were quite relieved.
- It’s Labor Day weekend! And that means it’s time for Kayla & Tom‘s wedding! I’m so excited to head back to White Barn and see them again! It’s going to be an amazing day!
