Friday, March 27, 2009

Every Major Accomplishment Deserves a Make-Over

First, let me start by saying, I love severe weather! Not what it results in physically, but I love the idea of hunkering down, riding it out, not leaving the house, and following the doppler radar. I also love that it just so happened to hit our area this morning preventing Mom from making her treacherous voyage home. Oh darn! She must stay at least one more day. Shortly before I informed her that she wouldn't be leaving this morning I found this sweet note in our playroom.

MomNOTE

She has been here for several weeks now, she briefly left on two occassions to visit with Erika & Chance at the beach with DaddyBoy. I can never stand the thought of her leaving. We've accomplished a few little tasks here and there but for the most part we've just been living life and when that involves 3 small children the day is done before you know it. I was so thankful and excited for one more day with her.

Speaking of excited, I cannot tell you how proud we are of Morgan. She has completely stopped sucking her thumb*. It was so much easier than I ever dreamed it would be. Justin and I have expressed to one another several times that we can't believe it. She was not only a thumb-sucker but a hair twirler, and for her, the two coincided. Every morning she would wake with a giant "dreadlock" that she had twirled all night and rubbed with her fingers... and before I could get in there and "work" on it... she would rip it out. Yes, rip it out of her head. It was not out of the ordinary to find these giant "dreadlock knots" laying on the floor around her bed. She has 1/2 as much hair on the left side of her head as she has on the right, due to the ripping out of the knots. Since the thumb-sucking and hair twirling coincided, do away with one and you've done away with both! Now that is killing two birds with one stone. The child has never allowed me to cut her hair. She has always needed it long to twirl while she sucked. No longer my love. No longer.

So here's what we did today...

Mom started the job by taking a little off the bottom.

haircut1haircut2haircut3

Then I took over to shape it.

haircut me

But I failed to give Mom a quick tutorial on how to use the camera and what angle would actually show the haircut in the picture rather than the back of the barstool. And boy, I sure was moving fast... you have to when you're working on a toddler! :)

Towards the end it looked more like this. And Swiper must have been up to no good by the look on her face.

haircut6

And... the results are in... she loves it. But according to her, "Mom, this isn't at my shoulders!" And me, "No honey, but it's close!"

She's a new woman, with a new 'do, and ready for a hot Alabama summer... as soon as all this rain dries up! And y'all are going to have to look closer to know if it's Morgan or Paige. I've only called her Paige 3x today.


morganhotdog


morgancounter

Some of y'all asked about my grassy eggs. The grass seed came from Walmart and it's called Kwik Grass by Pennington Seed.

greengrass

*for those of you with thumb suckers who might be interested in our tactics: First, as I've mentioned before I took her to ToysRUs to pick out a little incentive. We came home with a doll but she knew she couldn't have it until she stopped sucking her thumb. So I hid the doll. We wrap both thumbs in bandaids or athletic tape before naps and bedtime and we've done a lot of praying. It has been a wonderful opportunity to teach her about our need of a Savior... not only for salvation but also for little things, like the need to suck our thumb. She has prayed every night for God to help her stop... and He has answered all our prayers. Ok, so back to the reward. I printed out a calendar {a cute one I found online} and at the end of 7 days I drew a doll and that day she will get her doll. Every day she goes without sucking she can add a sticker to the calendar on that day. If I catch her sucking we move the doll back one day {which hasn't happened yet!}. If she continues to not suck and wear bandaids for 30 days we have offered a swing set. This is something the girls have wanted for a long time and something we have wanted for them. We are all hopeful to be completely broken of the habit long before 30 days but we figured a 30 day program was safe! And I keep telling myself a swing set is much less expensive than jaw surgery! :)

35 comments:

Tonja said...

Morgan, You look even more beautiful with your new haircut! I think it will be really nice when it so hot this summer! See you in music next week!
Love,
Mrs. Owens

Robyn said...

love the new haircut... sooo cute!!

cmcilwain said...

She looks so cute with erh new haircut!!!!! Congrats on the no thumb-sucking!!!!

alison giese Interiors said...

The matching haircuts are too adorable! I would love to try trimming up my 20 month-old's just like that!
So happy you got one more day with your Mom - and that she didn't get caught up in stormy weather.
Take Care!

Becky said...

i am laughing soooo hard at the "30 day program". i'm glad yall know Jesus and His program. i'd hate for morgan to be a 12 stepper at such a young age! she looks super cute. super cute. so sad that mom is going home.

Ivy said...

I didn't think Morgan could get any cuter...but she did! Very exciting about the thumb sucking situation! I sucked my thumb until the day I got braces...when I was 10:)

Amy said...

Darby, I enjoy your blog and "stalk" it often. When you mentioned a swingset, I had to leave a comment. Our son just celebrated his second birthday and we bought him a playset from Costco. We couldn't be happier with it. If you all make it to the "grand prize" I would recommend this playset.

http://brittonmade3.blogspot.com/2009/03/brittons-second-birthday-party.html

P.S. I have always been in awe of your pictures but they are even more awesome now with the new camera!

Dianne said...

Oh Darby and Morgan, way to go!!!! Congrats on your accomplishment. That doll is almost yours!
Now we are really going to have to look at the eyes to tell them apart. I love the hairdo!! The girls do look alike...just like their mom and mommasissy.

Kat said...

Morgan's new haircut is precious. I can't believe how much she and Paige look alike!!! So adorable! Awesome job on quitting the thumb-sucking cold turkey!!!

Kellie said...

Great job Morgan - I can't believe how much they look alike all of a sudden!!!!! AND please do a tutorial on the "shaping" of that haircut - I cut all my childrens' hair, but I don't know that I could do THAT good of a job - you are one amazing Jesus-filled woman!

annek said...

Darby I had to laugh when you mentioned the chart and incentives. I will always remember one of my first vivits to Dothan when Justin was about 3 years old. Kathie would give him points(I think) for cleaning up his matchbox cars, etc. One afternoon he had a little pile of cars he was done with and I was trying to encourage him to clean them up...I reminded him that he could earn another car by cleaning up the mess. He looked right at me and said something like "Oh I already have enough points so I don't need to clean these up." Ha ha...don't tell Morgan.

Unknown said...

Darby~ I can't believe how much she looks like Paige!! I love the new cut on her....so sweet! I'm glad the thumb sucking process was easy for you guys! My little one sucks his thumb and we need to break the habit soon. He will be four in May and always has the thumb in his mouth! Thanks for the ideas! Take care!

Invited In said...

I am so impressed with your hair cutting skills. I need you to cut my hair. Her little bob is so cute!!
Congrats on the not sucking. My little one sucks his fingers and we have tried just about everything. We haven't done the toys-r-us thing....I guess that will be are next attempt.
Blessings to you!

AnNicole@Our Suburban Cottage said...

That is the cutest little haircut! Great job!

By the way, I'm always sad when mom goes home too. It's tough being away from your mom - even when you're a mom youself :).

Hannah Fields said...

Is there anything you can't do? How in tarnations do you shape her hair so well? Her hair looks great. and congrats on the no thumb sucking.

Unknown said...

I actually thought you were cutting the wrong ones hair when I saw the picture of Morgan with her hair wet and pinned up for cutting. Looks like you have twins now. I will have to send a pic sometime of my now 17 year old when she was about 3 or 4, our girls could definitely pass for sisters. Thanks for sharing your life.

Ashley said...

NEVER A DULL MOMENT with you, my friend! So glad Mom is there for another day, and I do LOVE the haircut! She's PRECIOUS either way! Way to go, Morgan and D on the thumb-sucking! Glad it's going well!! I do love that little girl, D! (especially when she came back for a hug on our visit! REALLY? She melted my heart! Makes me want a girl!) Love y'all all!!! SOOOOO CUTE!

jen drake said...

what a cute "do"!! i don't usually comment on blogs, but on this one i must. amelia did the same thing, suck and twirl, suck and twirl!!! my mom and i about died from laughter on her first day of gymnastics, when she was 2, where she put her thumb in her mouth, tuned out her new teacher, turned to the child next to her and started twirling HER hair!! she quit only a year ago when the ortho put horrible spikes in her mouth to keep the thumb out :(

Hillary @ The Other Mama said...

Y'all are really talented hair cutters!! I am super impressed! And yes- they look SO much alike! I can't believe it!
Horray for the Thumb-sucking and dread-lock making/ yanking being over with! Halleluiah!! Here's to a new doll and a new swingset!

Allyson said...

Her hair looks SO CUTE!! Way to go Morgan and mama!!

lisa said...

Can I just say that the spiritual perspective that you are teaching her brought tears to my eyes.
What an open door for her to learn such an amazing truth at a very young age. I had never thought of that! We'll be doing something similar for our little 4 year old little boy and his 2 middle fingers that he can't seem to part with!
Love you guys!
Its startling to see how similar the sisters look now!! WOW! Adorable!

Anonymous said...

I love Morgan's new haircut. I just love short hair. She and Paige do look so much a like now. Can't wait to try the grass...it's so pretty and clean looking.

Unknown said...

I almost started crying because I'm so happy for her! And you and Justin as well;) Her hair cut is absolutely adorable! I'm a little partial to bobs, you know! I love and miss you all!
XOXOX
cous

Amanda Thrasher said...

Darby,
Is there anything you don't do? Artist, photographer, teacher, baker, seamstress, beautician....I know the list goes on. You seem to do all of these with grace. You are wise beyond your years. Hug your mom for me and tell her thanks for having such a special daughter who inspires dozens on a daily basis. We are "hunkered" down in atlanta too and I LOVE it!
Happy Saturday.
Amanda

kristen said...

Yay Morgan...So proud for her! We've been through it too - finger sucking, not thumb. LOVE her haircut!

The HoneaBees said...

Thanks for the tips! My almost 3 year old sucks her 2 fingers upside-down and my 14 month old sucks his thumb. I am sure I will be needing a lot of help soon! I have decided that 4 is the age she should stop. She is still a little too self reliant on things that comfort her right now. And, I don't really want to go through that fight right now. We just got potty trained-I need a rest.

Sarah's Fab Day said...

So tell me I'm really curious how do you do such a good job on their haircuts? I'm so impressed that you do such a good job!

Caroline said...

her hair looks so adorable and she does look SO MUCH like Paige now! so funny!! Congrats Morgan on your thumb sucking progress!!!

Mommy Harris said...

Can this work with a paci I hope and pray!? Can I ask, what age did you start trying to take 'it' away? AG is 20 months and I'm afraid I've gotten a situation where I'm never going to be free! I NEVER leave the house without a paci! :-) Adorable haircut btw!!

Shireen said...

I love Morgan's haircut!!

I read every word on how you're working with Morgan to help her stop sucking her thumb just in case we find ourselves with that habit!! :)

Amanda said...

I found you blog through your sister, though I know neither of you. I must say that I find your little corner in Alabama just delightful. I am a young mother of four and I find what you write to be refreshing, optimistic and enlightening. Though I suspect we're of different faiths, I too am very religious and spiritual, though not nearly as vocal about it on my blog as you are on yours. I adore that you embrace your spirituality and share it with all of us. I think you are a tremendously classy and lovely woman and your love for your family oozes off the computer screen.

You have a gorgeous family; more importantly, each of you seems as beautiful on the inside as he or she is on the outside.

Amanda

erika said...

Morgie,
Mommasis' and Uncle Chance are sooooo proud of you! You are such a precious girl, and we are delighted to hear how quickly you have been able to stop sucking your thumb. We can't wait to see you again and take you out shopping for an outfit for your new doll!
XO
ms & uc

simply seleta said...

Oh my goodness, talk about an amazing post! The part about prayer and teaching her about our need for God was out of this world. Thanks for inspiration!!!

No.35style said...

LOVE her hair..so so cute! you did a great job...darling eggs, too.

Anonymous said...

I first found your blog from eilerandcompany! My site is linked there too.... frillyfrances.com. I had not visited you in 6 mths or so, BUT at midnight the other night after seeing THIS post, I was inspired! I thought, ok, I can do this. The very next morning after coffee for me and a bag of M&M's for her, mission accomplished!
http://lindsayandjohn.blogspot.com/

My little one is only 2, so I left her cut a little less angled, but must say I am thrilled! Thank you for sharing your "think tank" and for nudging those of us (me) who would not ordinarily be so inclined to shear our little ones!!! You are incredibly crafty and I love your tutorials!