Monday, August 18, 2008

I lived my dream, and now the dream is over.



















I didn't think I would ever have long hair. As I mentioned in previous posts, I longed to have long hair for most of my childhood. I would have given anything to have had hair that hung in front of my shoulders or down my back. I would have DIED to have had hair that got stuck against the pew at church when I sat down. I never felt very feminine and I felt like long hair would have made me so much more a girl. Over the years, though, the obsession faded as I accepted the realization that long hair was just not in my cards. And as time passed, I even came to like short hair better--to me it was sassy and way more sophisticated. I cut my hair short when I was in college and it was short for about five years--and I was cool with it. However, when I became pregnant for the first time and began taking prenatal vitamins and then as I transitioned into motherhood, my hair began to grow as it never had before. I think the prenatals and hormones were huge contributors, but I think it was also a result of my not doing my hair nearly as often. You know how it is as a mother--taking a shower becomes a luxury, and doing your hair is forced several notches down the priority list. Since I wasn't damaging my hair as much and since I didn't always have the time nor the money to have it cut very often, it just kept growing. And you know what? One day I woke up and I had long hair. (Long for me, that is.) I had long hair! And even though I loved short haircuts by then, I felt like I was living a childhood dream! And I got to enjoy all of the things (for the most part) that long-haired girls get to experience, and I loved it. I loved it until one day a couple months ago when I began losing it by the handfuls. I'm not kidding--i was losing my hair and I was losing it fast. But don't be concerned--it was all in the normal cycle of things. I think we all lose hair after having had a baby. But mine had just hung on a little longer than usual as I continued to take prenatals. Anyway, despite loving having longish hair, I was equally determined to not be one of those crazy girls who has hair that is long alright, but it is also nasty and stringy--lookin' and thin. You know the ones--they usually hang out around places like 7-11. And as sad as it is, I was fast becoming one of those girls. So on a sunny day a couple weeks ago, I cut my hair. I cut it to my shoulders and then had Brian try to help me even it out. It looked alright, but as long as I was cutting my hair, I felt like I should at least get a real hair cut. So last Wednesday I went and had it cut for real. And I'm OK. It isn't exactly what I wanted, but I'm OK. You know why? Because I don't care as much about my hair any more. So anyway... now I'm a short-haired girl again, and I've said way more than should ever be said about hair. Sorry about that.

Everything else is cool, except that my little Danin is sick. I'm not sure what is wrong with her. She's been running a fever for a couple of days now and she is just not herself. I think she only smiled once today and she has just been really tired and lethargic acting. I took her to the doctor today and they prescribed her some antibiotics for the beginnings of a possible ear infection, so we'll see how that goes. I sure hope she's herself again soon. She started walking a few weeks ago and now she's cruising along like a pro.

Jane is as darling as ever, but man, I sure hope she starts going potty in the toilet soon. She has gone poop in the toilet many times over the last year, but it's never materialized into any kind of habit.

Camp is really growing up, and I am so proud of him. He has gotten so much better at not hitting people, he has amazing phone manners, and he is learning to swim.

Brian is doing well also, but I'm not sure he has been thinking about what an amazing wife he has lately. Probably because he hasn't had an amazing wife lately. I really need to kick it into amazing wife gear this week, because starting next Sunday, I will be away from him for two weeks while I stay in Vegas with the kids and I really want him to miss me. I miss him every time I am away from him.

23 comments:

Tara said...

I think your hair short is super cute and sassy. I like it a lot!

The White Clan said...

I really like the hair, and that is from me, a some-what professional. Really cute, it gives so much personality to your face.
Also.... Good job for going and having someone else cut it. I remember you always cutting your own hair in HS.

Rachel McEwen said...

i love your new hair cut...i have always loved you hair--short or long. but you know me...short hair is my favorite. I just think everyone should cut their hair short:) About Danin's fever, Kade had the same thing about 3 weeks ago and it ended up that he had rosiola. It is a virus that doctors can do nothing about you just have to wait it out. It is a fever accompanied by a rash. Kade had a fever for about 4 days and then once the fever broke he got the rash. Once the rash appears then it is not contagious anymore, but it is contagious during hte fever. I am not saying that is what it is that is just what Kade had recently. The doctor told me that most babies get it.

ksdavis6 said...

I think you hair looks really fabulous:) I loved your long hair and I even tried to copy what you do to your hair a couple of times, but it didn't turn out as cute as yours (when you would wear it in a low pony tail on the side). Anyway, have fun in vegas, we need to get together when you get back, call me otay buttwheat.

Nicole Cave said...

I just have to say that my hair is really long right now and it is a pain in the butt...I am really considering cutting it. Yours looks great!!

Danalin said...

Loved it long, but love it even more short. You are great at making short hair look really good. Love all of the pictures of your VERY cute kids!

Stacy LeFevre said...

Your hair looks great, can't wait to see it in person. Sorry to hear Danin is not feeling well.

campblondie said...

Sick kids are so hard, hope she is over it soon. Especially if you are headed out of town. As for the hair....A-Dorable. I love it!

Heather said...

Your hair is awesome!!! Inspires me to get my nasty head cut instead of pulling it back all the time. Hailey saw your hair and said "she got a haircut like Spencer." I am sure you are so excited now....

Valerie said...

Hair hair hair. The saga will forever continue. You've always been able to make your hair look flattering to your beautiful bod. A different look is alwasy nice too! I hate how your life somehow stops when kids get sick. It is so hard not to worry every single second! Hope she feels better for Vegas!

Erin said...

I love love love your short hair! hopefully your little one will start feeling better soon too.

Adventures in Healing said...

Ann- I know how much you and Audge have always obsessed about your hair. I have ALWAYS thought it was silly (of course, I prefer short hair myself so my opinion doesn't count much). Even as a kid I thought your hair was so beautiful and I still do. I'm not just saying that to be nice. I do mean it. Add to that your amazing ability to cut hair without having had any training- especially cutting your own- and you're just freakin awesome. I'm surprised you actually went eleshwere for a cut.

I hope Danin is well by now. Sickies are so hard. I look forward to seeing you tonight. We need to get the kids together while you are here. Thanks so much for the offer to babysit. That's so super sweet. We will be in Utah for Labor Day weekend though. But lets let the kids play anyway.

Amy said...

Love,love,LOVE the new cut! Today's the big move to NYC! AHHHH!......

Kristin said...

Your hair looked pretty long and also looks great short!

Will you come decorate my house? I've noticed in a few of your pictures that your house looks AWESOME! I want mine to look that good! I've never really gotten into home decorating (it's slowly getting painted and decorated). I only like shopping a little bit, and I just don't think I have the knack for decorating that you do!

Jen said...

I love the hair too! The layers look nice along the bottom. Dan is walking!!! My goodness she's a mover!! I KNOW Brian totally misses you when you're gone, because he calls and leaves us really funny messages about how bored he is!!

Lisa said...

I love your short hair. After having Maisey and noticing that my long hair was in a pony tail or up in some way every day I decided to get brave and cute my hair short. I was really nervous, but like you said, at this point in my life I don't care as much if it looks bad. I ended up likin it short so wether it looks bad or good it works. I liked yours long but I love the short cut you have now!

Lisa said...

Oh, I also remember you cutting your own hair in high school. I was just telling John about that the other day and I was still astonished that you could cut your own hair!

M-Ware said...

ann: hot, hot, and HOT. welcome back to short hair. i will never leave it.

Heidi :) :) ;) said...

Your hair is very cute short! I can relate to losing handfuls of hair after having a baby. It is fun isn't it. I like to blame all the hairs on the bathroom floor on other family members, but because I am the only female in the house, I think my family sees through my lies. :)

McLeod Clan said...

Annie,
I would love to do dinner! call me. It would have to be before Thursday though. Any night before that would work though. 702-417-5090.

Meg

Lila said...

I really like it Ann!

Emily said...

I love your hair cut, the picture in the green shirt looks very pretty. Thank goodness all those years while you had short hair, you really looked feminine and beautiful, too bad you didn't feel it unless it got stuck in the pews. Well, now that you love your freckles and all, maybe you'll also love you with short hair. It was pretty long hair while it lasted. I am happy to hear about Camp. Today, I made a comment that I hope Ike, Eirene's baby, was a terrorizer like mine, so I wouldn't be the only one in the family. Ben shook his head emphatically, and it kinda sunk in besides my normal blues of the day, being sick of getting hit. Alas, maybe in a few years he'll turn a corner like his cousin Camp, they will have to play sometime, I think they will like eachother!

Love ya and you look beautimous. I just cut my bangs shorter again, I like it. I'll take a pic sometime soon before they grow in.

Emily said...

I love your hair cut, the picture in the green shirt looks very pretty. Thank goodness all those years while you had short hair, you really looked feminine and beautiful, too bad you didn't feel it unless it got stuck in the pews. Well, now that you love your freckles and all, maybe you'll also love you with short hair. It was pretty long hair while it lasted. I am happy to hear about Camp. Today, I made a comment that I hope Ike, Eirene's baby, was a terrorizer like mine, so I wouldn't be the only one in the family. Ben shook his head emphatically, and it kinda sunk in besides my normal blues of the day, being sick of getting hit. Alas, maybe in a few years he'll turn a corner like his cousin Camp, they will have to play sometime, I think they will like eachother!

Love ya and you look beautimous. I just cut my bangs shorter again, I like it. I'll take a pic sometime soon before they grow in.