Bang!

I have my Dad's hair.

 It is is straight, fine,

 low maintenance hair (besides the oil factor)

for which I am grateful.

Though you could catch me looking with envy at a head full of voluminous curls on any given occasion.

Still, though--I find it difficult to find a good match for hair stylist--someone who listens to what I am really saying(not just cutting my hair to match their style), who gives good advice/input (but not too pushy), and within a reasonable cost.

My stylist from last year was amazing but her (already high) prices went up, so decided I needed to move on. I went to a super fancy salon and had a great experience with a student (nice, budget-friendly option!)--but I decided the drive to uptown & paying for parking wasn't worth it. My next attempt was at a little rinky dinky place and it was ok but I was not pleased with the bang trim.  

Side note:  I get my bangs cut and then let them go as long as I can stand them. Then I start to pull them back with creative clips and styles until I cannot go any longer--then I finally make my appointment for a hair trim & bang cut.

After that lackluster experience,

I went to the only place I could think of:

the ever-growing wisdom of youtube tutorials.

I found several and spent some time watching their snipping tips. With a few little upward pruning motions, I fixed my bangs. I've let them get shaggy since then and finally had enough. 

Yesterday, for the first time since I was 15 

(at DisneyWorld I made the infuriating mistake of cutting above my fingers instead of below them),

 I cut my own bangs.

Since I'm wearing them thicker with a choppy/ pieced out look--they don't have to be perfect. I'm looking forward to more time between salon visits and a more consistently maintained forehead. 

Belly Busters

So my belly is growing...we're at about 48 inches at the largest girth right now (measured this afternoon)


Side Note A: Saying girth reminds me of my Dad explaining "wide girth" as part of his Drivers 101 that we all had to go through before getting our driver's license.


Side Note B: Girth also reminds me of this sketch by our favorite comedian, Brian Regan...which just makes me laugh. Love that guy.

Ok--back to my waist.

Mr. H gave up his Sunday afternoon nap to snap some maternity photos of me (bless him!)...just in case, you know, we don't get the chance to take some next weekend (Mr. H is headed out of town tomorrow).


Hopefully we'll have plenty of sunshine & plenty of opportunities for more before my belly POPS. As in...popping a baby out. 


Don't worry, I know she won't pop out of my belly.


Although I'm pretty sure that's what J thinks.

Ok--back to maternity photos.

I love being pregnant. I feel beautiful in a way that I have never felt in any other time of my life. I love the curves, the movement of the growing little one, and the changes my body makes as it co-creates with God to bring a new person into the world. Isn't it just amazing?


I love taking photos along the way to document my belly bubble growth. We took them regularly with J and N but with this baby we have a nicer camera so we have indulged in more "photo shoot" type photography....which has been so much fun!


I love maternity shoots. I have done a few for friends over the last year or so--the energy and creativity during those shoots are just fabulous. There have been people turn down my offer to do maternity shoots...they just don't feel pretty or want to document their girth units. Of course, to each his (HER!) own...

What say you?

Beautiful Belly

or

Shy About Shape

New Kid On The Block

It has now been two full months since we packed up all of our earthly possessions and moved to the Great White North (aka: Wisconsin).

If you follow our family's adventures (old site, new site), then you know that we have really been enjoying these first weeks and trying to take advantage of the summer events in the area. We basically have a crush-type relationship with this city. We know we are not here permanently (don't have to commit), which allows us to look at everything through love-struck eyes (why not enjoy it while we're here?)--it is fabulous!

Side Note: Let's just hope the crush lasts long enough to get us through winter

*shudder*

So-- we have a crush on this city (and the cluster of cities/villages in our county), we have been making lists of summer fun and checking them off as we go, making friends and getting involved, and all of the sudden our NEWBIE status is wearing off.

At Church on Sunday there were 2 new families that just moved here. There is another new family that came a couple of weeks ago and yet another new family that will be moving in next month.

What tha...?

I asked someone at church if they are always having new families move in--she said 'no, your family is the first new family for awhile--you must have started a new wave!'

Don't get me wrong. New families moving in and being apart of our Church group is awesome, amazing, wonderful, and exciting. It's really one of the best things for a ward, I think--adds new flavor, new personalities, new strength, and has the potential to provide opportunities to start afresh with friendships and habits.

I think I was just surprised at how fast I am losing my 'new girl' status. I wasn't prepared to give it up so fast.

Being 'new' has all kinds of perks. It is a great excuse for not remembering people's names: "I'm sorry, we just moved in, what was your name again?". It is a great excuse for not paying attention to where things are: "Uhhh where is that? We just moved here." It provides all kinds of very EASY conversations, people want to know your story and where you are from: "so you're from the south?" It offers a kind of *sparkle* that makes people want to talk to you, get to know you, and curious about who you are.

And my favorite part about being the 'newbie'?

A fresh sense of self & opportunity for reinvention. Since people don't know me, I get to decide what they know about me and what their first impressions are. There are no memories social faux pas floating in their minds, their perception of me is totally fresh...only to be blemished by my choices *now*, unaffected by my choices *then*.

There is no expectation scale and I feel a very liberating sense of opportunity. It only lasts for a short time... before long I've created a bar of expectation based on my behavior and choices. Then, it doesn't take long for my story to be shared (this is a direct result of my very open, here-I-am-let-me-tell-you-everything personality) and so I really only get to enjoy any kind of mysterious flair for a very short period of time.

And, I tell you what, it has been fun!

I have enjoyed being the New Kid On The Block and now I will begin settling into my new role as "old news".

Ha.

When was the last time you were the New Kid On The Block?