Hair Cut time...

Alexander's hair was getting a bit long, therefore time for a haircut!

We're such a long way from the first few times where he screamed, cried, & fought to get away! Now, he sits so quietly & sometimes giggles from the buzzer. He's now so excited to get his haircut!

BeforeAfter

Errands with Mommy...

Saturday was a day filled with errands for Alexander & Mommy.

We woke up at our normal time, then had some breakfast. After breakfast, we got ready to go out for some errands. First we went to get Alexander's haircut which, by now, he's a pro! He gets right up and is ready for the haircut lady to take the buzzer out. He always giggles as soon as she starts but will sit still and let her cut his hair.

Then after his haircut, we went to the bookstore so Alexander could pick out a book using his giftcard. He picked out two really good books and was very excited to pick them out. After the bookstore, we went to the card store to get some bags & tissue for a Mother's Day gift.

After our errands, Alexander asked to go to the apple store. I had no idea what he meant and didn't know if he meant the actual "Apple" store (for ipods, etc) but as it turns out he meant Applebee's the restaurant. So we went over for a little bite to eat. Then it was time to head home...

All in all, a very successful & fun day out with Mommy!

Hair Cut...

We had a big night tonight as not only did we go visit the Easter Bunny but we got our hair cut too! Well, Alexander did. And I have to say...it's amazing to watch him get his haircut now as opposed to those first three visits. You would think they were completely different kids.

He walks in, waits his turn and when his name is called - he walks right on over to the chair, climbs up, and sits quietly and patiently. It's probably the few moments we'll see him sit fairly still.
Tonight was no exception - he did an excellent job! And he looks so handsome...

Haircut...

Today I took Alexander to get his haircut, and it's amazing what a difference a year makes. While we took him for a haircut this weekend a year ago, his mood was complete opposite! Last year he was miserable & crying...this year he hopped right up into the chair.

He has become a pro when getting haircuts. He listens well and even thinks the buzzer tickles - a large difference from last year when the buzzer scared the bejeezus out of him. Haircuts are now a fun, quick moment for us. This time he even told me to sit down and "watch me".
We did walk away with a small mishap though - she took too much off around his left ear. I don't know if it was her fault or if the fact that he was giggling but it is a wee-bit too short on that side. But he still looks incredibly handsome. He has a big boy haircut ready to go into preschool!

Haircut Time...

Tonight, Alexander & Mommy went to the haircut place to get Alexander's hair looking snazzy in time for Thanksgiving. The boy is now a pro at haircuts - who would have thought after the first three tries. But alas, he enjoys them now!

He climbed up into the seat and even helped buckle himself in. He was very good about listening as to where he was supposed to look. She used scissors & the clippers and he didn't have a problem with either! He even told her "snip snip snip" as she went to trim the top of his head.

This was problem the quickest trip because he was so good & attentive. He only asked to hold my hand once but then felt okay to let go.

The funniest part was when we walked into school the next morning, Christina (a little girl in his class) said to Miss Lori "Alexander went to snippits". And this is without ANYONE saying anything about Alexander getting his haircut or where. It was hysterical & cute.

Haircut...

Alexander's hair was starting to get a bit long so rather than wait when it's in his eyes. We went to our regular place after school and he was so excited...certainly a different change of pace from when he first started getting haircuts.

We had to wait a bit but that didn't change his mood or excitement level. Once it was our turn, he followed the woman over to her chair and actually tried to climb up on his own. She started with the clippers and thankfully they tickled him more than anything so he thought that was a riot. Then it was time for her to spray his head & use scissors. He looked at me and said "water snip snip time".

Overall it was very successful and next time I'll have to remember the camera for a happy haircut moment!

Haircut...

Tonight after school, Mommy & Alexander went to go get a haircut. Alexander was very excited once he saw the haircut place. And when the lady came over to get him, he was still in good spirits.

The entire time in the chair, he was very well behaved & managed to sit still for his haircut. He even tried to show the nice lady Monkey. He did hold Mommy's hands for most of it, quite tightly, but he was very good - no crying, screaming or fussing.

Guess the old addage is true "over time they get used to haircuts"

Big Day...

Alexander had a big day today! And of course I didn't capture one moment of it on camera - next time!

• Potty: Alexander has been practicing sitting on the potty both at school & at home. There seems to be a diaper change/potty break time where all the kids sit on the potty for practice. Well, today Alexander actually did something about it: he used the potty to go pee! Ms. Debbie was pretty excited about it when telling me & then Alexander got excited about it. He kept saying 'pee mama pee'! How exciting - Alexander is becoming a little boy very quickly!
  
• Haircut: After I picked him up at school, I decided to take my chances to see if his good mood would carry over to getting his haircut. At first he was all about going to "tahhhgit" for a hotdog, but once we pulled up to the haircut place, he was super excited. We went in, he wanted help climbing into the chair, and even giggled when the hairdresser put on the robe. We brought in Monkey and he kept telling Monkey he was going to get a 'aaihcut'. She told him that she was going to spray his hair and then tickle him with the comb. He was FANTASTIC. He giggled, smiled & kept trying to tell Monkey about his haircut. Figures the one time I decide to go without a camera he's so much fun & adorably cute! The whole haircut was great, he was very cooperative, listened to her when she gave him direction, and genuinely liked sitting there. He also didn't mind the buzzer when she went to clean up the edges. A perfect haircut! And now he looks so handsome once again...

So after two big events, we went to Target for our usual hotdog & milk but afterwards went to the toy section and he picked out a little prize, a Rocket bathtub toy from the Little Einsteins (his new favorite) that he got to play with in tonight's tubby!

Haircut #5...

Alexander's hair has been getting long and was in need of a cut. You knew it was bad when the poor kid kept wiping it out of his face. So we decided to bring him today after his nap and then go out for an early dinner.

At first, Alexander was uncooperative and did not want to go in the chair. And the lady was not all that pleasant either. She buckled him in pretty tight and I actually said something to her. I made up a story that he hurt his ribs too just to show her that she was man-handling my son. I was not impressed.

He cried a bit but there was no major screaming or kicking. And by the end of the haircut, he stopped crying all together and was just fine. I have to say we are fortunate that we've been practicing by using a spray bottle on him each morning and as well as practicing haircuts with "snip snip snip" as we touch his hair so he knew what was happening.

And the end result was one very cute little boy...btw, the haircut is prefect for a faux-hawk!!

Snip Snip...

I took Alexander to get his haircut today, fully expecting a production. However, I was pleasantly surprised. He waited patiently while kids in front of us got their hair cut and he didn't once scream or fuss.

Joann called us over and he walked right over and let me put him in the chair. I explained to her that in the past, Alexander has screamed, fussed, and clawed but she was nice and said she gets that a lot. However, Alexander kept surprising me. He let me put him in the chair, he let Joann buckle him in and he even let her put the cape over him. She sprayed the comb and then his hair and he didn't once flinch! He sat there like a big boy without any incidents... The whole time I was anticipating a freak out, but it never came. He was so well behaved and happy. We played with bubbles where Mommy would blow some and then Alexander would blow some and that kept him content the entire time!

Maybe we've reached that moment where he's finally okay with getting his hair cut!

Haircut #4...

If you couldn't tell from the photos, Alexander was due for another haircut! He was starting to get shaggy.

Dan & I too him to his hair cutting place, Friday afternoon after a nap & lunch. He was in a good mood, so we were hoping that would help during the haircut. We got there and it was crowded, everyone must have had the same idea since people probably had the day off from work.

The three girls who have cut his hair in the past were all there. I was hoping he would get the one who did the 2nd haircut as she was the nicest & most patient. But alas...we got the one who cut #3. She didn't seem to remember him or us, which was probably for the best.

As soon as I put him in the chair, he freaked out and stared to cry. For the majority of the haircut, I either had to hold his hands down or hold his head straight. He wasn't enjoying it much at all...not matter what we tried to distract him, he wasn't having it. However, there were a few moments where he stopped crying and would actually listen to Dan or I. Even the hairdresser seemed shocked when he stopped crying, but of course he started crying soon there after.

Once done, he looked at himself but then didn't seem impressed and started crying again. After taking him out of the seat he was FINE! He was smiling, laughing, and even running over to the wheel. He sat down and even put his token in to get his prize.

It's like magic...

Haircut...

Alexander was due for another haircut (his 3rd) and this time Daddy came with us. I don't know who was more horrified - Alexander or Daddy.
We went back to the same place we've gone for our other 2 haircuts to help to get him more used to it. Yah, didn't work... We had a third woman cut his hair. Although she appeared to be very nice in the beginning she got annoyed(ing) when Alexander started crying. Again - I don't know why people who work at these types of places don't have more patience. Alexander pinched her and she wasn't happy. Oh well...
I held his hands and Daddy tried to distract him. Occasionally it would work, but he cried hard the entire time, he really didn't want to be distracted. She missed a few stragglers here & there but overall she did a good job considering he wasn't sitting still.

2nd Haircut...

I took Alexander to get his haircut today as it was getting long. We went back to the same place as we went for the first one so hopefully it gets easier and easier. Per usual, he was all smiles and flirting as we walked in but the minute we walked over to the chair he clutched onto me and wouldn't let go.

We got him in the chair and before she even touched a comb he was crying as if he knew what was coming. This girl (I forgot her name), had a lot more patience than the first girl which I think made a difference. One thing that really helped him was that she didn't spray him with water but instead sprayed her comb instead. Plus, she used clippers with the guard so it actually made it quicker & safer.

The receptionist came over with a big thing of bubbles and that really helped. He calmed down enough to check out the bubbles and even tried to grab for them. I'll have to remember that for next time - bubbles! He fought the majority of the time, but it wasn't nearly has bad as the first time.

And of course as soon as I took him off the seat, he was just fine. He smiled at the girl and blew her a kiss. We went over to pay and to get his 'prize' and he was laughing up a storm as the prize came out of the machine. I then sat him on the couch to take a 'after' photo to which he had no problem posing for me.

His haircuts seem to tranform him instantly into a little boy and I think it makes him look so much older. This time was no exception, my little guy is growing up fast.

It's Official...

Here is the official certificate to commerate Alexander's first haircut. So he didn't really meet the courage/bravery part but he survived!

Just a little off the sides...

Alexander had his 2nd "haircut" Monday night. He was starting to grow wing on the side & the back. His hair was getting to be a bit crazy , so Mommy decided to give him a little trim. He, surprisingly, sat still and played with his little turtle. I started with the sides & the back and decided to do a little on the front since it was getting long.

You can definitely tell his got a trim, but he looks like a very cute little boy who is about to be One Year Old!

Before:

After: