gender?

OK, ok.

Here's the truth.

Aaron and I already know our baby's gender.

It was revealed to us through a prenatal blood test that we had done back at 12 weeks gestation.

(I'm 17 weeks, currently.)

Some of you already know - so if you do, shush!

Let the others play...

What do you think we're having?!

I added a poll to my blog - look at the top right hand corner.

Go ahead, vote!

I'll reveal our baby's gender on my blog, in a few weeks, after we have our 20 week anatomy ultrasound.

You have plenty of time to take a guess.

Let's hear it!!

what do you think?

I'm wanting to change up my blog.

I have really enjoyed updating everyone on our family the last year, and more!
(Can you believe its been that long?)

I want to keep blogging about my family; my experiences as a momma.

I love talking about all three of our girls - and my hubby too.  Oh, and cat!

I also want to include some new topics, to help keep me interested in blogging.

Maybe recipes.
(You know I love me some baking!) 

Maybe more photos.

Maybe my ideas on things.

Maybe my feelings.

Maybe my attempts at being creative.

What do you think?

Riley's Hair

Well y'all, majority rules. 

It only took us a couple months...


Riley's quickly growing, as is her hair.

The back and sides have been looking great, and she even has a cute curl in the back.

Other than that curl, her hair is very straight.  It falls flat.

The way her hair falls into her eyes has completely been driving me nuts! 
(My dedicated readers know this already, as I've mentioned it numerous times now on my blog.)

Riley does not like barrettes in her hair.  (Again, you know this already.)  Even if I'm sneaky when putting them in, she finds them and takes them out - if not immediately, just minutes later.

The only way to keep her hair to the side (which I prefer) is to constantly brush it out of her eyes (or blow it), or use a barrette.  (And her hair does not stay tucked behind her ears yet.)

All these methods have tired me out.

I've been seeing Riley pull at her hair, and even struggle to see at times.  Well, it's just plain ridiculous.

Enough is enough!

Last night, the scissors came out...

BEFORE

hair hanging in her face and eyes

AFTER

there's Riley's eyes!!

amazing.
she can see!

Aaron and I tossed around the idea of going to a salon that deals with children exclusively.  I wasn't ready for that though - and I don't think Riley is either.  The only thing that needed trimming right now was her bangs.  I felt like we could save money and a car ride (and probably a stressful event) by doing it at home.  I trim my own bangs so how hard could it be?  Turns out, it wasn't that hard.  Riley didn't sit still very well - no shock there, so we gave her her usual cup of milk and sat her in her high chair.  We offered her a taste of ice cream (a rare treat) but really she did better just drinking her milk.  It was the evening and she was getting tired anyway.  I'm so glad we decided to trim her hair this way.

There's always that first official haircut at some point.  Maybe when she turns 2 years old, and Aaron is home from deployment we will take her to the children's salon and get her a "real" haircut.  But we'll see.  Time will tell.  It'll all depend on how her hair grows.

For now, I will be trimming my bangs...and Riley's.  And I'm OK with that.  Anything to get that hair out of her eyes!  I already feel like a better parent for letting my child see again.

The results are in...

Thank you to those of you who voted on whether or not to give Riley bangs.  I was so curious as to what you all would say!  The majority of you said to go ahead and give her bangs now.  But a few of you said no, or to wait it out.  It was about half and half.  I was already leaning towards not giving Riley bangs now, to wait and see what her hair does as it grows out.  And, I have to say we're still at that place.  We are not ready to take Riley to get a hair cut yet.  She's only 15 months old!  Why rush it?  I think that we can wait until she is older and I know better what her hair will look like.  I love when Riley's hair is pushed over to the side, or in a barrette.  I am going to keep fighting with putting hair ties and barrettes in her hair for now.  If she takes them out, that's fine.  There are days, or hours I should say, that she keeps them in.  I guess that's a start.  We're trying to "go with the flow."  Crazy hair is our thing right now!

Please don't let my decision discourage any of you from voting in future polls I may have on my blog!  I love hearing your input and seeing what you all think. 

bangs? or not?

OK, I'm taking a poll.

Riley is going through a phase of pulling at her hair a lot. She doesn't keep a barrette or hair tie in her hair (it bothers me!) I can't stand her hair in her face. But I also am so afraid of cutting her bangs right now. What if her hair then grows in weird because I cut her hair too soon? I'm just not sure what to do.

Help us decide!