Farewell to the Cockatoo, the Old Man, and the Mane

One evening last summer, I sent Max outside to help his Daddy in the yard. After about an hour or so, I went out to find that my husband had made good on his threats of shaving Max's hair and so the first of the Summer Buzz was born. I was somewhat mortified as I looked at my little boy who reminded me of a sheep that had just been shorne of all it's wonderful fluffiness.

Max mid buzz

But after a few hours of looking for the positives to keep myself from shaving off one of Ryan's eyebrows in his sleep in retaliation, I thought the buzz really showcased Max's big blue eyes and yes, it was a lot cooler than that mop of beautiful blonde hair he had. Ryan reminded me that it was free also...another positive.

Barber Daddy

So about a month ago, I didn't give Ryan any grief when he told me the time had once again come for the annual Summer Buzz. Ryan assured me Max's hair would be grown in by late August when I plan on having some pictures of the boys made together. It took a little convincing for Max to cooperate, but once we promised ice cream... he was all good. Ryan suggested that while we were at it, that we should shave the "ugly hair" on Luke too. WHAT!?!?! I was hesitant. I was really hesitant. I didn't cut Max's hair until he was 10 months old, and that took a good amount of prodding and some kind of bribe I'm sure; I was trying to make it to his first birthday when all of the other natural rights of passage occur and the universe makes you let go. I don't know why I am like this. Is there some unwritten rule that once you cut your baby's hair for the first time, then you lose some of the baby? Somewhere in my subconscious Mommy mind this must be it. The Cockatoo Tuft

I didn't care that Luke has a cockatoo tuft and an old man patch that refused to fall out like all of the other fine baby hair was doing. It was the original stuff! It's what he had when he was placed in my arms for the first time. Old Man Patch

Ryan repeatedly told me this was crazy woman talk and that the ugly hair needed to go. He also told me Luke would come out of it unscathed and still just 4 months old! I agreed the tuft and the patch were a bit ugly...but I didn't want to alter any of the BABY in my baby. But I gave in. Ryan shaved off the little cockatoo tuft on top and took a good portion of the old man patch in the back off. I was okay. I'm the accomplice

Then the crazy OCD in me kicked in and I couldn't leave well enough alone; I took the scissors out and was determined that the hairline be perfectly straight for my baby's first haircut. I kept trimming and trimming forgetting to account for the several adorable neck rolls that Luke has. When he finally lifted that chubby little head up, Mommy saw that she kind of trimmed a little too much. Oops. Neck roll down to reveal Mom's botched trim job

Ryan took the scissors from my hand and told me he was going to get the vacuum to clean up. To which "crazy Mom" once again showed up and said "Not before I put Luke's hair in a baggie!" He gave me that look that husbands give when they don't "get it" but they don't want you to explain it either. Baggie 'o Baby Luke Hair

Max's Shorne Mane

At the end of the day, Ryan got to play barber and save money, the boys both look and feel cool for the summer, Max got ice cream, and Mom let go of some weird idiosyncrasies...and there's one more baggie of baby hair in this house now. All cleaned up, happy and ready for bed