Will's First Haircut

Today was a big day for our curly-topped boy!  Although Will may have needed his first haircut for some time now, we just haven't been able to bring ourselves to take him in.  We ignored the comments made by strangers in recent months ("Hello there, ladies!" or "Here come the little girls with the cute backpacks.") and allowed those locks to grow even longer...until today.  Will's hair had simply grown TOO long and TOO wild (See the "before" pictures below as proof!).  He was losing his beautiful curls as his hair grew longer, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to manage it.  We had put the milestone off long enough; it was time.

So, after a week of "You're going to look so handsome!" and "You are such a big boy!", Will got his first haircut.  I have yet to take a great "after" picture (I'll have to update the blog with one tomorrow), but, just as we promised, he looks very handsome. He also looks years older than he did when he woke up this morning, a fact which we are trying to ignore.  He's still our baby boy, after all.

Disclaimer:  I purposely did NOT style Will's hair this morning before taking this photo.  I tame his hair on MOST days before we head out into the public. This, however, captures his hair in all of its untamed, wild, and frizzy glory.

As much as Will needed his haircut, we couldn't see him without his curls - they are as much a part of him as his bright smile.  It was important that he didn't lose TOO much of his "trademark" look!

We had attempted to seat Will in a "car" for his first haircut, but he wasn't having it.  He opted instead to sit on my lap, which forced Jim to take on the role of photographer.  I'm sure that I would have taken 20 times as many pictures as he did, but he truly did a great job (especially given the harsh lighting and the fact that he also had to keep an eye on Miss Maddie, who played in the waiting area most of the time).  

After his initial resistance to sitting in a car, Will sat perfectly still on my lap for the entire duration of the cut.  He snuggled close to me at first, but by the time Miss Tracey was halfway finished, he seemed much more comfortable with the experience.

For whatever reason, though, Will clung (for dear life) to a random puzzle piece taken from a puzzle found in the waiting area  while he sat for his cut.  I eventually coaxed it out of his hand.

Maddie stayed in the waiting area for most of the time that Will was in the chair, but she did come over to check in on Will once or twice, even telling him "Good job"!  

This picture melts my heart! 

This one is pretty adorable, too.

We sprung for the "Baby's First Haircut" package for today's cut.  We were given a certificate to document his first haircut complete with a picture of  me, Will, and his new 'do as well as a curly lock of hair.  We were also given an additional bag filled with a few more of his precious curls to take home.

Update:  Will agreed to pose for some "After" shots this morning...but only for the promise of candy and snacks afterward.  I'm not above bribery if it works.