~HALLOWEEN~

Cassidy went out as a "baby" for Halloween. Just to a few houses really close by :)





















Presleigh as "Little Red Riding Hood"





















Zoe being Zoe















And of course an updated loc picture :)

Bad Mama

I went against what was told to me and added some Taliah Waajid bodifing moisture spray to Cassidy's water spray bottle. It is still mostly water, but her hair needed something. So far, I have been doing it sparingly for a few days and I still contine to see budding on her ends and no unraveling or anything. Anyone else use something other than water in the beginning? Am I doing a major no no? Her hair feels and looks great, but I don't want to mess up the locks.
Thanks for any advice!!

Daddy's Thoughts as requested by a friend :)

So I was recently asked what Terry has to say about Cassidy's locs. Let's preface the whole thing by saying that I think I am a pretty typical wife and don't tell him how much everything costs. So his thoughts on the money are skewed a bit, but from what he does know, he says, "It's an investment that will last for years".
He is also a real mans man. As you can see from the very bad picture of him here (he normally doesn't look that rough!!) he is a building contractor and thinks like a guy!! So, I asked him if I could video him talking about Cassidy's hair and he wouldn't do it..but he agreed to tell me what he thinks and allow me to record it :) lol What a dork!

So, he says he likes it a lot. He doesn't understand exactly what they did, but it looks much neater and more organized. "I like how you don't have to spend hours making it look nice for us to leave". He also commented that he likes how she doesn't have to have her hair pulled into tight braids or cornrows all the time. He was always a fan of her afro, and would let her go "Foxy Cleopatera" 24/7 if I didn't have something to do with it :)

In the end, I gather he really likes it. He thinks it is a nice way to encourage her to keep her natural curls....and I love that about him :)

I think she loves him for lots of reasons!

Update Pictues

Cassidy's locs are swelling a bit and coming into their own......and we have been trying a few simple styles :)








Here I just did some twist backs with little tiny clips and let the go free :) Looks cute!

Starting to see some change :)

I am starting to see some growth, change and transformation now after the third wash.
I am liking them more and more. She does wake up looking like a wild woman, but nothing a little bottle of water won't fix :)
Here are some recent pictures of how her hair has been changing......maybe not her most photogentic pics, but some clear shots of how her hair is transforming!!

Cass does her own hair :)

Here is Cass with her cousin Gage huggin' and Zoë with the b-day girl, Gracie :)




Just a few pictures from Cassidy and Zoës cousin Gracie's birthday party this weekend. There is Cass with Mom mom and to the right is Bronwyn, Presleigh, Dad and Cass.

Tamed it down a little, thanks mamas!

So here she is, water spritz, finger comb away from the face and a tomika's twist :)
Whatcha think now?

Cassidy had an EEG done at Children's Hospital on Wed and they have to use this icky glue to hold on all those electrode things....so her head was COVERED in it. The woman brought over a bucket of warm water and rag and started to scrub at her scalp to get the goo off! I just about screamed accidentally for her to please stop and leave the goo and I would attempt to get it out myself once we were home.
So, to make a long story short, we wore this gooy stuff in her hair a few hours before I could get to her SL shampoo and get is washed. I banded and gently washed it all out.

Here are pictures of her hair freshly washed for the first time with locs. One I unbanded them :) Ya think everything looks normal?
And, is it "ok" to let her walk around sportin this free crazy look? I have to admit I don't want the African American community looking at her feeling badly that her hair might not look done........even know it is VERY done :) You all locked ladies know what I mean!
Personaly I think it looks adorable, but let me know what you think!!















Such a ham in front of the camera :)
Just got the call late last night
that the EEG was normal, she is not having seizures. Another answered prayer!!

I have to admit I am so temped to put some Waajaid spray in this craziness :) lol

We counted them today :)

398 Total Sisterlocks!!!

I finally had a few minutes while Cass was relaxed to band up bunches of 20 locs and count them:) What a cool number! We had guessed between 350-400, but it is nice to know the actual number. Our consultant said that because Cassidy's head is still growing, we may get to a point where some locs will be divided into 2 locs. I didn't know that was possible, but she said it would be done during the re-tightening sessions without a problem. Until Cassidy, he youngest client was 8 years old. Cassidy and I know that she is probably one of few her age with SLs just on the simple principle that most 4 year olds would find it too difficult to sit still enough for that long.....and I think it takes a special loctitian to be willing to even try! But we had a great relationship between Denise and Cassidy and I am very thankful!! Cassidy was sooo good. A close friend told me when Cass was 6 months old to sit her buns down and mess in her hair, even if I wasn't really doing anything much with it that young so that she would learn to sit still for hair time. Then, as she got older, I did her cornrows and braids etc. every 2 weeks and she learned to sit :) It was our special time actually and we talk and giggle........

I am so thankful for the beautiful women in our lives that reach out and love us, guide us.....look beyond the difference. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Here is Cass before going to play football in the yard with her brothers! She gives them a run for their money too!! But I wanted to keep any dirt out of her locs to hold off on washing, so she is wearing one of her loc scrunchies here..


































And Zoë because she is still sportin' her natural little fro'

The Morning After :)

The Journey Began!

I am so tired, I am going to let the pictures so most of the talking.........I will just say that we were exactly 11 1/2 hours. Long time for a 4 year old and a mama! She was Awesome the whole time, slept quite a bit and was really a pleasure. Didn't fuss at all which is more than I can say for myself!
Here we are getting ready to leave for the salon this morning VERY EARLY!


I got up at 5, woke Cassidy at 630. Scared be would be late stuck in 95 morning rush traffic and be late, I wanted to leave by 730am...we got there an hour early! So, we got a great parking spot right our front and were actually able to go in a little early but spent some time just sitting in the van! Opps!!





So, we officially got started right before 9am!! Here are pictures of her progress throughout the day :)

First Section Done!!



Little lunch and potty break about a third of the way through!















Sleeping Stage


The I have had enough get me out of here stage........











*****11 hours***** 398 Locs*****
A labor of love from our loctician Denise.
















Almost done!



Ready to get the heck out of there with her bag of goodies!!!

LOC DAY!!

It's 530am.....I am up just finishing getting things together. I am going to get Cassidy up so she gets tired early and maybe I can get her to sleep a lot of the day. Bags are packed...I plan to leave here about 715. Her appt is at 9 but rush hour traffic into Philly is going to be horrible and I have to stop at dunkin donuts of course!
Think of Cassidy today, she is still my little peeps and I want this to go easy for her. I want her to remember today as a special one. Not that she is going to love it, but something she will never regret.
We will be back here with updates tonight!!

Tomrrow Morning!!

So......I am going through in my mind what to pack for her. The obvious, movies and snacks, drinks, lunch, game boy, ipod, her meds, her "ducky" comfort blanket, pillow.. Anything you all can think of??
I can't believe I got the call today to confirm! It seems like we have been waiting forever, and Cassidy is so excited it's all she talks about. I tried to tell her that it isn't going to be real fun to get them in and it's going to take a really long time, and she said, with her hand on her hip as always. "I don't care, cause you won't be brushin my hair no more after I get my locs in" lol.......she is my love. And I have to admit, with all the craziness that has been going on around here lately, I almost think it's going to be relaxing for me to take my books and just have a day to totally relax without the other 5 kids. I am in need of a break too! Oh, my camera!! Can't forget that!!

On another side note, Zoë's court this morning went off smooth as could be!!! Thank you Lord!!

Ok experienced mamas, I need any ideas on what to take with me tomorrow! Help!! And wish us luck!!!!!

49 hours!!

While I am fully aware this will be the longest day of my life............I can't believe it is only 49 hours away.
I took Cass out of the tub tonight, heavily conditioned hair and brushed through it and she was ouching and so sad even though I was being as gentle as I could. Then she looked up and said, "how many more nites till my locs mama so you don't have to brush my hair no more?" Ahhh, the the feeling of knowing I am doing the right thing. she is excited as am I !! I can't wait to see what she looks like, I can't wait to post pictures for you'all to see her, and most of all I can't wait for her to look in the mirror and get her reaction!!

Thoughts Today

For nearly a year I have felt down......overwhelmed, cranky a lot. I know I have missed so much because the year I thought was just starting is gone. I haven't even gotten the chance to enjoy the house we have lived in for a year because of the stress and chaos. Most of it I have allowed. this is something I am just coming to realize. Circumstances are what they are, but I am how I react to them. I don't want to be that person I have been.......I want to be more. I want to be more like Christ. I hereby vow, to go to bed thinking of my greatfulness, my thankfulness, Thinking as I prepare to sleep how tomorrow will be, what I will strive to be for my husband and my kids. And very conciously decide how I will handle my circumstances, instead of allowing them to take over,
Thanks for holding me accountable.........I need it. Reminders to do it...to be who I want to be everyday. And to get back into this dress would be nice also :)
Blessings

Me and Terry on our way to my cousins wedding 2 years ago

A misty cool September night in PA....I was outside and remembered

I am blessed.........I love my house. I love everything about it. I love it at night, in the day, inside and out. It isn't fancy, just perfect for our family.......love is here. memories are being made here. God lives in the hearts here. I might have missed this moment of thanks..........I am so glad I didn't :)