a new do, & thankful for locks of love.

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I can't believe a week has gone by since Lexie had her hair cut off, and it also took a whole week for her to let go of her locks...literally. The day Lexie got her hair buzzed off the hairdresser handed me a ziplock bag with her locks in it. I thought that they would donate her hair for us but apparently we had to do it. Well...that bag of hair sat on my dresser all week. I don't know why I hung on to it for this long. Every time I'd grab something from my dresser I'd just stare and look at it. Some of y'all might think "ok, that's creepy weird", but I had not opened it since it was handed to us. Before we mailed it off I decided to open it. I guess you can say I wanted to see how it smelled. I washed my hands opened it gently & got a whiff of her scented hair. It smelled like her so fresh and clean. It was bittersweet. It's surreal that she completely has it buzzed off now, and although I feel as if I have a different daughter in the house she is the same Lexie. Witty, funny, and still oh, so serious! She is striking & looks beautiful & because of her height looks like a model. A friend of mine on FB even said that she looks like a bad a** (pardon my french.) 

Apparently there are pros & cons with short hair. I should know because I had super short hair too in the form of an Afro. 

For example-she loves that she can spend less time in the shower & that she can just get up & go in the morning without spending an extra 10 minutes brushing her hair. I don't have to buy a lot of hair product for her so that saves me some money, and not take her to the hairdresser every few weeks for a hair trim. One thing she'll miss about her hair is styling it in different ways. She can't braid it or put it up in a bun. She even catches herself wanting to run her fingers through it, and will toss her head back thinking there's hair in her face. It's so funny when I catch her doing that. One huge pro she loves about her short hair is wearing cute beanies. 

Apparently some of her guy friends from school buzzed their hair too, but didn't shave it. Now she looks like their twin. I guess they all wanted to look like her. haha! She's their idol.They're all good friends & have gained so much respect for her.

In all honesty I personally love her short hair. It seems like a trend right now too. She looks like an Anne Hathaway from Les Miserables as well as Emma Watson from Harry Potter. 

She loves her new do but is still getting used to it. Too bad she'll only have it short for one summer, but be forewarned. I'm going to take advantage of documenting her with this pixie cut every chance i get... so be prepared. There are about to be many pictures posted in the near future for her posterity. Time flies and it won't be too long before she has her long hair again. 

One question I asked her the other day was if she would take it back. You know, cutting her hair & all. She responded with an emphatic no. I could see it in her face that she was sincere. She truly is happy to have been able to done this great deed for a kid with cancer, and for that she'll forever be grateful.  

a momentous event...all for a great cause.

For the past three weeks Lexie's friends at school were braiding, twirling, and even straightened her hair one day just to see how she would look with straight hair.  Friends were constantly telling her how they couldn't believe she was actually going to go through with buzzing her hair off, and how much they were going to miss her long hair. Even her teachers were amazed at her willingness to do this, but at the same time weren't surprised. Luckily they were all supportive, and at the end of the day all of those said friends & teachers high fived her, and complimented her on her bravery. 

I was excited and looking forward for 1:30 to come along so that we can go over to the school where members of the St. Baldrick's Organization were present to witness this wonderful event. There were 13 students who volunteered to have their heads shaved including the principal, and guidance counselor. Lexie, and another young woman were the only two girls who decided to have their hair buzzed off. I couldn't believe my eyes as I was on my knees recording this momentous event the entire time (which you can watch here.) I saw as the hairdresser put her hair in a ponytail, and then cutting it off. The entire class was cheering for both her & Symone (yes...she has blue hair) while their hair was being cut, and even more so as it was being shaved. They were such a good sport, and I was amazed at their bravery. Lexie didn't shed one tear, and although my eyes got a little teary...they didn't stream down my face. 

^^^ lexie with a bob before the shave ^^^

^^^ Lexie & Symone after the "shave" & with Ms. Gardner who also got her hair cut short. ^^^

^^^ Principal Otten at the bottom left with his head completely shaved off along with the other shavees of the school. ^^^

There are many members on both sides of our families who have died of cancer, and friends of mine who have battled it, and survived. I am so grateful for organizations such as St. Baldrick's who stand proud for what they do, and especially grateful for my daughter whose heart is so big to have been selfless enough to give up her gorgeous curls without any regrets (okay...now I'm crying.) I also want to express my gratitude to those of you who donated funds on her behalf for this great cause. It really meant a lot to Lexie. 

This day, as overwhelming as it was for everyone was definitely a "proud mom moment" for me, and I am so amazed at how this child of ours who found it in her heart to do something extremely amazing for such a great cause! She is even more beautiful to me now than she ever has been!

*Hope you're weekend was just as amazing as ours was, and that this week is even more amazing! 

a good cause: part II

^^^ two more weeks until this head of hair is gone ^^^

A week has past since we announced that Lexie will be one of the candidates at her school in volunteering to shave her head to raise funds for childhood cancer. We have received so much support, and love from our friends, and I appreciate those of you who have "liked" the St. Baldrick's Facebook page. I know ya'll get bombarded with invites to all sorts of pages, but it touches my heart to see those who've accepted it. You exemplify your caring, and love, and empathy for the cause by just a click of the button. So I, we thank you!  

Lexie has received her first donation online, and I want to thank everyone who is able to do that. I can't stress enough how important this foundation is, and how we'll never give up on finding a cure for childhood cancer. I don't want to sound too pushy, but if you can donate as little as a dollar that would be wonderful. I know nowadays a dollar may be too much for some, but I ask to find it in your heart to strive your best to donate...you will be blessed for your efforts. 

I know some of you have had loved ones die from it, and some who have survived from it. Whether you've already donated before in the past, or feel that you've donated "enough", and feel that you did your part already it shouldn't stop there. Even if you can't donate money to the recipients who are shaving their hair off, or donating their hair to locks of love why not  "donating" a smile instead, a hug, or a "congratulations, I'm so proud of you" moment (which some of you have already done on my daughters picture on Facebook) Those compliments are worth a million dollars, and I so appreciate all my friends...especially those from out of state, and friends from the St. Baldrick's Foundation page , (who I don't consider strangers) who have done that so far.  

Finding a cure for cancer is never going to end, and we will continue to go forth until a cure is found. I'm so proud of my kid for doing such a bold, and selfless move. This is a story she's going to tell to her future posterity, and an experience that she's going to hold dear in her heart for the rest of her life. 

This past week her sister has been finding excuses to play with her hair, and Lexie tells me that all the kids in her class are constantly playing with it too. She doesn't mind, and when they tell her "I can't believe your gonna give up your hair!" Her response is always the same, "it's for a good cause, and it's just hair...it'll grow back!" 

I continue to be amazed at all the choices she makes, and all the things that she does...all in the name of service. 

Again...if you want to donate please click on this link. This is her personal page where donations can be made through the St. Baldrick's website. It will be greatly appreciated! 

Thanks and may God bless you always. 

^^^ Have a wonderful weekend! ^^^