Tresses

Darby is- in my very biased opinion- the most beautiful little girl EVER. Over the 5 years of her life we've taken quite a journey with her hair. For the longest time it just didn't really grow.

July 2005, 14 months old

July 2006, 2 years

May 2007, 3 years

Then, all of a sudden, her hair began to grow...

May 2008, 4 years

and grow....

May 2009, 5 years

For the past year we have had the most fun playing with Darby's hair. French braids, ponytails, pigtails, buns. It's been a blast. For the past several weeks we've been talking about getting Darby's hair trimmed, the ends were getting pretty dry and unhealthy and it was getting difficult to do quickly. I'd been putting it off and putting it off because I couldn't bear the thought of touching scissors to the beautiful hair we'd waited so long for.

This past Sunday, Kyle and Darby were talking about her hair and how fast it had grown. Darby, on her own initiative, told Kyle, "I want to cut my hair and give it to people with cancer like my Grandma Gail." The 3 of us spent a while talking about what that meant and how short we'd have to cut her hair in order to donate it. I won't lie, I think Kyle and I were both kind of trying to talk her out of it. But Darby was determined. So, yesterday after school Darby and I went to Pigtails & Crewcuts for more than just the little trim I'd been trying to talk myself into.

before

during

after

She looks adorable! And so much older! The ladies at the salon were all so impressed with Darby. And Kyle and I couldn't be more proud. When the stylist cut off Darby's ponytail and showed it to her, I was a little worried about her reaction. Darby's eyes got really wide and she looked a little shocked. Then she giggled and on we went! In the car on the way home I was saying that the best thing about hair is that it always grows back (I was soothing myself more than Darby!). Darby responded, "Yep! It'll grow back and then we'll donate it again and it'll grow back and then we'll donate it again! We'll get to help so many people!" What a sweetie!

Today I'm mailing the 1st of what I'm sure will be many envelopes to Locks of Love. I'm so proud of my sweet, generous and loving little girl. I'm glad that she knows and loves her Grandma Gail so much, even though they never met. I've no doubt at all that my mom loves sweet Darby Gail just as much!