Emmett's hair is (correction -- was) out of control.� He definitely inherited his full head of hair from both me and James (mainly James), and we recently realized keeping it at the length we like would involve very frequent trips to Snip-its.

[caption id="attachment_1194" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Emmett's Hair at Our Preferred Length"][/caption]

Lately, since it's been getting hotter, I've started feeling sorry for him and the sweaty mop on top of his head.� So this evening I took matters into my own hands, grabbed James' beard trimmer and started buzzing.� It didn't bother him as much as I thought it might, and the result was about a pound of hair on the bathroom floor and a much lighter/more naked toddler head.� He definitely looks like he's a lot cooler now, too.� Introducing the new, buzz cut Emmett ...

[caption id="attachment_1195" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="A lot cooler"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1196" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Buzzzz"][/caption]

Age Timer: 16 months, 1 week

For Christmas, my parents decided to give Emmett and me some money to sign up for a parent participation My Gym class.� My Gym is a children's fitness center with locations all over the world, and there just so happens to be one very close to where we live.� I finally signed us up for a session, and yesterday we participated in our first Waddlers class for children ages 14-22 months.� We had a lot of fun, but let's just say Emmett's independent personality was never more apparent, and he has a lot of work to do on his cooperative skills.

[caption id="attachment_1179" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="a partial view of My Gym Boston"][/caption]

Emmett was a huge fan of "free play," where the kids can wander around the room, free to do whatever they want.� And there's a lot to choose from -- a large ball pit, wedge-shaped gym mats, slides, trampolines, climbing walls. Speaking of climbing, there are multiple options for the "climber," which Emmett has expressed a lot of interest in at home recently. (Let's just say if I leave the room for 2 seconds, I'll come back to him standing on top of the coffee table as if he's just claimed a new land.)� I'm hoping his My Gym experiences will help to satisfy his climbing urges rather than encourage more of them at home, but only time will tell.� He also had no problem with "separation time," when the kids' accompanied parents are asked to leave the play area and leave the children alone with the My Gym instructors.

[caption id="attachment_1180" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="the Waddlers during "separation time" (looks like one mom didn't understand the concept)"][/caption]

On the other hand, any sort of organized activity was a struggle.� "Circle time," when all of the children and their parents sit in a circle for specific activities, was not a welcomed part of My Gym time for Emmett.� I'm hoping that in the weeks to come, the class will help Emmett learn how to follow directions and participating in organized activities will become easier.� Again, only time will tell ...

In other news, last night before bed Emmett went on Safari, killed and skinned a wild giraffe and then displayed it as a hood ornament ...

[caption id="attachment_1178" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Emmett on Safari"][/caption]

Age Timer: 14 months, 3 weeks

My parents sent us a care package yesterday, which included a pack of Crayola crayons and a drawing pad.� It reminded me of when I used to go school supplies shopping near the end of the summer and got way too excited over packs of fresh, new, virgin crayons.

[caption id="attachment_1173" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Emmett's First Drawing"][/caption]

We broke them out immediately, Emmett double-fisting a brown and a purple and running down the hallway in a tizzy.� "Something tells me these will be both a joy and a headache," James said.� I agree -- crayon time is definitely going to have to be a contained and closely monitored activity.� I have a feeling I'm going to get much more use out of� my Magic Eraser in the near future...

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBXB34nR5wA&hl=en&fs=1]

Age Timer: 13 months, 3 weeks

Being 1 year old has treated Emmett pretty well so far.� He's a pretty confident walker, and he can now go from sitting to standing without the aid of a third party.

We took Emmett for his first (professional) haircut last weekend.� I'd cut it before myself, but it was the first time we actually took him somewhere to get it done (and he was starting to look like a hippie).� Let's put it this way -- he was not a fan.� Nope ... not one bit.� He was in the chair for less than a minute before he started crying and screaming.� They ended up pulling over a bigger chair so he could sit on my lap, and even then it was a struggle.

[caption id="attachment_1157" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="teary-eyed, before the major breakdown"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1158" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="appeased by mom's lap and an animal cracker"][/caption]

The only bright side of the situation was that we went to Snip-its, which is dedicated solely to children's haircuts and was more than prepared for the situation, armed with bubbles, singing hairdressers, animal crackers, lollipops and cartoons to battle less-than-happy customers like Emmett.� It was a little costlier than I would have liked, but I can say with confidence that for kids uncomfortable with getting their hair cut, it's the best way to go (for at least the first few haircuts).� Two thumbs up for Snip-Its!� Below, Emmett shows off his new 'do and reflects on hair first haircut experience ...

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttVbQYnXwtA&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

Age Timer: 12 months, 3 weeks