How the HAIR are ya?

Uncle Bryce coined that term and it's been a joke in our family ever since. "How the HAIR are ya?" I've always said that someone could have taken my baby and shaved her head and I never would have been able to find her again. Ashland's hair has always been such a defining characteristic. I've also said that if I hadn't been there at her birth, I wouldn't have believed she was mine. I always wanted a baby with tons of hair - but I didn't think it would really happen. Well, here's the proof it did. . .

This is a picture of the back of Ashie's head the day she was born.

Those first few days, her hair was quite easy to style - water and fingers would do the trick. After we washed it a few times, it became more and more fine and lost its controlability. Eventually we had to start using a product called "got2b glued" - water resistant styling, spiking glue - it was the only thing that would control her luscious locks.

It was fun playing around with different styles. I personally liked the curly look.

Mostly, it would just go "POOF!"
People used to joke with Ben and I that we would have a kid with tons of hair, (that trait would come from me) and it would stand straight up (that trait would come from Ben).

Everyone said, "Oh, she looks just like her dad." It was just the hair I tell ya.

People also said, "Oh, she looks just like your Mom." Once again, the hair.

Then her hair started lightening up.

And getting longer and more OUT OF CONTROL. Grandpa Tom just started calling her "Hair". One person even had the nerve to ask me, "Have you ever thought of combing her hair down?" It didn't seem to matter what I did to it, I couldn't manage to keep in contained!

Ashland got her first hair cut before her three year old sister. Once it got long enough, I started putting it in ponies. People said she looked like an ant, Cindy Lou Hoo, Boo from Monsters Inc., and a cute little bug.

Now, her hair is almost blonde at the roots - with dark ends. Thus, the crazy dark ponies.

You can see how it just gets darker the further you travel up from the root.

Oh Ashland, what story will your hair tell next? We can't wait to see what a beautiful little girl you will become. You certainly are a beautiful baby. To us, perfect. We love you, Shoogie Bug.