So much to report:

First, and most important: we have now been three weeks without a helmet. Yep. No sweaty foot smelling head. No nightly baths (in fact I think Wes has only had two or three baths in the last two weeks as a sign of rebellion). No hitting toys against his head because they make a cool sound bouncing off the helmet (well, we think that is why he was doing that?). No helmet. It has been a strange transition. We go to the store and no one stares. Ok, some people may stare, but they are more likely staring because I am yelling at Evan that no matter how many times he asks, my answer will still be "no, he absolutely cannot have ____(fill in the blank- M&M's, another Mimi car, a $30 Lego set, M&M's again)." 

The no staring at Wesley thing is amazing. People see him and not his helmet. They comment on his amazing blue eyes because they are amazing and not because they have to think of something to say other than blurting out something about the elephant in the room. To those people I would usually say, "yes, he is wearing a helmet. He always wears it. It is not strange to me, my husband, my 3 year old, his cousins, or my 18 month old niece for that matter. The helmet is our 'normal' and my little baby son has to wear it for medical reasons, not for fun/Halloween/protection from his brother/protection from bumps while learning to crawl. He wears it because he has to and if I had things my way, I would throw it out the window/put it under the wheel/burn it/anything but put it on again as we do our bedtime routine each night. Yes, he is wearing a helmet. Now, let me shop in peace." Ok, so all of that is a lie. I would usually just say, "yes, he does have amazing blue eyes!" BUT I wanted to say all of those other things.

Now, helmet free for three weeks, I appreciate that strangers tried to act like it was normal, tried not to stare, tried not to judge me and/or him. I appreciate how people would try to see Wesley, but understand even more how much easier it is to see him without that helmet barrier. I get to snuggle him. Touch his hair. Notice his hair. Cut his hair. (in that order). Evan gets to kiss him goodnight. Wrestle him. Laugh with him. He gets to touch his own hair (for the first few days, he kept pulling on his hair, like ,"what on earth is this!?") The last three weeks have been surreal. We have been figuring out a new routine and bonding with this little baby in a completely different way. I have to tell you, at times, I didn't think I would make it, but...