Give Me 2 Years and I'll Give You Good Hair

Hello!  So getting back into blogging is not going as well as I had hoped.  I think the main culprit is this ever-growing body of mine.  It's hard to be fashionable when you waddle.  So instead of bringing you some exciting fashion breakthrough or showing you my (gag) pregnancy style, I have decided to write about my hair.

These last few years have been interesting to say the least.  Let me take you on a journey:

Sept 2009 - Hair is long.
 I have a 4 month old baby and want no part of it. (the long hair not the baby)
So, a few days after this picture is taken I donate it to Locks of Love.

Oct 2009 after I had it donated.  

This is what happened when I asked the stylist to "clean it up in the back."
I went home in tears and my husband told me I looked like KD Lang.
I've been growing it out ever since.

Finally had it one length in November of last year.

Then in April I decided to get bangs.  She made it way too thin, but the cut is cute from the front... 

And a horror show in the back.
Note:  I actually told this woman that layers do not work with my hair!  Yikes!

So now I'm growing it out AGAIN.  Had it trimmed in August to get rid of some of the scraggle.  Wish I had a picture to share, but my chubby face is avoiding the camera these days (not to mention my hair is always in a pony tail).  It's time for a change (again).  I'm thinking it's time so some length again.  I'd love something like this:

I figure in about two years or so my hair should be looking great ;)  Anyone have any tips to get me through this painful, ponytail-ridden process?