Hi Stephanie!!!

Sorry I didn't respond sooner to all your wonderful updates. For some reason the tapatalk app skipped a whole bunch of posts when it presented me with what it thought was the first unread message.

Wow!!! Congratulations on so many levels. FFS is big news. 4th December will get here so quickly. I am so happy for you to be getting what you have clearly been wanting for a long time. Although so many people tell you that you don't need FFS, myself included, you are the one that needs to be happy looking in the mirror. So I am in full support of you doing whatever it is you need.

You will look so different without glasses. Will you be treating us to a preview of Stephanie without glasses photo before you get your contacts or will you make us wait?

It will be interesting to see how switching to injections will go for you. At the very least, not having to take daily pills for your E will be a positive thing. I know that when I got my implant, I had a psychological boost knowing that I no longer need to take daily pills for my female hormones. The implant is the closest I could get to having my own ovaries. I would think that E injections come close to giving that same feeling. I hope you get the results you are hoping for.

I too am very lucky to have such an accepting family. Like you, I recognise that good fortune but also have periods of feeling a slight sense of guilt because not everybody is this lucky.

Keep soaring girl. It's a real treat seeing you so happy.

Hugs,
Jayne

Oh, I kinda forgot I took this picture. I thought I'd try the leggings and tunic look, and I like it a lot! It's what I wore all day last Thursday, including to the Bunco party.  I'm holding the consolation prize I earned for not winning anything else. So here's a big heart for all my friends on Susan's.



Stephanie

Quote from: Steph2.0 on October 08, 2018, 10:36:20 AM
Oh, I kinda forgot I took this picture. I thought I'd try the leggings and tunic look, and I like it a lot! It's what I wore all day last Thursday, including to the Bunco party.  I'm holding the consolation prize I earned for not winning anything else. So here's a big heart for all my friends on Susan's.



Stephanie

@Steph2.0
Dear Stephanie: 
You look really pretty in your  "leggings and tunic look"  photo.   
You pull off the dressy/casual look perfectly!!!

Thank you for sharing your terrific picture with your followers.
Hugs,
Danielle

Quote from: Steph2.0 on October 08, 2018, 10:36:20 AM
Oh, I kinda forgot I took this picture. I thought I'd try the leggings and tunic look, and I like it a lot! It's what I wore all day last Thursday, including to the Bunco party.  I'm holding the consolation prize I earned for not winning anything else. So here's a big heart for all my friends on Susan's.



Stephanie

Ah Stephanie! I love that outfit. You look great in it. I love the flats too. I have bought 3 pair of ballet flats and still have yet to find a pair that fits. No more online shoe stores. I'm going to the brick and mortars from now on.

Hugs,
Donica.

Quote from: Jayne01 on October 07, 2018, 04:11:17 PM
Sorry I didn't respond sooner to all your wonderful updates. For some reason the tapatalk app skipped a whole bunch of posts when it presented me with what it thought was the first unread message.

Hi Jayne!

I, too, have been having funky problems with Tapatalk. It will skip large chunks of messages, and repeat others. I wonder if the paid version works better? It's just so much easier to use on a mobile device, which is what usually check in with.

Quote
Wow!!! Congratulations on so many levels. FFS is big news. 4th December will get here so quickly. I am so happy for you to be getting what you have clearly been wanting for a long time. Although so many people tell you that you don't need FFS, myself included, you are the one that needs to be happy looking in the mirror. So I am in full support of you doing whatever it is you need.

Well thank you, and everyone else, for your kind comments. I've explained why I think I need it, but in a nutshell, you all only see the pictures I've carefully vetted and edited. Some day I'll feel able to send you a straight up candid picture with no makeup, but that won't happen for a while. It'll be a great day when I feel I can do that. It'll mean that I finally think that I've made it and completed my transition.

Quote
You will look so different without glasses. Will you be treating us to a preview of Stephanie without glasses photo before you get your contacts or will you make us wait?

I get fitted for contacts on Wednesday. Maybe I'll let you all in on the look when that happens, but I intend to continue with the glasses in person until I get back from Spain. I want to make as much of an impact as possible then. Until Wednesday, though, pics without glasses are kind of hit and miss. My vision is so bad without them I can hardly see to aim the camera!

Another thing I was considering as an addition to the change is a new hairstyle. In this picture from my birthday the angle and the way my hair was pushed back kind of makes me look like I have a shoulder length style. I kind of like it. What do you think?

Quote
It will be interesting to see how switching to injections will go for you. At the very least, not having to take daily pills for your E will be a positive thing. I know that when I got my implant, I had a psychological boost knowing that I no longer need to take daily pills for my female hormones. The implant is the closest I could get to having my own ovaries. I would think that E injections come close to giving that same feeling. I hope you get the results you are hoping for.

I have been reading up on Dr. Will Powers' theories on estrone vs. estradiol and his argument is very convincing. Implants would have the same effect as injections, so you are definitely on the right track. I encourage everyone to look up drwillpowers on Facebook and download his PowerPoint presentation to see if you agree with his conclusions.

Quote
I too am very lucky to have such an accepting family. Like you, I recognise that good fortune but also have periods of feeling a slight sense of guilt because not everybody is this lucky.

While I really feel for my brothers and sisters who are having a harder time, the best I can do is send my sympathy and love, and move on to handle the challenges in my own life. Which I'm happy to say are getting fewer and fewer.

Quote
Keep soaring girl. It's a real treat seeing you so happy.

You too, girlfriend! Part of why I'm flying so high is due to watching my friends like you and @Faith summiting your own mountains! Congratulations!!

Stephanie

Steph, I refuse to tell you how great I think you look. Your head is already flying high while the rest of you is grounded. I'll just keep it to myself.

edit:
.. oh crap, now I feel bad. I didn't fully comprehend that last line when I posted mine.

Hey Steph, you look AWESOME in that outfit ...

Quote from: Faith on October 08, 2018, 12:07:11 PM
Steph, I refuse to tell you how great I think you look. Your head is already flying high while the rest of you is grounded. I'll just keep it to myself.

edit:
.. oh crap, now I feel bad. I didn't fully comprehend that last line when I posted mine.

Hey Steph, you look AWESOME in that outfit ...

Thank you, Faith. I'm learning from @Alaskan Danielle that girls always accept compliments with grace.

It was close, though. I almost called you a mean girl.

Stephanie

Quote from: Steph2.0 on October 08, 2018, 01:31:39 PM
.... I almost called you a mean girl ....

Quote from: Faith on October 08, 2018, 01:42:21 PM
[emoji20]

I said "almost!!"

I din't!

Quote from: Faith

Quote from: Steph2.0 on October 08, 2018, 01:31:39 PM
.... I almost called you a mean girl ....

Quote from: Steph2.0 on October 08, 2018, 01:50:44 PM
I said "almost!!"

I din't!

I'm not a mean girl, I just say mean things sometimes ... unfortunately, it's true. It's something I built up over my 'him' years and I am trying really hard to rid myself of it.

Quote from: Jayne01 on October 07, 2018, 04:11:17 PMYou will look so different without glasses. Will you be treating us to a preview of Stephanie without glasses photo before you get your contacts or will you make us wait?

I read this again and got curious. So I decided to give previewing a possible new look a try. I tied my hair back, took off my glasses,  and semi-randomly pointed the camera. Please be kind...



Stephanie

Quote from: Steph2.0 on October 09, 2018, 02:12:20 AM
I read this again and got curious. So I decided to give previewing a possible new look a try. I tied my hair back, took off my glasses,  and semi-randomly pointed the camera. Please be kind...



Stephanie

I was always told,

Quote"If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all"

Well, Stephanie, I'm not saying anything but that quote isn't why. I have too many words in my head and none of them are good enough.

Staphanie, you look great! 

You look great Stephanie. The shorter hair look works for you. Where did you get that smile girl?

Donica.

Wow! great new look!

Hugs,

Sarah

Quote from: Steph2.0 on October 09, 2018, 02:12:20 AM
I read this again and got curious. So I decided to give previewing a possible new look a try. I tied my hair back, took off my glasses,  and semi-randomly pointed the camera. Please be kind...



Stephanie

@Steph2.0
Dear Stephanie:
I will definitely be very kind....  wow, no glasses, shorter appearing hair.... I think your new look is very nice but also in all of your other recent pictures that you have posted you look very lovely as well.

Are you thinking of getting your hair styled and trimmed in a shorter style?   
.... about the present length of mine perhaps?

This last summer I had my hair trimmed to my present length in my Avatar/profile picture... last winter my hair length was well below my shoulders and I felt that I wanted a a change and I must say the shorter style is so nice to manage in the mornings after a shower.... and I have had so many compliments about it.   
I did get quite a few PMs asking me if it was hard to cut down my longer hair....  many transitioners have taken so long to grow out their hair to shoulder length and beyond that they do not want to ever have a short hair style again thinking that it would take away from there passing ability.   I always replied that there are just so many shorter and very feminine hair styles that a shorter hair style does not take away from appearing convincingly feminine.

I trust that you do what you will want to do with your appearance...
....you always have such nice photos of yourself and your infectious smile that you always have....
it is so wonderful for all of us to see.

Hugs and hugs,
Danielle

Quote from: Faith on October 09, 2018, 05:32:24 AM
I was always told,
Well, Stephanie, I'm not saying anything but that quote isn't why. I have too many words in my head and none of them are good enough.

Think hard. You can do it. I believe in you!!

Thank you Kathy and Donica and Sarah. I think I'll go with it!

Stephanie

Quote from: Alaskan Danielle on October 09, 2018, 10:04:45 AM
@Steph2.0
Dear Stephanie:
I will definitely be very kind....  wow, no glasses, shorter appearing hair.... I think your new look is very nice but also in all of your other recent pictures that you have posted you look very lovely as well.

Are you thinking of getting your hair styled and trimmed in a shorter style?   
.... about the present length of mine perhaps?

This last summer I had my hair trimmed to my present length in my Avatar/profile picture... last winter my hair length was well below my shoulders and I felt that I wanted a a change and I must say the shorter style is so nice to manage in the mornings after a shower.... and I have had so many compliments about it.   
I did get quite a few PMs asking me if it was hard to cut down my longer hair....  many transitioners have taken so long to grow out their hair to shoulder length and beyond that they do not want to ever have a short hair style again thinking that it would take away from there passing ability.   I always replied that there are just so many shorter and very feminine hair styles that a shorter hair style does not take away from appearing convincingly feminine.

I trust that you do what you will want to do with your appearance...
....you always have such nice photos of yourself and your infectious smile that you always have....
it is so wonderful for all of us to see.

Ha! Funny you should call my smile "infectious" after Kathy called me STAPHanie!

When I was a kid in the 60's my dad made me wear a buzz cut. This was when all boys and girls had long hair. It was torture! I've had long hair for about 25 years now, probably overcompensation for all that pain back then. I did trim it back when I moved to Florida in 2002, and I kind of liked it, but I missed it long, too, and I swore then that I'd never cut it again. Well... things have changed a bit since then!

I am pretty serious about shortening it. I want to make as large of a change from the past as possible when I get back from Spain. I might not go quite as short as yours, though if that's what it takes to be as cute as you, let's start trimming!

Thank you for the compliments!

Stephanie

Quote from: Donica on October 09, 2018, 08:24:55 AM
Where did you get that smile girl?

I don't know. It just showed up about 16 months ago and won't go away. I hardly ever saw it before then!