Music

We have a little music lover on our hands. Hayes loves when we sing to him, when music is playing, and especially when the Voice is on. This is him the whole time they sing.

Parenting

Sam and I were talking the other night after Hayes went to sleep about being a parent. Parenting is so different than I thought it would be, but yet it's so much of what I thought too. I think that's the craziest thing about it, it's what you think, and then so much more. 

I worry about him all the time. My whole world literally revolves around him, in one way or another. I worry about what he eats, and what he doesn't eat. I worry about him sleeping, and not sleeping. I worry about how warm or cold he is. I worry about how much I read to him. I worry about how much I singing to him and introducing him to new things. I worry about overwhelming him. I worry about doing too much for him, I worry that I don't do enough. There is literally two worries for everything- if you are doing too much or not enough. I never imagined someone else's happiness would be so important to me. 

Being a parent is so hard, but it's the most rewarding endeavor I have ever undertaken.  I think the best thing in the whole world though is when I see his face and he lights up. I feel like the luckiest mama in the whole world when he does that. I couldn't have dreamed up a more perfect fit for our family than Hayes. What a blessing he is. I am eternally indebted to my Heavenly Father for sending him to me. I love you forever Hayesie Wayesie! 

Teeth {November 20, 2013}

Hayes has some pretty fierce teeth on the bottom. These two babies are made for biting, and Hayes loves to do it. Its made nursing kind of a challenge, but we are still pushing through. I have to say I am actually super amazed I am still nursing. My goal was to make it to 6 months, and now we are almost half way to 8 months. Since I am so close, I really want to make it to a year. I have to say, nursing has been on the hardest things I have ever done, but I feel like it has been so worth it. Hopefully these two little teeth don't cause me to re-think the next four and half months. :)

Family Pics {November 16, 2013}

We got our family pictures taken this past weekend, and my sweet friend Amanda took them for us. They turned out beautifully. Here are few of my favorites:

Babies and puppies

This morning while we were playing with toys in Hayes's room, something so funny happened. We had our first fight over toys. The fight- Gator vs. Hayes. The winner- well Hayes of course. The fight was over that tiny blue stuffed teddy bear. As you can see, Hayes had about 10 other toys, so I gave that little bear to Gator.



Hayes decided he wanted that little bear. 

 

Gator felt bad and pushed the toy back to Hayes. 

 

But got kind of upset when Hayes actually touched it.

 

And even more worried when Hayes actually picked it up. 

 

Smart Gator set the toy down and tried to make a trade.

 

Hayes was not impressed.

 

Gator felt sad, and came and tattled.

But then, it was time for Hayes to eat, so Gator went and got the

 toy and had a party while Hayes was busy. 

But then, Gator's conscious got the best of him, and he brought the toy to Hayes. 

 

Haha! I love these two!!!

7 Months {November 13, 2013}

Today this sweet little guy turned 7 months!

 

 

What a fun boy he is! We have loved having him in our family, and getting to know his sweet personality. Here are some things we know and love about Hayes:

 

-He LOVES to eat and is VERY interested in food.

-He has started biting when I am nursing him. I have had to start flicking him, but the problem is he doesn't seem to be bothered by that and just smiles. It makes me kind of mad, but he is just always smiling, and I know he doesn't mean to hurt me.

-He has been sleep really pretty good lately. He has had a few rough nights, but for the most part he goes to bed somewhere around 8, wakes up between 4-5 to eat, and then sleeps again until 8ish. That has been SO nice.

- He hates peas.

- He LOVES peaches and applesauce.

- He is VERY ticklish on his legs, tummy, and under his chin.

- He stopped saying mama and dada for a little while, but he's back at it again. I absolutely love it.

- He looks adorable in hats, and for the most part he leaves them on his head.

- He still hates my office.

- He's a mama's boy.

- He loves to be sung to.

- He does pretty good on walks, but much prefers that I run. (maybe the stroller vibrates differently?)

- He LOVES Gator.

- He sits up really well now, and is more interested in trying to move around.

- He pulls his socks off all the time now.

- He won't keep shoes on.

- He is the happiest guy and makes us so happy!

 



Hayes's first pancake- he just crumpled it up and squished it between his fingers.

Hayes makes the best Elvis face!

He loves to be naked- and cries EVERY time I put a shirt on him.

 

 

Dear Hayes:

 

Hayesie Waysie, you are the best thing. You are seriously the happiest little guy. You have not loved my office, but even there, you still will laugh and smile at everyone who talks to you. You have the biggest brightest smile, that literally melts everyone's hearts. Random strangers stop me and tell me how adorable you are, and then they literally swoon over you when you smile at them. You are already so charismatic.

 

You are pretty silly too. You love to play peek-a-boo and to sing songs. You are captivated by music. It's one of the only things that makes you stop crying in the car. You love to have music playing all the time. You are working on being nice to Gator. You love to pull his hair. I know you just love how different it feels. You are kind of a stinker too though, you are going through a biting stage right now. Its pretty painful, but in true Hayesie fashion, after you bite, you give me the biggest smile. I don't know what I'm going to do with you.

 

You are the hardest, and best thing that has ever come into my life. You mean more to me than I ever thought possible. You are so special to me. I love you forever.

 

Love, Mama

Our new callings

Last week Sam and I got released from the primary after 4 and a half years of teaching. Sam is now is young men's as a teacher advisor and I am over achievement days. We are both really excited for the change! 

The story of the bra

The other day I took Hayes to Target. I needed to get a new bra and some other things. He is getting big enough that he can sit in the cart without his car seat, so I took him out. (I always hate doing this because I know getting him back in will be pretty hard).

We shopped and did our thing. Just as I suspected, when I went to put him back into his car seat, he freaked. I tried everything to calm him down and to get him into the seat. I'm not even kidding, he threw his favorite toy across the car. I tried to hand him a bag of candy, nope. So then, literally because I had nothing left to offer, I handed him my new bra. He immediately stopped crying and fell asleep in his seat! Hahahaha ha I have not stopped laughing about it since. What a silly boy he is! 

Voting

I took Hayes with me to vote and was the center of attention. All the workers and other voters around us just kept giving him so much attention. He loved every minute of it. He also got a voting sticker. All the ladies said "He needs to be on the voting website!" Haha

I could not agree more! Cutest voter there ever was! 

Happy Halloween! {October 31, 2013}

This year for Halloween we went to Ash's school and helped with her parties. It was a lot of fun. Hayes absolutely loved his costume and got so happy when I put it on him. He was one happy tiger! 

Drinking from a cup

Hayes has decided that he doesn't like bottles anymore. We really only use them on Mondays when I work all day, but for the last two weeks Sydney has said he will barely eat anything. I decided to try and give him a cup instead... And he LOVED it! He did so good! I hope we can just transition him right to a cup.  Have I said how awesome my Hayesie is?? Yup, he's awesome.