Hayes at 1 MONTH!

I cannot believe we have our first month behind us.  In a way I feel like it has been far longer than a month, but then when I think about it---how is it October? 

Hayes is so precious to our family and we all are so wild about him. It really is like I almost cannot remember our life without him.

This picture is so precious and priceless to me.  This was right after we got home from the hospital and Harper's first time to see him at home.  She just sat there beside him adoring him.  She is hands down the best big sister EVER.  I tell her all the time too.

This is Harper's favorite thing to do.  Lay in Hayes' cradle with him and watch TV.

Another sweet pic--just adoring her baby brother who she tells us is "her baby".

My 3 boys.  I still cannot believe it.

My sweet baby boys together.

Another little mama picture.

So to answer the million dollar question we get from everyone, "How is life being a family of 6?"

---To be honest, I can't complain.  It has gone as smooth as we could have hoped for.  Don't get me wrong...IT IS WILD at times, a lot of the time in fact.  I have had moments where Holton was crying, Hayes was crying, doorbell rings, someone is hungry, big kids are arguing about something--- and it almost became a game of eenie meenie miney mo.  Who do I help first?  This is my first time having a baby where I've had to set my alarm clock every morning.  So no matter what kind of night we had, my day starts at 6:30.  I really take pride in 'having it together' when it comes to planning things and school stuff.  I have been VERY humbled and so embarrassed by forgetting silly things with the kids school.  Like not signing things for Hudson's school work, forgetting to turn something in, or TOTALLY forgetting Harper had to take snack for her entire class...while I knew about it and planned for it, but did not think of it again until the Sunday AFTER she was supposed to take it.  My phone is blowing up with reminders and reminders for my reminders.  I cannot stand letting someone down and forgetting things.  I hope my mind comes back. 

One morning while Hayes and I were able to sleep a little later, Matt took the big kids out to play in the rain.  He is such a fun daddy.

Going from 3 to 4 kids was easy breezy in their world.  I hoped for the best with Holton, but tried to prepare myself for the worst.  I thought Hayes' arrival might turn his little world upside down.  Thankfully he hasn't missed a beat.  He loves "baby", and seems to careless one way or the other that there is a new  little person in our house.  His moments of jealousy--if you even want to call them that--are so easily fixed and he will gladly share our lap with Hayes.  I'm so thankful for that.  I really think it would have broken my heart if Holton would have had a more difficult time.

Hudson and Harper??  Well, these 2 were made to be big siblings.  They loooove their little brothers and are so good with them.  They are my helpers and I could not do this job without them.  They are so patient, so sweet, so gentle.  I love that they cannot leave without kissing their baby brothers bye or giving them sweet pats.  Hudson insists we should have 1 more baby---and he is dead serious about it.  I tell them all the time my next baby will have to come from one of them---many, MANY years from  now.   Matt looks at the bright side when Huddy makes those kind of comments that nearly make me faint.  He says at least Hudson loves our big family and wants it to grow instead of being frustrated that we even had another baby.  Very true.
 
The most challenging part of my day is taking care of the never ending needs of a newborn baby and staying on top of this little Texas Tornado....

Exhibit A---this face.  How I love this face.  This is the 'smile' we get when we ask Holty to smile for the camera.  Such a kidder this boy.

This boy is OBSESSED with shoes.  All of our shoes.  And they are all over the house.  He moves from one pair to the next.

I had to post this picture of Holton.  My SIL caught this while we were waiting to be seated for breakfast when they were here.  Holton first off doesn't understand the personal space of others nor does he ever meet a stranger when we are out.  He sat right by this guy and watched him & copied his demeanor.  It was so funny.

I love love love costume PJ's.

Ohh Holton Matthew Mullins---This little 21 month old love, where do I begin with him?  He's a mess (as I write this with a smile).  A stinkin CUTE, hilarious, BUSY mess.  I love this little guy so much that I feel like my heart could burst.  Matt and I agree that he can be the ray of sunshine on any difficult day.  It's a good thing he is so funny and cute because otherwise I don't know that I would be so gracious with his almost 2 year old toddler behavior.  When Harper is at school (Wed and Fri), they seem to be my difficult days.  Holty is a busy toddler and certainly gets into his fair share of things.  It's the nursing a newborn round the clock and trying to stay on top of this little guy that is the ultimate challenge.  We've had several instances where I am nursing and he gets into things he shouldn't (markers, DVDS, the pantry)---phew, exhausting.  Let's just say I have mastered the art of nursing while chasing down this little stinker.  I know that this too shall pass and it'll get easier, but right now we do our best to get through each day.  You have to just stop and laugh at the madness sometimes--otherwise I think I would cry instead.  :)

Hayes really is a dream baby.  I feel like we are getting to know him more and more everyday.  Learning what his cries mean and how to meet his little needs.  He's a great nurser.  I supplement with 1 bottle a day just because I need this child to be able to take a bottle if need be.  We are on the go too much to not have a back up plan.  I made the mistake of not introducing a bottle with Hudson and Holton---Huddy never took a bottle, and Holton was such a challenge.  Harp was so laid back that she didn't care what it was as long as it fed her.  :)

Hayes sleeps so good for a newborn.  He gives me a 4-6 hour stretch each night and only wakes up once.  He goes to bed so easily and goes back to sleep in the middle of the night with no problem.  Having him sleep in our room isn't bad either.

Hayes takes a paci---This is HUGE because I've never had a paci baby before.  I'm sorry but there is something magical about sticking a little binkie in their mouth and the crying can STOP---not every time, but I'll take it when it works.

 Hayes is such a beautiful baby boy.  We think his eyes are going to stay blue.  They remind me of Harper's big brown eyes, only blue.  Hayes is such a combination of the 3 bigger kids.  He reminds us of each of them all of the time.  He definitely has his own look too, but it's so fun seeing his bigger siblings in his sweet face.  We are so in love with him.

I can't update on our family without giving the biggest shout out to the most amazing man I know.  There is NO WAY I could be half the mommy without this man by my side.  He is so selfless, so extremely kind---almost to a fault he's so good.  I don't know what I did to deserve him or snag him up, but my goodness, I am so thankful for Matthew Mullins.  He has helped make this past month go as smoothly as possible.  He entertains the big 3 while I take care of Hayes.  He walks in the door after work and puts on his 'play clothes' (as the kids call them) and off he goes doing everything he can just to make the load lighter on me.  He is the best husband and daddy---I know it was a man like him that inspired Father's Day.  He tells me all the time that coming home to us is his best part of the day---and I believe him.

I have to share this---yesterday (Matt was off for Columbus Day) was the FIRST day we got out with the 6 of us on our own.  So many times over the last month we have thrown out going out for dinner and then he and I will scan the room and say "ummm let's not."  HA---I'm not kidding.  So yesterday we went out to a late lunch at Corner Bakery.  There was no one there but us---good call on the late lunch.  Then we had a few things to take back to La Cantera and decided we would knock it out.  It went pretty good for the most part.  On the drive home Matt said, "today is the first day that I felt like I had 4 kids."  I just laughed because it's so true.  There are just these snip its of moments where you think oh my goodness there are 4 OF THEM.  Matt and I are SOOO out numbered....and I could not be more thankful for it.