Hayes at 2 months

 

Hayes you are 2 months old!!!!  ---I can't believe it's only been 2 months since we had our Hayesie.  I feel like we have had him with us forever.  It almost seems impossible to remember our family dynamics before Hayes.  He was always meant to be apart of this wild Mullins' bunch.

I'm not going to lie--4 kids is tough business.  I still feel like we are in survival mode over here.  I'm still figuring this out.  Each day is different and you just have to roll with it.  It's exhausting and I feel pulled in every direction trying to meet everyone's needs.  Everyone wants a piece of mama---and NOW.  Life with a newborn has its challenges no matter if it's your first baby or 10th.  My constant daily prayer, because I know so well how fast time flies with my growing babies, is that I find JOY in the chaos.  I don't want to wish the time away because it is challenging right now.  I want to be joyful in all circumstances.  And one BIG JOYFUL daily circumstance is when Matthew Mullins walks in that door at the end of the day.  :)  It's a team effort over here and my goodness do I need him.

Hayes really is a dream baby.  I absolutely cannot get enough of him.  When I do get time to sneak away to workout or run an errand, my arms ache to be back and hold him again.  He is so so cuddly and irresistible.  Just a gorgeous baby boy.  Hayes sleeps great for a newborn.  Probably my best sleeper of the 4.  He wakes up once during the night, usually between 4-5, and goes right back to sleep until 8 or 8:30.  I really appreciate his sleeping past 8 because it helps me get everyone dressed, fed, and off to school much more efficiently.  Hayes really focuses on our faces now and follows us where we go.  He smiles so sweetly when we talk to him.  It just kills me when he smiles and coos.  I never get tired of that.  He likes his bouncy seat (thank goodness) and can sit there for quite a while.  He hated the swing, so back to the attic it went.  He has gotten MUCH better about the car seat.  He's been taking good naps when we go places.  The sweet thing doesn't have a choice but to like that car seat.  We are regressing with the bottle and paci love.  I'm still working on it, but he likes mama best and will sure let us know.

My 3 bigger kiddos are champs.  They make my life so much easier (well the biggest 2 do).  I am so thankful for how much the 3 of them love Hayes.  Holton is so sweet with him and so gentle.  He asks to hold him, loves on him, and talks in this cute soft high pitch voice.  I really am so excited to watch the little boys bond grow over the years to come.  What cuties they will be.  Harper Faith Mullins is a 2nd mother in this house.  She is one step ahead at all times and helps me out so much.  She is so nurturing and calls both her little brothers 'sweetie'.  I can't let her go to kindergarten next year....I just can't.  Hudson is great with the little boys too.  I don't know where his patience comes from with Holton, but he's got it.  Holty will get into Hud's stuff or mess something up, and Hudson is so kind and patient and soo forgiving.  I keep waiting for Hudson to lose it or flip out, but he doesn't.  (Now if Harper did these things to Hudson, we'd have us a different ball game).

Right now with Thanksgiving less than 2 weeks away, I can't help but stop and be thankful.  My plate is FULL, but so is my heart and my arms----and for that I am so so grateful.