Hayes at 5 months!

Precious baby--love of my life turned 5 MONTHS old on the 9th.  5 months!!  This child---I have no words.  He is a dream angel baby.  He is so relaxed, so chill, so easy going.  The only time he will fuss is when he has a need that needs to be met, and once met, he's a happy boy.  He's pretty predictable these days which makes life much easier.  In the next month or 6 weeks or so when he can sit up, our life will drastically change.  Going to the grocery store or walk to the park or anything that he can sit up and be a part of the action will definitely make life easier.  He's mastered the 'froggy style' sitting position, but sitting up alone for a period of time seems to be a few weeks off.  We shall see....

Hayes sleeps so good.  He gives me a pretty consistent 8-10 hour stretch each night.  For some reason I wake up naturally around 5 (but then easily go back to sleep until my alarm goes off), so when I do wake up I will go grab Hayes and put him in bed with us and feed him so he will sleep while the morning routine goes on with the bigger kids.  It works well and he will sleep in until 8 or 9.  This past month Hayes has found his feet (one of my favorite milestones...I think it is SO cute).  He rolls constantly.  He lost all of his hair and it is growing back fast.  He may look bald in some of these pictures, but really he has a head full of hair.  His hair is SO light.  I wouldn't say he's blond--even tho at times it can look very blond, but I'd say it's a very light shade of brown.  It'll be so interesting to see what he looks like when it all grows in longer. 

 Hayes is the happiest, smiliest, giggliest baby everrrrrr.  To get a grin out of this boy is effortless.  Pure joy...that is the only way to describe him.  He 'talks' to us so much.  His coos and babbles are the sweetest sounds.  AND don't get me started on this boy's belly laugh.  It'll bring tears to your eyes it's that cute.

Hayes isn't on any food yet.  We have introduced cereal a few times, but nothing regular.  He did seem to like it and eats well when we have given it to him.  I nurse him 6-8 times a day...just depends on the day.  I don't have any set schedule for him.  I am not sure how long I plan to nurse him.  I'm pretty sentimental because this is my last baby (I know, haven't those words come out of my mouth before??)?  Matt was awarded this amazing vacation for us at the end of May/first of June...so I am guessing that will be when we are finished.  I know it will sneak up on me far sooner than I hoped it would.  With each baby I have quit nursing because of a vacation Matt and I went on.  Hudson/Maui, Harper/Las Vegas, Holton/NYC.  I thought Hayes may be my baby that I nurse the longest because we did not have anything planned.  This trip was a HUGE surprise, and we are so excited.  So I guess the tradition will continue of weaning because of a vacation---I'm ok with that.  :)  It is always such a bittersweet feeling when I am finished nursing my babies.  Sweet because your body is FINALLY 100% your own again....bitter---because it's such a sweet, bonding time everyday between you and your baby and I really do love it.  Makes me sad to think about beginning the weaning process.  :(

Hudson was reading to Hayes and I and after he would turn the page he would grab Haye's hand and rub it.  It was SO sweet.

Don't you wish you knew the conversation going on between this stare?

I love this picture.

A sleeping baby is SO tempting.

Super Hero pjs.  Cute, cute, CUTE!

Holton's hand---he's so funny.  :)

I so wish I could adequately put into words how crazy this family is over our Hayes.  We-LOVE-this-baby-boy-sooo-much.  His gigantic blue eyes are the sweetest things.  They can just melt you into a puddle.  He has the sweetest expressions.  Hayes is so blessed to have the best big brothers and sister.  They adore him.  I think the pictures above can speak for themselves.

It was right about this time last year that we announced that we were pregnant with #4.  I was a nervous wreck most of my pregnancy.  While I put on a happy face and went thru the motions, this surprise pregnancy really did give me a roller coaster ride of anxiety.  Some days I was fine, even excited.  Some days I felt in over my head with the 3 I had.  Even on the day we had him, I can remember thinking 'how on earth can I have 4 kids?!?!?'  It really was an instant God given peace once I held Hayes and saw his sweet face, but now 5 months later when I look into those big blue eyes and get a BIG grin from him just because he caught a glimpse of me---I cannot for a second imagine NOT having this gift of Hayes Pierce Mullins.  That is exactly how I view him, he is our unexpected gift from God.  He is our bonus baby, our surprise.  Not a day goes by that I don't tell God thank you for my baby Hayes.  He is so precious, so beautiful, and really is such a gift to our family.