Wonderful, crazy, tired, lovely days.

These days have been such a whirlwind. There was the time that Sarah was crying, Hannah was eating, Moses was spilling the Nesquick on the pantry floor.. and there was pee on the carpet, vomit all over Sarah... and one Mama. Then there are the smiles Hannah makes in her sleep, Sarah's silliness, Moses' sweetness.. These days are so wonderful, exhausting, frustrating, exhilarating, all in one. Can I get an amen?

I have been trying all sorts of things to keep Moses and Sarah occupied. A picnic with cheese crackers usually does the trick. Play Doh, coloring, and videos are way up on the list, too!

My daughters. Precious, precious girls.

The wonderful Brittany Mirabal did our family pictures a couple weeks ago (you can check out her blog HERE and her photography website HERE). I love this picture. Real life, happening.

My mom just left, Kat is back to work, Miah is starting back to work full time... this three day weekend is the last hoorah before real life begins. I kinda feel like I'm just taking a deep breath and jumping in with both feet. Here goes nothin'!

The past 10 days.

How is it even possible that Hannah is over a week old already? Time.is.flying. I'm trying to soak her up, nap, and love on the rest of my family as much as possible. See ya in about 18 years, ha!

Here are a few pictures of our week.

The Sarah Bo is now sporting a pony tail.

The amount of cute in this girl is just over the top.

"Moses hold Hannah Grace?"

We have a swaddle free tummy sleeper.

The thing Sarah likes most about her little sister? The paci's, or "baht" as she calls them. Hannah could care less about the thing and Sarah takes every opportunity to snatch them up!

Moses just loves his littlest sister.

As of last Tuesday she was 9lbs 15oz. Holy smokes.

I wish I had more to share, but my time is so limited these days.. and best spent on snuggling three little cuties and their daddy. I know you all understand!

Hayes Happenings

Well, I have not been a good blogger. I've been too busy being grumpy, I think. This has not been my shining moment, folks. I think this season has served to highlight my deficiencies quite well thankyouverymuch.

My babies and my husband, however, are as wonderful as ever. I mean really. They are just such a delight.

Every Saturday we pack up and head to Berg Park.

The babies love it!

Gimme a pound, dawg.

She's such a homie.

I thought Moses was going to blow a gasket when we saw this fire truck on our walk. The fire department does white water training at Berg Park and this was Mo's lucky day!

And of course we are spending as much time outside as we can.

I swear she is having a good time.

I would like to take this opportunity to warn you all never to buy the off brand otterpops. The extra dollar really is worth it, in case you were wondering.

Babies + water = True love forever

Bonnie gave Moses this monkey for his birthday. It drinks milk, burps, hiccups, laughs.. oh and totally creeps me out. Moses, however, has suddenly become fascinated with the thing. He feeds it, burps it, then brings it to me to love one it. "Here, Mama, here!"

That's all from the Hayes family! Hopefully next time I will be introducing you all to #3!

Hayes Happenings

What's been going on around here:

************

I have been wanting flowers in the front yard.. leave it to my handsome husband to get the job done! He had a little helper along the way.

Didn't he do awesome? It turns out it's a great time to buy plants, too. Everything was 20% off!

As an added bonus he bought me a peach tree!!

Sweet Sarah playing in the water with Grandma!

We are so glad she is back from Hawaii!

Play, play, play!

I'm really excited about this corn!!

One day short of 34 weeks. Man, this pregnancy is taking forever!

I am swollen. I am exhausted. I'm actually considering an induction.

Happy Weekend!

A trip to the post office.

1. Get out double stroller.
2. Set up double stroller.
3. Put #1 in stroller.
4. Put #2 in stroller.
5. Don't forget diaper bag.
6. Open 2 doors to get into the post office and try not to squish babies in the doors.
7. Woman slams third door into you. Nice.
8. Keep babies happy in line. Contemplate standing on your head.
9. It's my turn. What do I want? Where am I? Be grateful I wrote a LIST. For the post office.
10. Get what I need and head out.
11. Open three doors.. again.
12. Put #1 in the car.
13. Put #2 in the car.
14. She screams.
15. Give her snack.
16. She throws it.
17. Give it back to her.
18. She throws it.
19. Get snack off the ground and eat it.
20. Get stroller back in the car.
21. Get pregnant self back in the car.
22. Sit in car. Turn on music. Turn on AC.
23. Smile.

Fun in the sun.

The weather has been lovely..

and we've been headed outside!

Moses is serious about his water table.

She is cute as can be..

Crazy-hair-thing...

Such a sweet pair!

Sufficiency.

Today I have come face to face with my insufficiency as a mother.

Tired, frustrated, short sighted.

And trying, trying, trying to surrender to the Father and allow him to do through me what I cannot do on my own. Trying to remember that I want to sow the seeds of grace, tenderness and my time in my children. Knowing, also, that it is God himself that provides these seeds.

"Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness...."

2 Corinthians 9:10

Moses comes and leans against me as I play with Sarah on the ground.. I look at him and say, "Moses, I am sorry I'm not a better mama."

And my sweet boy looks at me and smiles, wraps his hands around my neck and kisses me. And I squeeze that little boy and thank God for his goodness to me.

"And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.'"

2 Corinthians 12:9

"Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 18:3

How we roll.

Some days it feels like we're drowning in toys. Toys, toys, toys. In the toy box. Under the couch. Under the beds. Ev-er-y-where.

I mean, really.

So I have come up with a plan. I bought some crates from Walmart for $3 a piece and I divvy up the toys.

Here, we are divvy-ing.

The cutest divvy-er ever.

I hide the extra toys in the closet and every few days I pull out a new crate and, voila!, "new" toys!

Happy Tuesday!

Looking out for the little guy.

Daily Moses washes his Ele's hands, has mama hug and kiss them, feeds them.. and the newest thing is that he has them drink his juice.

The blasted cake.

My go-to chocolate cake is.. well.. no longer my go-to.

Look. What. It. Did.

Angry chef face.

So what did I do? Made extra icing and pieced it together. Take that my no-longer-go-to-chocolate-cake.

So... anyone have a recipe they would like to share?

Life-ity life.

Sometime life happens.

Do you know what I mean?

Stomach flu.

Influenza.

Morning sickness.

Loss of loved ones.

The car won't start.

The babies won't sleep.

The baby is teething.

You know, nothing huge. Just life.

We have been getting a hefty dose of life around here. There was one night, I'm a bit embarrassed to say.. the babies were both crying and if I got out of bed I would get sick.. again.

My response?

"God hates me."

I'm not kidding.

The scripture I had memorized?

Out the window.

The TRUTH I know?

Hidden in lies.

Then the sun rises and, as tends to happen in daylight, I was able to see things more clearly.

The truth? We have been promised trials, and we are told to consider them pure joy.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

James 1:2-4

May we all be encouraged... and remember what is true... no matter the circumstance.

Snowman.

Mommy had not showered.

Mommy had thrown up.

Sarah didn't mind.

The boys are working.

Well, maybe not this one.

This is the first snowmen that we have built since we were married.

I think that's weird.

Strong husband.

Yes, Moses is wearing his snow boots and jacket over his footie pj's.

This is what Jeremiah calls "sculpting."

He's a snowman ar-teest.

They did a great job.

The end.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend!

Sweet Baby Hayes

We are so, so thrilled to be expecting again. Our little brood is growing, growing and we feel so blessed.. and a tad overwhelmed! I mean, Moses is only going to be about two and a half when the little one arrives. Wowza, three under two and a half. Keep us in your prayers :) We really have no idea when the little one is due, but we have an ultrasound on December 21 (less than three weeks now!) to find out. I keep reminding myself that I don't have to be ready for three yet - one day at a time, Hayes! We are also hoping for an easier pregnancy this time around, and that I can continue to nurse Sarah until she is one - only 5 more months!

Thank you, everyone, for sharing in our joy. Please join us in praying for a healthy first trimester.

Gratitude.

This Thanksgiving Jeremiah and I have so many things to be grateful for.

Each other.

Our heavenly Father that leads, guides and determines our path.

Moses David.

Sarah Elizabeth.

And sweet Baby Hayes, number three. Coming this summer.

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward."

Psalm 127:3

Our week in Albuquerque!

We had such a lovely time catching up with friends and family in Albuquerque last week. Thank you to everyone who took time out to come and visit with us!

Moses was more interested in running up and down the hallway than the fish :)

Thanks for coming with us, Keekee!

I got him to sit still for two seconds for a photo!

Two peas in a pod!

Here is a video of Moses dancing with Auntie Pam! The family should love this one!

Ready, set, update!

In the midst of all the busyness, we sure have been having a lot of fun around here. We've been so blessed to have friends and family stop in. Our sweet friends, the Taylors, came through this week. We really enjoyed catching up with Aaron and Megan, and Haevyn was such a wonderful helper! Moses loved playing with her and Sarah really enjoyed some snuggle time. You're going to be such a wonderful mama someday, sweet Haevyn!

Auntie Dana stopped by for a visit as well. Moses really loves her - they had a blast. My kiddos are so blessed to have such wonderful people that love them so.

And the little lady has found her hands! It's pretty adorable. Watching her go through all these phases is so different this time around - and she is growing so quickly!

And if anyone out there needs a good belly laugh this morning, this video should do the trick!

Survival of the fittest.. or something.

How in the world am I going to keep a record of these crazy days if they continue to be.. crazy? Anyone?? Even now I should be sleeping because I got up at 5am to assure my garden would be watered and that my family would have clean clothes and dishes to eat off. And then the babies wake up.. and then we go running.. and get the oil changed.. and stop by the grocery store in town so I can finally get some pear juice... and then and then and then. Oh! And I have started the elimination diet which I have decided needs a new name because it sounds like I'm cleaning out my insides (and for those of you who know me, well, you know that story) instead of just trying to manage Sarah's reflux. That darn reflux - it WAS under control until it decided to not be under control anymore. And while our well meaning ped gave her a new rx last week I just couldn't bare the screaming for 3 or 4 weeks until the medicine kicked in. So for now I am eating turkey, pears, sweet potatoes, squash and rice. Yep. That's it. Glory. The good news is that Sarah is a new baby. Much less crying and more sleeping! Yay!

Hopefully I will be back with the cutest video of Moses after our nap! Don't hold your breath, though :)

Hayes Happenings

Sarah is sleeping through the night - Waaa hoooo!

We bought a slip and slide..SO much fun.

As a result, Moses got his first sunburn this weekend - ouch.

Miah went camping this weekend leaving me alone with both kiddos overnight for the first time. We survived.

For all you P-Dub followers.. you know how she cooks fancy meals for herself with Marlboro man is gone? I had wine and an Oreo dessert. Hmmmm.

Moses has entered the age of fit throwing. Fun!

I think Moses has 86'd his bottle habit - finally! yay!!

The garden is going crazy! I'm loving it.

I've discovered the only thing I really love about cloth diapers is saving money. Poo is poo.

Hayes Happenings

Here is the video, as requested!

This post may be a bit boring for anyone other than family!

My babies are growing too darn fast. Moses has started talking.. constantly.. not saying much of anything I can understand but that doesn't stop him. He and Jeremiah work on learning colors every evening, and it has been so fun to watch him get it. My favorite is "wewwow". He says "bye" and "please" and "piano" and "no" (those are just the newer words). When we get in the car and head towards town he always thinks we are going to Grandma's house and says "Mmmmaa" rather excitedly - this boy loves his Grandma.

Sarah is growing, growing. She's in her 3 month clothes now! It made me sad to put away everything she has outgrown - two boxes full of clothes! She has also become so chatty. She smiles and coos quite a bit. Sometimes she even refuses to eat and just wants to sit and talk with me. She's eating well and weighs over 11 pounds now.

Jeremiah is working like crazy. He's still building the library in Shiprock and working on several jobs in Bloomfield. We're so blessed that he has such a wonderful job - the construction business isn't exactly booming right now! Thank you, Lord!

And as for me - I'm trying to run and work out again. Thanks to my wonderful mil I am able to do so several times a week. I'm excited to someday be able to wear my old clothes again. Man, it sure does go slower the second time around!

We're having such a wonderful summer. The garden is going crazy - the lettuce, herbs and squash are wonderful. The beans and scallions are almost ready and our strawberries just started producing!

Thank you, Lord, for these sweet lazy days of summer...although as a mama of two under two.. I sure don't feel lazy :)

This just about sums it up!

My sweet baby girl with her brother's basketball - he thought she needed it. And a whole lotta laundry. All that's missing is Moses mashing crackers in the carpet!