Baby Silas Updates // Belly Photo and Other Photos

Wow! It is so hard to believe that in just a few short weeks I will have ANOTHER sweet, little baby! I can hardly wait. Those of you who know me closely, know that I absolutely love babies, love the baby stage, just love everything about this upcoming time! I seriously see how my great grandmother had 12 kids! I mean, when they all come out so sweet and adorable, how do you ever stop? I don't know! People have been asking me if we are "done" after Silas. My answer is always the same: "I have no idea!" Zach tells people: "Nah, we'll probably have more!" LOL The looks we get are priceless! We don't care though. We love the family we have created thus far and fully believe the promise from our Lord that children are a heritage from Him! We know firsthand blessed is he whose quiver is full and our quiver is not even full yet! Truly, children are such a blessing and so amazing. I couldn't imagine my life without them.

I am now nearly 29 weeks and had an appointment today with my wonderful midwives. As always in every pregnancy, my baby is so low that I am measuring smaller than I really am. As stated, he is VERY low, head completely engaged in the birthing canal. He is a very active little boy and the whole family and I just love feeling him. We can feel him almost at any time because of his position, ideal placental placement, and just because of how active he is! I got my rhogam shot today as it is that time! The rhogam shot is easily the worst shot that I have ever gotten and today makes the ninth time I have gotten it- oh the joys of having an rH negative blood type! Actually, I don't mind; it's kind of neat having a more rare blood type! So far of my kids, Mason is the only one who has my blood type. Savannah and Gavin are both A+ like Zach. I am curious to see what Silas has!

My pregnancy is going very smoothly and Silas and I are both healthy and happy. My next appointment in 13 days, I will be getting steroids (2 shots given 24 hours apart from one another) just as I did with Gavin to help speed up the development of his lungs in the likely event that he does come early like his siblings. It's crazy to me to think about that in less than 7 weeks from this point in my last pregnancy, I was delivering Gavin and 8 weeks from this point two pregnancies ago, I was delivering Mason! It's feeling very surreal and again I just cannot wait!

I haven't updated my blog or Facebook with any baby bump photos in a while (since 13 weeks, I think) because we have been SO busy. Here we go though finally! This is from yesterday (28 weeks 3 days):

Notice he is completely below the belly button! All my babies like to hang out really low! It does make for a nice, easy, and swift delivery though! I cannot complain... even if it does mean that for the past 20 weeks or so, I have been getting up anywhere from 4-6 times a night to go to the bathroom! :)

Along the lines of Silas' impending arrival, I cannot believe that this sweet baby photographed next is NOT going to be the baby anymore!! Oh well, he'll still always be Mommy's baby! Papa told him when we first found out I was pregnant, "Gavin, you're not going to be the baby anymore... You can still be Papa's baby!" *heart melted*

Seriously, look at that face right there. He loves his Mommy and I am just ever so thankful for the blessing that he is. He is SO loving and sweet. He cheers me up when I am down with a flutter of those long, black eyelashes and a glance at those rosy, red cheeks. Don't even get me started about that cheesy toothy grin he can flash in a jiffy too! 

Because one photo of this angel baby is never enough. I mean look at this! He fills the baby role so well. He is just the sweetest. I know he is going to be an amazingly, sweet big brother though! He already fights with his siblings (and wins) over who gets to kiss my belly and feel Silas!

Last one, because I couldn't narrow it down. This was Gavin curled up on the clean bathroom rugs I had just laundered. I was folding the clothes on the couch and he just sweetly came in and laid down on the rug quietly while he waited for me to finish. I just love him!

A quick photo of the proud parents of soon to be another sweet baby...

This was the day after our anniversary. We went to see The Revenant (GREAT movie) while my amazing sister came over to watch the kids and hang out with Papa. 

A look at the rest of the family...

Savannah and Papa on Valentine's Day! Papa wearing the shirt the kids got him for Valentine's Day! :)

Mason and Gavin on President's Day about to go outside and enjoy the amazing 70+ degree weather!

Our tribe is increasing// The news many of you have been waiting for//We are blessed beyond measure!

Well, the Hayes' family is so incredibly elated to share the news that many of you, my Facebook followers, my blog followers, etc. have been waiting for.... some playfully and others seriously...

That's right! Our tribe is increasing and we couldn't be more ecstatic! After a huge scare shortly after we found out we were pregnant, and after many tears and cries out to my Lord later, we were assured that our baby was fine and that my HCG levels were going through the roof! I have thanked Him profusely day in and day out for His faithfulness and protection over our baby. The words, "You are a good, good Father. It's who You are, it's who You are. And I am loved by You. It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am. You are perfect in all of Your ways, You are perfect in all of Your ways, You are perfect in all of Your ways, to us." keeps playing over and over in my head. This truth was what I was proclaiming over myself and my baby not just after I found out things were indeed okay, but during the agonizing waiting period of 6 days as well. Faithful He has been, and faithful He will be.

"Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you." Jeremiah 29:12

"Children are a heritage from The Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hands of a mighty warrior, are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full."

Psalms 127:3-5

Zach and I can honestly say we are overwhelmed in the best of ways by our Lord's goodness. We have seen a shower of blessings as of late and are just so grateful. From finding out we were pregnant again, to finding out our baby was okay after a huge scare, finding out I had been elected and appointed to the City of Allen board of Parks & Recreation, Dallas Aeration getting sought out multiple times for business in just a few short days, the list just keeps going... Our God is so good.

What a wondrous thing, I can stand and sing! Because when I fall to me knees, You're the one who pulls me up again.

What a mystery, that You notice me! And in a crowd of ten thousand, You don't miss a thing!

Because You see everything!

I am seen and I am known, by the King of kings and Lord of lords.

When You sigh, the wind becomes a sonnet. When You laugh, the storm around me ceases. You whisper and all my enemies are scattered. You surround me with angels on assignment.

There's no place I could go that Your love wouldn't find me; no place I could hide that You won't see. Because You see it all.

You don't miss a thing- Bethel

Our baby is due May 7th and we have an appointment coming up in October with my midwives here in Allen. We should find out what we are having mid November and cannot wait! Savannah and Mason have already told me they know it is a baby sister and that Gavin told them he wants a baby sister too! LOL I told them that is great, but we will take whatever Jesus wants us to have!! We seriously are so excited and honestly do not care either way, one way or the other. We are just so happy we get the blessing of raising another baby and pointing him or her to Jesus.

My faithful and predictable morning sickness or actually, all day sickness, has crept in slightly earlier this time around and I can already tell it is here to stay for a while. For those of you who don't know, with all of my past pregnancies, I have wretched all day sickness that consists of throwing up multiple times a day (realistically, just all day in general) until well into my second trimester. With Savannah, I was sick from 6 weeks to 17 weeks; with Mason, I was sick from 8 weeks until 14 weeks; and with Gavin, I was sick from 9 weeks to 19 weeks. This time I started getting sick at 6 weeks (I am 7 weeks now) just like with Savannah and it is TBD how long it will last ;) It's okay though, I honestly cannot complain knowing far too well how worth it my babies are. I long to hold, nurse, kiss, and nurture this sweet little baby and I will gladly go through whatever I have to go through to get to that point! I'm grateful for the independence my kids have even more so during this time. It is such a breath of fresh air that they will go and play independently and let Mommy work in the office and take breaks to deal with nausea and everything that comes along with it. ;) Love my kiddos! They really do bring so much to the table and I am so thankful for each of them and that I get to be their Mommy.

For those of you that faithfully request baby bump pictures each pregnancy, here you go:

I just popped out, out of no where, this past week! These were taken at 6 weeks 3 days. 

I will update my blogs periodically with baby updates and if anyone would like to know more, just message me and I am always happy to share!

I find that "In over my head" by Bethel has been like my life song these days and it brings me such peace just singing it out to The Lord. I wanted to share it here:

I have come to this place in my life,

I’m full but I’ve not satisfied, 

This longing to have more of You.

I can feel it, my heart is convinced.

I’m thirsty, my soul can’t be quenched. 

You already know this but still,

Come and do whatever You want to.

I’m standing knee deep but I’m out where I've never been.

I feel You coming and I hear Your voice on the wind.

Would you come and tear down the boxes that I have tried to put You in?

Let love come teach me who You are again.

Take me back to the place where my heart was only about You,

And all I wanted was just to be with You.

Come and do whatever You want to.

Further and further my heart moves away from the shore.

Whatever it looks like, whatever may come I am Yours.

Then You crash over me and I’ve lost control but I’m free.

I’m going under, I’m in over my head.

Whether I sink, whether I swim,

It makes no difference when I’m beautifully in over my head.