Hayes Tribune 2013

Going to Carolina in my mind

The last four editions of the Hayes Tribune have come from Athens, GA. However, this 2013 issue is being written from Beaufort, South Carolina. It was our wish to return back to the Low Country so we could be closer to our families. Instead of putting the house back on the market for sale this year, we decided to see if it would rent. We found a property manager and they listed it. Within the first week, someone was already interested. With the help of family and friends, we moved out July 20 and made the drive to SC. We are renting a home in a neighborhood, next to the high school, full of young families and military. We love going on walks in the evenings and having neighbors so close we can talk to across the yard. It took us a few months to get settled in to the new life here, but we know the move was perfect timing.

Three plus one equals four

On November 1, 2012, we found we were expecting a second child at the end of June. Rebekah was passionate about not having a repeat cesarean in a hospital so we searched other alternatives. We found a midwife in Augusta, GA that would attend a homebirth after cesarean (HBAC). We drove 4 hours round trip to our monthly appointments starting in February. So it would be a surprise, we decided not to find out the gender of our baby. At 39-weeks, Rebekah went into labor. When active labor began that evening, the midwife, assistants,  doula, birth photographer, and Rebekah’s parents made their way to the house. On June 22, after 10 hours of labor, Rebekah delivered a baby girl in the birthing tub set-up in the home office. She arrived at 4:11am weighing 7lb. 10oz. We named her Grey Ellis Hayes. She is now 6-months old with two bottom teeth, sitting up on her own, and getting up on her hands and knees. She has long fingers and legs so we joke about her being a pianist or ballerina when she gets older.

Terrific Twos  *sarcasm*

There are many days when having an infant is so much easier than raising a toddler. Lincoln is 27-months old now. He goes to the Honeytree Preschool daily. Lincoln is a very social boy! His vocabulary and independence have improved so much. He loves to sing Happy Birthday, Itsy Bitsy Spider, the ABC’s and the B-I-B-L-E. He’s been counting from1-10 and identifying colors for a while now. His class gets to play outside for 2-hours each day! Lincoln has started potty training and he sleeps in a toddler bed now. He loves being a big brother to Grey. He has to hug, kiss, and touch her all the time.
Another dollar, another day
The previous year when we tried selling our house, we said we would move if this, this, and this fell into place. This year when the house rented, we said we were going; now we just needed jobs. At 37-weeks pregnant. Rebekah sat in her pajamas and did a phone interview with Whale Branch Elementary administration. Then lying in bed 5-days post-partum, she was offered a 4^th grade position teaching math and science.

Joseph has 15+ years working in tile installation so when a tile company in Bluffton, DalTile, was looking for an assistant manager, Joseph inquired and had two interviews. He is able to work weekdays and is home by dinner every night. The income is steady and consistent, which is what the family needs.

 

Joseph, Rebekah, Lincoln,& Grey Hayes