After his first birthday..we were really busy..planning a special event....We were getting married!!!
On November 20, 1999..Joe, Xavier and I stood before God, our family and friends and committed ourselves to each other, as a family. We were extremely sad to be leaving Nannie and Poppa and moving to a new town, but this was the answer to our prayers...we were a family!! and Joe and I couldn't have been happier!!
Xavier had so much fun with his two Poppa's. They both had tractors,Xavier was basically surrounded by any kind of tractor any little boy could imagine..excavators, farm tractors, bulldozers, loaders..EVERYTHING!! Mr Joe and Xavier would ride every Saturday morning and most afternoons..and then Xavier would get to ride with Poppa Jimmy, every time we were at their house!! What a lucky boy!! He is loved beyond measure..
Xavier and his cousin, Peyton were growing up sooo fast...My brother and his family would come down to visit from North Carolina and the boys would have a ball...they are both sweet SURPRISE addtions to our family..and now looking back, I see the Lord’s hand in everything!!
Xavier usually played with Mallory all of the time..which was his favorite thing to do…but it was so good to watch the boys being boys!! We were praying for my brothers family to be able to move home.. How wonderful would it be for these two boys to be able to grow up together??
Xavier's first haircut was on Jan 19, 2000...how sweet he was!! Big Boy!! He even got a popsicle from Ms Rebecca when she was finished!! He had the most beautiful blonde hair.. I still have those sweet locks on our dresser..what an angel!!
In July,we began a Nobles family tradition..having the Nobles reunion on July 4...what a wonderful idea this was...playing talking, eating and catching up ..spending 2 wonderful days together celebrating our family!! Outside, inside and poolside, it was and still is a wonderful time for us to connect with our family that we don’t get to see all of the time.. It is very important to me to raise my children with a strong sense of family…your family is the ones who will still be there when everyone else is gone…there is power in numbers. It is my prayer that they know where they come from and NEVER take it for granted…they are a part of one of the best families ever…a family to be proud of!!
One of my favorite memories is of My sweet Xavier lining his cars up like they were racing...his Poppa Jimmy loves Nascar and Xavier was a huge fan, as well...once, I remember there being cars lined up all through the trailer.it was always cars and sometimes trains..but Tractor lover that he was..there was always a tractor there to haul off the cars that had crashed..(usually, that was my job!) He was and still is a child that thrives in order.. He gets that from his momma..order makes us happy!!;)
Xavier's second birthday was a no brainer..tractors, all the way.. Joe fixed a hayride behind Poppa's tractor and his cake was even a tractor!! Fun! Fun! We even caught Xavier and Mallory trying to drive off on Poppa’s John Deere..I'm sure they had been planning their getaway for weeks!!;) Birthdays are soooo exiciting for me!! ( but very stressful for everyone else!) I love a party!! Especially ones that make little boys squeal with delight!! My, what a difference a year makes…Here we were a “normal” little family lovin life!!
Xavier had been attending Montessori while I worked during the day and would stay with Joe when I went to school at night.so this year we were able to have a party with all of his little school friends…What fun! Nannie Linda came over and we had gotten him a Cookie Cake and cookies for the whole class…He had so much fun digging into all of that icing!!
Montessori was sooo good for him…he made so many sweet little friends and at 18 months was learning responsibilities like putting his tray up and throwing his trash away!! He was thriving.. And stealing all of the ladies hearts that worked there.. I remember one morning I took him in to MS Lindsey and she told me that the day before he was singing “Say my Name’ by Beyonce for the whole class!! He got started early with his love for music and his ability to embarrass his mommy!!
Joe got his first deer of the season and we were so excited…Xavier had been wanting to go hunting sooo bad…it’s hard to explain to such a strong willed little fella that he has to be bigger to go.. As usual..he thought he was already big enough!! Anyway, Joe had called me and told me that he was on his way with the deer.. I couldn’t keep Xavier in the house…it seemed like it took forever for Joe to get there. Size didn’t matter to Xavier..he was so proud of his daddy!! He jumped right up into the back of the truck with Joe and Uncle Jimmy! Now, it was going to be even harder to keep him out of the woods!!
Xavier was so blessed to have so many people in his life that loved him..he was surrounded by love..but there was one person who was completely in Love.. And that was his Mamaw Bille….he was her boy!! From the time we told her that I was expecting..she staked her claim!! He was so good for her.. We would visit and she would just light up!! She loved to give his Reese cup’s that she had in her “icebox.” She kept them just for him..Joe and I would laugh because you could so tell when he had been to Mamaws..he was impossible to get to bed at night!! She Never called him Xavier..she said that that was too hard for her to say… she always called him Da ( pronounced Day)…He would tell her, even when he was small, I’m Saber Shaw Noples..she never gave in..even on his cards she would write….to Da…and I wonder where we all get our hard heads from!! They loved to get sugar…they just loved each other…
On January 4, 2001..our family became complete..Joe’s adoption of Xavier was final. Whatever craziness brought us to this day and even though I will NEVER understand how anyone could make the decision that was made, even though my heart hurts in a way that I could never be able to describe... I will forever be thankful for the blessing that we were given that made us a true family. It was a bittersweet day..I can’t imagine making such a decision… but I cant condemn..I can only pray the thought was to give Xavier, Joe and myself the best, uncomplicated life as possible…I pray it was a selfless decision that has to be explained one day, not a selfish one. The judge gave Joe and I strict instructions…Xavier would be Joe’s just as if he was his birth father….Joe was a daddy!! Probably not the way he had always envisioned it..but the Lord’s plan is far more perfect than ours!!
When we got home Joe’s family had gotten balloons and the most beautiful roses, ever! They weren’t there to be able to celebrate his birth..but this was the next best thing!! There was one rose that was yellow and one that was pink…Xavier’s rose was yellow with pink tips..a combination of Joe & I!! How thoughtful..how sweet!!
The winter passed quickly and on Sissy’s Spring Break, we were at the beach again!! We live for the ocean!! Looking back at all of these pictures, I get soo tickled because we really were at the beach all of the time… It’s a wonderful place to me.. A place to get away from the real world.. A place of healing, a place to bring relationships closer, a place to be yourself.. And it doesn’t hurt that it’s nice and warm!! This time we had sooo much fun taking pics of Xavier!! I discovered black and white film and it was on!! A baby boy this beautiful…needed lots of pics taken!! And Sissy and I thought we should join in too!! Xavier was beginning to get big enough to play and really make a mess with the sand.. FUN!! FUN!!
Xavier was really thriving at Montessori!! His best friend was Jacob Woodard.. They were thick as thieves…they loved playing ball and just plain out being boys!! I love that I found these pics of them playing ball together.. Jacob goes to Pierce Co now, as do most of Xavier’s little friends.. We are able to see them at the ball field and even play against them now.. They are all growing up sooo much..but still love playin’ ball!! Some things never change!
Spring brought about some more wonderful changes to our lives!! We found out that we were expecting an addition to our family!! This picture is the 1st time we had a picture made of our family of four!!! Xavier didn’t know what to think..he called the baby his ‘Sammy!” and was determined from the beginning that it was a brother! We were soo excited to begin this adventure together!!
This summer Nannie Linda and Poppa Jim got Xavier the best surprise ever!! They got him a whole dump truck load of sand poured in their backyard!! I have, to this day, NEVER seen anyone more excited!! He stayed out there until we would drag him in!! It was soo wonderful!! He would play until he was exhausted!! Momma and I were just talking over the Christmas holidays about how much he loved that sand pile. HE was in hog heaven..and it got a lot of the tractors out of our house!!
In July, we had our first trip to Disney World with Aunt Connie and Sissy!! This was the beginning of a wonderful tradition and the beginning of a love btwn Xavier and the happiest place on earth..;)..Aunt Connie is soo generous to take the time with us every year..these trips are some of our most treasured memories!!We had breakfast with the characters and Mickey shaped waffles!! Xavier had a blast!! Let me rephrase that..we all had a blast!!!
I am including pics from Universal Studios City Walk…we make plans to go there every time we visit!! We love MargaritaVille and this picture of Xavier playing in the water is all of our favorite memories!! He had a blast.. Just jumped right in..jon jon and all!! He played and played! We talk about how sweet it was every time we pass by there!! Precious memories!!
At the end of the summer…a lot of prayers were answered!! My brother and his family were moving home!! Thank you Lord for providing for their needs!! We could not have been more happy! Xavier and Peyton got to play together all of the time!! It was wonderful!
In August Nannie Linda, Xavier and myself took a road trip to Hamilton, Va. We were visiting some very special people.. The Walkers!! We survived a flat tire and a rainstorm on the way!! We had a wonderful trip..no boo-boo’s this time!! We were, however, at a fancy restaurant one afternoon and Xavier was being sooo good at the table.. He was playing with my silverware but he was being quiet..no outbursts, so I was proud. Then out of nowhere this man came and took all of his silverware away..(aka My silverware). Apparently we weren’t behaving as well as I thought!! I was mortified!! So much for Fancy Schmancy!! We got to meet the Walker’s newst addition, FaithAnne..she was the sweetest, squishiest baby ever!! It was a wonderful trip!!
Our annual trip to the Expo in Moultire was tricky this year.. I was as big as a horse and Xavier was so excited dashing from tractor to tractor. It was his heaven!! He was soo excited. Joe would put him up in the tractors and he loved to pretend that he was driving.. Is funny, looking at the pics..I was almost as big as that combine!!! LOL!! Xavier got his picture taken in the wheel again and we couldn’t believe how much he had grown from last year! He was so excited that he was almost as big as the wheel!!
Hunting Season was here again.. And I think he and his daddy were too handsome in their camo!! Ready to get the big one!!
Xavier’s 3rd birthday was here all too soon!! It was a safari..Granny Tryna worked soo hard making animals and we cut down palm branches from Nannie Linda and Poppa Jim’s yard to make the safari. The kids made binoculars and went on a safari!! We had a “camp fire” and had a blast!! After the party, we were cleaning up and had sent Xavier inside..when we finished we walked in and found him and our cat, Harm, asleep on the couch and of course he had his new backhoe right up under him!!
The birthday fun continued…Xavier was so handsome when he went to Montessori on the morning of his birthday!! Dressing him up is and always has been one of my favorite things!! I love this picture!! This birthday at Montessori he had a fire truck party with an Ice cream cake from Baskin Robins!1 The cake was amazing!! There is a picture of him and Jacob..it is soo precious to me!! They are growing up soo much!! It is my prayer that he always cherishes these memories and holds them close.. He is such a loved little boy….
Soon after Xavier’s 3rd birthday we got an early Christmas present!! A new baby brother!! Walter Payne Hayes was born on Dec 2, 2001...4 weeks early!! A little surprise!! Xavier was so excited..but not why you think.. He was mesmerized by the snack machine at the hospital and he loved getting to stay with Aunt Connie and Uncle Pojo!! We were so proud to welcome Walt into our family!! Xavier has been a great big brother from the beginning..Oh what fun to watch them grow up together..my two angel boys!!
In true Hayes fashion only 5 days after Walt was born..Joe got his 1st deer of the season! Xavier was soo excited!! He thought Walt was going to understand and be excited, too!! Xavier was really excited that he got to help skin the deer but Walt had to stay inside!! Finally, someone smaller than him!
That Christmas was Fun! Fun! I found myself saying more than once that I was thrilled Walt had decided to arrive early!! What a mess it would have been to have a baby in the middle of all of our holiday festivities!! The Picture of Xavier, Peyton and Walt under Lisa and Tim’s Christmas tree says it all!! Walt is screaming and both boys are looking like,,it wasn’t us!! The same thing still goes on on a daily basis around here!!They aggravate and he screams!!
For as long as I can remember, if Joe is in charge of bath time..everyone comes out with strange hairstyles!! He loved to make Xavier look like alfalfa…It is soo sweet…they have sooo much fun together! I am so blessed !!
Sissy was on the competition squad in cheerleading…we loved going to her competitions and cheering her on!! Xavier and Jessica are truly siblings!! They amaze me..they love each other so much..it’s unbelieveable..but then they also know how to push each others buttons… you would never know that they are actually cousins…She is truly a Sissy!!
This is sooo funny! On afternoon Walt and I were sitting in the house and we heard all of this noise outside. We went out to find Joe and Xavier sitting in Joe’s truck with their shades on, rockin out!! They were too cool!! They were having soo much fun!! Joe said it was time for Xave to learn “his” kind of music.. I was messing him all up with that rap stuff!! Funny thing is..Xavier and I have actually converted Joe!! Nananana BooBoo!!
Along with all tractors,trains and balls..Xavier also had a love of dinosaurs!! He had gotten a whole Dinosaur set for Christmas..actually I think dinosaur was close to one of his 1st words!! We left the dinosaur set at momma’s so every time he would go..he would set up the dinosaurs. That was serious business!! And as usual he done a great, meticulous job!! He would play with them for hours!! He had such a wonderful imagination!!
These next pictures almost make me cry.. This is where it all began..Xavier played T-Ball at the YMCA when he was three years old!! He was soo tiny..but he loved it sooo much!!He has grown soo much and so has his love for the game!! Jacob was on his team and he was in hog heaven!! They were sooo precious practicing and playing. This is where Joe and I met several of our couple friends. It was just as good for us as it was for Xavier..
In March, it was back to the beach….Xavier was the sweetest little beach bum ever!! And now this time, we had Walter!! Interesting! We went downtown to the ice cream shop and there while Xavier was eating his Superman Ice cream.. I made what I think is the most beautiful picture ever of Xavier!! It is in black and white and he has on his classic serious face..no smiling for him..ever!! Mr Serious..oh how that would change..;)..Nevertheless..still my beautiful baby boy!!
This Easter was extra interesting!! 2 little boys to have a church at 6am..YAY!!We were so excited to go to Joe’s momma’s church to show off our Walter P.. he was getting so big so fast!! And if I do say so myself..I had some pretty handsome fellas to accompany me!!
At the end of April..we had our first..but not last MAJOR ooops!! We were with my brother, his wife and Peyton, looking at a house for them to potentially buy! We were going to leave and Xavier was pitching a fit, as usual, not wanting to leave Peyton!! I was holding his hand and he snatched from me…he immediately started crying. We carried him to the ER in Douglas. The Dr informed us that it wasn’t broken that it was just out of place…he proceeded to try and pop it back in.. Xavier kept crying and had no relief.. The Dr. said it would probably stay sore for a couple of days..but made us an appointment with the orthopedist to have it checked out. The next morning at the Dr’s we found out that his elbow WAS broken and blood had seeped in the joint because of the ER Dr. moving it around. I was livid..but thankfully, my mom was with us and she calmed me down. Xavier picked a green cast.. It’s his favorite color and was happy as a lark!! I on the other hand was a nervous wreck…
We continued to play ball.. He refused to stop..have I mentioned he is sooo hard headed and I can’t figure out where he gets that from??? He was sooo proud of the trophy he got at the end of the season..but I do think his favorite was the cupcakes at the party!!
I attempted to be domestic..Xavier and I planted a “small” garden from some seeds. We got a “small” garden alright.. Nothing edible, but we did get a few small carrots and 1 cherry tomato!!! Xavier thought it was the most wonderful thing ever!! He was so proud of our little garden…and that’s all that mattered to me..;)
Xavier had another very special little friend, Cole. There is a picture of the two of them at one of Cole’s birthday parties. We still keep up with them a ballgames, too. Ms Emily, Mr Brantley and Cole were the 1st house other than family that Xavier ever spent the night with!! They are such sweet people and we are so blessed to still be in touch with them!!
At this years expo..we had our new addition!! Oh what fun..2 little boys amazed at all of the big tractors!! Their daddy and Poppa were soo proud to show them off.. And to teach them everything about all of the tractors!! Xavier insisted on getting in the wheel again this year and he was so proud that he was now REALLY almost as big as the wheel!! Walt refused to sit still in it..so Xavier is the only one with pics in the wheel.. Which suits him just fine!!
With the next couple of months came many new things!! We made our first ever trip to the Pumpkin patch in Odum at Poppell’s Farms with Ms Jessica!! So, I guess we have been going there for 9 years now!! WOW!! It was soo fun for us!! My babies were so sweet with those pumpkins!! Thank you Ms Jessica for starting this wonderful tradition for our family!!
It was also Walt’s first football season. We love to watch Sissy cheer..and Xavier would try and explain the game to Walt. He would get so flustered because Walt wouldn’t pay attention!! Not much has changed!!
Xavier’s fourth birthday was Ms Jessica’s first cake she made for us..which also means she has been making cakes for 9 years!! I was one of the 1sts… I’m soo proud!! She does such a wonderful job and makes each cake so special! These cakes were extra cool! One huge Monster Truck and one mudd bog cake!! Xavier’s party was a Monster Truck Rally!! We had Monster Truck races and a concession stand!! The boys and adults had soo much fun! It was also Xavier’s first party that all of his friends from school came!! Lots of little people!! Happy Fourth Birthday, Angel Boy, YOU are my paradise!!
O.K. I have written all of this for the second time now.. Sorry I got all off schedule but I was so discouraged when I accidentally erased all of my work!! I had to take a break.. I was devastated.. But hopefully we are on track now!
Love to you all~
