A Day Of Firsts

So today was a day of two firsts for the Harris' in 2012. We received our first significant snow fall, after months of above average winter temperatures. I made sure Haley got out there early since the forecast for the next day called for partly cloudy skies with temps in the 50's. Even a well built snow man wouldn't last long in those conditions.
The other first (and arguably the more important one) was Blake's first bath. As you might expect from someone that's been in a comfortable, warm environment for the past 9 months, he did not take well to being stripped down and given a bath. He's a trooper though.

Work first, then play :-)

My little investigator

Don't eat the snow!

Using the neighbor's driveway as a sledding hill.

Rachel letting Haley use her sled

The neighbors built a snow man. Haley was inside having hot chocolate by the time this was done.

Two days later!

He's not sure if he likes this

Okay yep, he doesn't like it

Thank You Grandma and Grandpa Joe

A special thank you is in order for the time and effort that Grandma and Grandpa Joe put in during their visit the week of Blake's birth. Thanks to both of them, Renee, Haley and I had plenty of time to rest and perhaps a little too much time to eat the great food they cooked for us. I still can't believe I ate a whole apple pie in one day! Thanks for baking that Joe, and sorry to everyone else who didn't get to have some.

Perhaps the most demanding (but also rewarding) task other than taking care of the zombie parents the first few days after Blake's birth was the challenge of keeping up with Haley and all the activities she wanted to do. The pictures below are just a few of the things Grandma and Grandpa Joe did with Haley, but you can assume that there were also a few trips to Chuck E Cheeses, TCBY frozen yogurt, and the donut shop (Old Tyme Donuts). As well as a trip to the movies to see Beauty and The Beast. Thanks for the pics Grandpa Joe.

First day on the job and already they're put to work getting us stuff that we should have known we were going to need. After all, we've been through this before, right.

In between visits, Grandma and Haley made cupcakes for us. They were so yummy and so well decorated. Haley made extra so the nurses could have some too.

What a cutie!

The big payoff!

See Joe, spending half a day cleaning our house and baking apple pie and Mac n' Cheese was well worth it.

Easy Bake Oven brownies. The work never stops with Haley. As soon as one task is done she's on to bossing you into the next.

Thanks for all your hard work so we could relax with our little Blake (I don't know why I was making that face.)

So the weather was not the greatest during the week but Grandma and Grandpa Joe did manage to get Haley out to the Wild Wilderness Drive-through Safari in Gentry, AR during one of the dry days.

Haley wasn't too keen on feeding the Kangaroos this time. 

I don't know who is happier, Grandma or the monkey.

During the drive through part, several of the free roaming monkeys decided they were going to camp out on the hood of our car.

Mix of some pics of the animals out that day

Haley was also able to show off her gymnastic skills at Aspire Gym since they had an open-play day while Grandma and Grandpa Joe were here. Haley loves to do all the moves but still doesn't want to actually join the gym. What can I say, she has her rules.

Geronimo!

Haley could spend all day in the foam pit.

Oh...Yeah!!!!!!!!!!

So Cozy!

Luckily, Joe's favorite breakfast spot (IHOP) is also a four year old's. Haley loved the chocolate chip pancakes with whipped cream eyes and mouth.

THANK YOU!

2012-02-03 Blake's Birth

Wow. What to say. We never thought this day would come. We always said we were the family that would have one and be done. Well things change. Our move to Arkansas has opened up many opportunities for us and has afforded us the security to have a larger family. So enter our Blake.

Blake Michael Harris was born on February 3rd, 2012 at 12:23 pm at Northwest Medical Center in Bentonville, Arkansas. He was 8 pounds, 3 ounces and 19 inches long.

In the coming days I plan to sit down with Haley and let her redesign this blog so it better reflects our new addition. The address will remain the same http://haleyreneeharris.blogspot.com/ so that our old posts carry over to the new ones. Just the title and look will change.

Enjoy,

Mike, Renee, Haley, Blake, Ellie, and Sadie

Haley is so excited for Blake to arrive

I look sooooooo cool

Welcome to our crazy world Blake

Haley sees Blake for the first time. She says he's "cute."

Haley made these cupcakes with Grandma and brought them to us in the hospital. Yum, yum.

Proud Sister. And I don't know why I have an evil serial killer look on my face.

Boys Rule!!!!!!!

Haley is so happy to help out. We are so proud of her.

Grandma's work never ends. THANK YOU GRANDMA!!!!