Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!
Love,
The Hafens
Pete, Sharmela and Harlow
2011

2011 has been a great year for our little family and I can't wait to see what 2012 has in store for us. Pete and I set our goals for the year today. It's good to have someone on the same page and going in the same direction to help you along the way. I can't wait to see how it turns out!

Here is our self-timer picture, just like last year.

Bennett Nickolas Hafen

On Thursday morning Brianna and Nick went in to the hospital for a scheduled c-section. But before that, they dropped Amelia off to hang out with Harlow, Pete and I while her baby brother was born. Part way through her stay I headed off to the hospital to await for Baby Bennett's arrival with the family. I think Pete was a little unsure about watching 2 kids instead of just 1. But by the looks of things when I got home later that night, it looked like they had a great time playing with every.single.one. of Harlow's toys. Our house looked like it had been ransacked. And they were both covered in chocolate milk and pizza. And Harlow arrived at the hospital NOT wearing a bow. (tisk tisk daddy)

We are so glad that Baby Bennett is finally here and we can love on him. I can't get over how small newborn babies are. It's hard to remember Harlow ever being that small. He is just a bundle of goodness. We love you Bennett! Welcome to the world!

Amelia and Harlow hanging out and watching a movie.


They actually played really well, and shared.






Lori and Jessi waiting at the hospital.


Grandma B, Kelsey and Papa Rick waiting as well.


Because it is flu season, Amelia (Big Sister) wasn't allowed to visit her baby brother or mommy in the hospital. Instead, Nick had Amelia do Facetime on the iPad to see Brianna and Bennett.




Baby!


And finally we got to go in and see him! He looks so sweet!


And I die over those little lips. I think I have some baby fever, but just enough that can be cured by holding this sweet baby.


Bennett Nickolas Hafen
Born December 29, 2011
7 lbs 1 oz
20 inches long




Grandma Lori and Baby Bennett.






Mommy and Baby.


Family.


I could hold him all day!

Christmas Day 2011

Christmas morning is a lot like juggling or putting a puzzle together. It takes a lot of planning. We are so lucky to have so many families to go and share the day with but at times it is a little overwhelming. I think at one point in our lives when we are done having kids and they are older, we will only spend Christmas morning parked in our house, under our Christmas tree. Or who knows, maybe it gets easier when your kids are older. Harlow doesn't know the difference between morning and Christmas Morning (thank god!). So she slept in until 7:15, around her usual wake up time. Pete and I got up at about 6 a.m. to get ready for the day so we would be ready to go as soon as Harlow was awake. From the moment Harlow woke up we were on the GO! We did Christmas presents at our house, just the 3 of us and then headed over to Grandma Lori and Papa Rick's for their Christmas morning. And from there we headed over to Robert and Salena's house for lunch. Then it was home again for a nap for Harlow. When she woke up my parents and brother and sister-in-law came to our house for dinner. Then we headed back to Grandma Lori's. Luckily we did a lot of my family time on Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas. I think we learned our lesson though and next year we won't make the day so long for Harlow. She completely melted down by the end of the night because she was so tired. Here is some of our day in pictures.

Merry Christmas Harlow! waking up on Christmas morning.










First stop, morning milk in mom and dad's bed (as usual).








The dogs know all about Christmas, they even know how to open their own gifts. Here they are coming down the stairs Christmas morning.


And then it was Harlow's turn. I love that I captured her reaction to seeing all her gifts under the tree.












Right away she noticed that Santa's cookies were missing. She kept pointing and saying, "cookies all gone".








She was moving from toy to toy so fast she was a blur in a lot of my pictures.






Grandma Lori and Papa Rick's house Christmas morning.






Rick and Pete setting up the AppleTv we got them.


The aftermath of opening presents.




The newly engaged couple! Dan and Natalie got engaged a couple of days before Christmas!




This is what Christmas breakfast looks like.




Then we changed Harlow into her Christmas dress and headed to Robert and Salena's house for lunch. Harlow loves playing with all the other kids. Noah especially.










Gift exchange game.














Then we came home for a late nap for Harlow. But first we did Facetime with Grandpa Brent and Grammy Rhonda.


My parents and brother and sister-in-law came over for a Christmas dinner (that my mom and dad brought).












The day after Christmas. I'd say Christmas was a success and that Santa did a great job. We had 3 melt downs in less than 5 minutes because Harlow didn't want to leave her playroom or her new toys to 1. brush her teeth 2. Change her diaper and 3. Change her clothes. Santa, please take that as a compliment that she loved her new toys and don't put her on the naughty list for next year!








we also stopped by my parents house to see my brother and sister-in-law one more time before they headed back to San Diego.




Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!