Sleepy baby and her chicken-roasting sidekick

Tomorrow Hazel will be two weeks old. Unbelievable how fast that time has flown by. At times it is hard enough to reconstruct how we spent a given night let alone all that has happened in the past 14 days. The photo above was taken during one of Hazel's rare awake moments. Lately she's been sleeping and eating up a storm (often simultaneously).
Lena is doing great. This is a time of big transitions in our house and she has been a real champ. The other night Mark and Becca came over with the makings for pizza (thanks!) and here Lena helps to punch down the bread dough.

So, the other day we went to the farmer's market and what should entice Lena like the sirens calling to Odysseus? The chicken-roasting cart! For a vegetarian kid without a TV at home, visions of rotating chicken carcasses was more than she could handle. She LOVED it and declared that when she grows up she wants to be a chicken roaster! The only thing to do was to come home and make a chicken roaster together which she shot the following photo of (above).
Lena, Hazel, and Morgan in bed one morning this weekend.

The sleepy times.
The awake times.
Sisters!

Visit from Paul's family

Hazel was born the same day as her great grandmother Helen who turned 96 this past week. MomHelen visited us for a day with Paul's parents and it was great to have her see Lena again and meet Hazel.

Gillian, Paul's mom, holding Hazel.

Alan, Paul's dad, holding Hazel.
Paul, MomHelen, and Hazel.
Paul's family is really into hands. We managed to capture this sweet photo of Hazel and MomHelen.


We are so excited to have a little baby to haul around in various contraptions (slings, snugglies, etc.).
Morgan looking a wee bit tired.
Hazel's first bath in a roaster pan at home.

Lena's Day

Once Morgan's labor started early Wednesday morning we called Becca & Mark in Santa Cruz to have them come up and take care of Lena. The arrived in time for breakfast and then went to the playground.
After the playground they went to the Palo Alto Children's Museum & Zoo for a bit.
After the zoo they stopped for lunch. Paul called them then to say that we were heading to the hospital and to meet us there.

Here is a video taken on the drive up Rt 280 headed to the hospital. It is a pretty drive and you can see lots of animals.

Hanging out in the waiting room before coming in to see us.
Lena chowing down on peanut m & m's while Morgan delivers Hazel.After Hazel's birth, we all hung out at the hospital for a few hours before Mark, Becca, and Lena went home for the night. This shot was taken the next day as they made breakfast.
Picking flowers to bring to the hospital.
On the ledge in our room.
Lena was very excited about the construction zone outside our hospital window.
Picnic in the our hospital room the day we came home.

Coming home

Last Thursday night we came home from the hospital and were greeted by this fantastic are project Lena made with Becca and Mark. Everyone is still wearing glitter - now several days later.
Lena was very excited to help Hazel settle in. Here is one of the first photos taken at home.
Within a few minutes Lena wanted to show Hazel all sorts of tricks. I think she is riding a horse in this one?
The circus continues with parents growing increasingly concerned about bedtime.
Becca and Mark head for home (excellent thinking on their part). We are so grateful to have had their help during those days. Lena has known them since she was a day old and felt entirely loved and supported. Not only was the arrival of Hazel a big deal but it was also the first night Lena has spent away from the two of us.

Hazel Elizabeth Harnik

We are so happy to introduce to all of you our daughter, Hazel Elizabeth Harnik, born 1:49 PM on Wednesday, March 9 in Redwood City, California. Hazel was 18.5 inches long and 7 lbs 14 oz when she was born. Here are a few photos taken within 24 hours of her birth. Morgan and Hazel are both doing really well. Lena was able to be at the hospital for her sister's birth thanks to all the help of our friends Becca & Mark. Our stay in the hospital was short and we're at home now getting to know each other.

Children's Discovery Museum & Chocolate Meringue Pie

Here are a few photos taken two weekends ago at the Children's Discovery Museum in San Jose and cooking at our house. Lena was really pumped to go in the fire engine at the museum. It was a great trip.
Here she is playing in a neat room with lots of large (but light) blocks that kids could use for building.
Morgan cooking chocolate meringue pie at home. We've been on a bit of a pie tear of late.
Lena is quite pleased with our recent fondness for pie (particularly ones that involve chocolate).

Excited to partake in the pie post-baking.