We just recently got back from a week long vaca to Utah to visit family and
show off our sweet Harper. We were able to split the time pretty fairly between
families (although we did have a curve ball thrown our way with people getting
sick so we had to change our plans). We started off the trip at my parents house
in Pleasant Grove. We had a busy first few days there shopping, getting Harpers
blessing in order, getting my hair done, Harpers 2 month pics but then we had 2
full days of relaxing, hanging out, eating out, hot tubing, and lots of laughs
and play time with the neices and nephews. Harper was sure a hit to my family,
everyone was fighting to hold her. It was hard to tell them that we have a
certain routine as far as putting her to bed and keeping her in bed but for the
most part she was held alot and I know she just loved all the attention (this
mommy sure loved it too because I got some much needed sleep at nights and Jeff
and I were able to run errands, shop and go to the gym without hauling her
around with us).
Harpers first flight of many to come... she did great. Jeff held her the whole time. I knew she would sleep the whole flight because she was literally up ALL day long. Well jet lag definately caught up to her because once we got to my parents house she slept 24 hours straight... one tired girl.
               
My dad loves giving his grandkids a bath. I was super excited to have him met Harper and give her her first bath by Grandpa. She is quite the little fish.
   
Brooklyn was OBSESSED with "Harter". Harp was crying and while I was warming up her bottle Brooklyn got a little nervous and said "I'll feed her", and she lifted up her shirt... silly girl. (She loved watching me breast feed Harper, she is going to be a great big sister once little brother comes. She is quite motherly) So needless to say she loved giving her a bottle.
 
We had planned to spend 4 days in PG and 4 days in Tremonton but Diana had
pneumonia and the stomach flu and Gary had just got over a 7 day stomach flu.
Tip and Lola also had pneumonia as well as Uncle Jerry... so needless to say
Jeff and all his brothers were leary about heading to Tremonton as scheduled. So
they all hung out and stayed the night in Alpine and Nikki's parents house. One afternoon my family was headed to Sandy to go to the Planetarium and Tip and Nikki just so happen to be there as well so we met up with them. Lex and Brooklyn immediately became friends and were holding hands walking around.
        
I love this pic... Rav, Lex, Brooklyn and Hadley all watching the penguins, which I'll admit was the coolest exhibit there.
  
Jeff
was able to spend time with his brothers and I tried to split my time with them
as well but still had errands to run and needed to see my sister Kim. It sure
provided a lot of stress on me because I wanted to see and be with everyone but
things just weren't panning out. So after my errands were done, I went to Disney
on Ice with Sheridan, Nikki and all the neices and Remi and then I headed back
to PG to spend the evening with Kim and her family.
   
Once Harper woke up she too got to enjoy the end of Disney on Ice. She loved the lights and just sat so still... it was pretty cute if you ask me.
      
We were also able to hit up the new hit store in Utah, Scheels with Jeffs family. It was cool and fun to walk around but it's just another sporting goods store... with a massive ferris wheel in the middle of it.
    
Sunday we blessed Harper in Tremonton. It was a CRAZY day and sadly full of
regrets :( I will post a seperate post on her blessing. We were thankful to have
the love and support of family and friends and I'm thankful we were able to
bless her in Utah.
The rest of the time we hung out in Tremonton with Jeff's family. Nikki and
Tipper had to head back to St. George sadly but we were thankful to have a few
days with them. Josh and Sheridan stayed in Tremonton and we sure had fun with
them and their kids. We went to Logan, shopped some more and had late night
talks and plenty of laughs. Harper was loved on by all her little cousins and
Gary and Diana sure couldn't get enough of her.
       
All the Harris grand-daughters. What a bunch of toe heads.... wonder if Harper will stay dark like me or turn to the other side :)
 
The girls sure loved Harper... especially Raegan. She would wonder around the house looking for me when I was off feeding Harper and sure enough she would always walk in on me... she was too darn cute.
      
All the Harris grandkids minus Lex and Rav. (Harper is in the carseat on the floor) We sure love every single one of them and hate living so far away.
I couldn't find my child one day for a few minutes... I walk upstairs in Jeff's parents house and see Diana and the girls dressing her up and doing a photo shoot. Poor Harper didn't seem to be enjoying it but it sure was cute.
   
I'm so thankful for our amazing families. It was a much needed vacation and
it was so fun to have everyone meet Harper for the first time. It breaks my
heart that we live so far away. I've been able to deal with it for 2 1/2 years
but having a baby really makes it harder to not be able to see family as often.
I dont' want Harper to miss out growing up with cousins and seeing her
grandparents and I'll do the very best I can to skype/facetime and fly home as
often as I can but it's just not the same. It may be hard at times to live so
close to family but it's even harder to live so far away.
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