Mom & Dad's New Blog: The Empty Crane Nest

Some of you may know some of you may not, our dad and mom both retired, and received a mission call to Baltimore, MD.  They were very excited to go.  Unfortunately, our dad was diagnosed with Melanoma and they've needed to stick around close to Huntsman Cancer Institute (which is such a blessing to have so close).  They're continuing to have many adventures and are willing to share them at their new blog here.  

-The Crane Kids

Finally finished my kitchen!

Guess who just changed our life forever!

We make kids with crazy hair...

Hazel's Blessing Dress

We blessed Hazel a bit late at four months old, but it worked out great because she finally fit in her blessing dress!  Asher, Hazel, and I visited Utah to see my side of the family while Mike took his big comprehensive exam.  (Side note:  HE PASSED!  Now on to his disertation).  We had a great time seeing everyone, although we did not get a chance to get together with Aunt Betsy and her clan!

 We thought about blessing her in Utah, but wait, Mike was still in Chicago.  After Mike finished his exam we decided to take a trip to see his parents in Philadelphia and relax before he starts into his disertation and before I head back to work in November.  So long strory short, we blessed Hazel today in Philadelphia and wanted to share with you all a video of her in her blessing dress.  We are loving this little sweetie and all her smiles.

The Latest

Hazel at a skinny five weeks:

Asher, the mostly supportive big brother:

Documenting how we had to use our beach umbrella to protect all four of us as we nearly got drenched while walking home from the beach. I am sure we were quite the funny sight on the sidewalks of the southside of Chicago :

Tummy time with and without big brother:

My favorite & most recent at eight weeks:

She is quite smiley (began around five weeks) which is a surprise because Asher was very scowly for a long time.

Belated Post, On-Time Delivery

Hazel Lorraine Pope: Born June 13th, 2011, 1:02 a.m. 6 lb 6 oz. 18 3/4 inches

I was scheduled for an induction on June 13th (a day after my due date) at 10:00 a.m. because my mom and mother-in-law had both scheduled their flights. I did not really want to be induced but I also wanted to make sure that baby sister arrived around the time that my mom was coming into town. Let's be honest, we needed to utilize all of our help! :)

I felt like I had been having contractions for weeks, so I wasn't sure that I was really in labor on Sunday June 12th (my actual due date) until that evening when my contractions became quite painful and regular. We called our friends Jason and Alicia and they frantically rushed down to our neighborhood. Mike and I were surprisingly calm...Mike had even composed a detailed list of Asher's routine for the following day. Mike and I continued to stay calm as we got stuck in unbelievable traffic near Soldier Field (the stadium where the Chicago Bears play) due to a Mexico soccer game. When we finally got downtown, we got stuck behind two different horse and buggies...really?! Once we found parking and made our way into the hospital, my contractions were about four minutes apart. Still we were calm, which is now funny to me because Hazel was born just four hours later at 1:00 a.m. I even had to ask the Doctor to wake Mike up because we did not anticipate that things would progress so quickly, and that I would only have to push for three minutes. Luckily, Mike roused himself up for the event. :)

We are so grateful that everything went smoothly and we love our little Hazel. Big brother Asher is doing well and loving Hazel, although the first week was a bit tough. We cannot believe that she is already five weeks old!

Also, we are so grateful for the help of my mom and my mother-in-law.