Grandparents are gone

We said good bye Sunday: Mom and dad heading back down the highway. Two more months of summer to enjoy. Carlos has Sundays and Mondays off and just ordered a new pair of hiking boots!

We captured a smile!

She is eating well, from boob and bottle.

Neva is one month old

Mom and I found a Snugli at the second-hand store on sale for $1.25. It adjusted perfectly for Dad, so the first thing we did was head up the Butte. It was a perfect day, not too hot or too cold and Neva did beautifully.

She is eating, sleeping, growing and focusing better. Already some newborn size clothes are too small. She will be sad to see her Grandma and Grandpa Persson leave tomorrow. We have all thoroughly enjoyed watching Neva thrive.

Father's Day 2009

We all enjoyed celebrating Dads this weekend. Though most of Dad and Carlos' free time was spent gathering parts and tools and replacing both struts in my pathfinder, we roasted hotdogs over the firepit Sat. night and Sunday we met Kit at a restraurant in Eagle River. Neva proudly wore her Daddy Loves Me bib. It is so much fun to be a family.

Father's Day thoughts from Carlos: It is my understanding that being a father and husband is about being selfless and serving your family. It is nice that one day is set aside to be appreciated, even though it's a bit early for me.

Neva is Growing

Here are some of Neva'a favorite outfits and the warm hand-made blanket she needed on this windy day. She is busting out of her duck PJ's!

Family Time

Neva has gotten to wear both her newborn size fleece hoodie and her summer strawberry outfit over the variable Alaskan June weekend. At her weight check Monday, she weighed 8 pounds 12 ounces! and she grew 1/4 of an inch in length. We tried out the new bench for a family picture and tried out the maya wrap. She's a little too small still for it to be comfortable.

Lots of fun with Neva

Neva is strengthening her neck muscles with some tummy time every day. She also learned to suck on a pacifier (instead of her hands) to fall asleep. She loves looking around, bouncing on Grandpa Russ' knee, and moving (flailing) her arms and legs. Is she going to have blue eyes? We think they are getting lighter. Her cheeks are definitely getting chubbier!

First Bath

Carlos' steady hand made Neva's first bath a success!

Neva likes looking at her pictures. Her eyes seem to be functioning better every day. She took a bottle from Carlos for the first time last night and as you can see enjoyed it very much.

Carlos' 2 cents: I was really looking forward to giving Neva her first bottle, thinking it would be a great bonding moment for her and I, but I was sad after reading a section of my Be Prepared Dad book that said if she takes a bottle from me, she'll take one from anybody. It was pretty fun to watch her inhale the milk, though, and then have the look of a bewildered chipmunk when it was done. Sleep has been short ( mostly for Shelly, to be honest), and that makes for short tempers and long days. We are still getting to know each other in our new roles as parents and spouses, and the other dynamic of Little Dictator and her servants. I thank the Lord for all of it.

Life with Neva