Three Babies

HoneyGram and Stephie came to visit this week, and they brought all the pictures that we hung up at our wedding reception. I found these baby pictures in the mix. I think we're all about the same age here, but I'm not positive.

Oh Shoot!

A few weeks ago on a beautiful Saturday, Jonathan spent the day working in Sister Engstrom's yard (for those who don't know, Sister Engstrom is the head of the Reading Center and the person who introduced us). So while he was doing that, Netty and I went to Idaho Falls to visit my friend Natalie Zohner. She took our engagement pictures, and I loved how they turned out, so I asked her to take some pictures of Netty as well. We don't have the cd of pictures yet (she's the mother of almost four), but these are the ones that she gave us via Facebook. Once we get the cd, I'll add more.

Netty's First Photo Shoot

The Many Faces of Netty

 Netty & Dolly

Unintentionally, many of Netty's things have polka dots, which she loves to stare at.

 So Snuggly

Our apartment is so cold, so even when the outside temperature reaches the high 70s, we still bundle up.

 Easter Sale

While in Spanish Fork over Memorial Weekend, we found clearance Easter dresses at KMart.

 Netty's Favorite Pose

She still keeps her hands by her face all the time. Her hands are so dainty. I just love them.

 Pink Kitty Netty

When I was little, I would crawl around on the floor saying, "I'm a pink kitty!"

 Netty & Daddy

Netty loves when Jon holds her up close to his face and talks to her.

However, she doesn't like when he says, "You're a unicorn!", a quote from Despicable Me. It makes her cry.

 All Smiles

In the last week, Netty has started smiling much, much more.

Growing Up

Yesterday Netty started wearing size 1 diapers and 0-3 month clothes.

It makes me a little sad. I know she's still tiny, but it's a reminder that someday she won't be so little anymore.

Mommy's Monkey

Memorial Weekend

Over Memorial Weekend, we took a much-needed trip to Utah. We stayed with my cousin and her husband, Becca and Brandon Miller in Spanish Fork and spent most of the weekend with Jon's family. His older sister, Alyssa, was in town with her three kids. We spent Monday with my family too. Netty did great on her first road trip, though Jon and I took turns sitting in the back with her to keep her somewhat happy.

 Kelsi (2 years), Alyssa's middle child

 Kelsi and Jeremy (Jon's younger brother) playing Connect Four

Netty (1 month) & Alyssa's youngest son Bryce (2 months)

Netty's first movie theater experience,

What to Expect When You're Expecting with Mommy, HoneyGram, and Auntie Stephie (my mom and sister)

 Papa and Netty

Papa rocking Netty. My parents got this rocking chair before Sarah (my oldest sister) was born. On the bottom of the rocking chair are the names of all the children in the family and the date my dad first rocked us. The tradition has carried on with the grandchildren as well.

Sleep Talker

Yesterday when I got out of the shower I heard Netty cooing and decided to take a look at the baby I thought I left sleeping in her swing. This is what I found....

How Time Does Fly...

Papa (my dad) was in town for the day for work, and he came to visit us. He was able to catch Netty on camera at her best. She just started smiling yesterday. Jon was lucky enough to receive her first smile. She didn't smile for me until today. At least I saw her smile before Papa did.

Friday will be Netty's one-month birthday. I just can't believe it. First, I can't believe that I have survived a month without a full night's sleep. Second, I can't believe I have been able to keep a wholly dependent person alive for a month. And third, I can't believe I haven't woken up from this dream. When I really think about it, I still expect to wake up and find myself living in La Jolla Apartments in Rexburg wondering--in the words of Rapunzel--"when will my life begin?"

Coincidentally, Netty's one-month birthday will also be one year since Jonathan proposed.

Three-Week-Old Birthday

 Happy Mother's Day!

Talmage & Anya (Netty's cousins) visiting from Logan on Mother's Day

 First Sunday going to Sacrament Meeting

 Three weeks old

"No more pictures, please."

While Mommy is updating the blog...

Moving With a Baby

I had every intention to update our blog at least a couple times each week for the sake of Grandma Phelps, but I have not been so good at it. The girl who once checked her email seventy-five times a day (not an exaggeration) now sometimes doesn't touch a computer for days at a time. I have, however, watched more M*A*S*H than I care to admit because that is something I can do during feedings, which sometimes come as often as every hour.

We have now been in our new apartment for two weeks. Aside from a plumbing issue when we first moved in and the fact that we STILL don't have our Internet service transferred, things have gone relatively smoothly. We are still unpacking, a feat that takes much longer with a new baby than I realized. However, it does help that I'm starting to get the hang of Netty's sleeping pattern, and that helps a great deal. Maybe we'll be all moved in by this time in 2014...

Netty has been a real trooper as I try to figure out this whole "mommy thing." I am getting much more efficient at bathing her, and I'm becoming a pro at breastfeeding in the backseat of the car. I've also discovered that she doesn't like to sleep in the dark. She won't sleep in her bed unless I turn a lamp on. Netty has learned just how long to suck during feedings until my milk lets down, and then she detaches her mouth from me and lets the milk run in--and, incidentally, all over her face as well. She also roots and screams while I get positioned for feedings, and then as soon as I'm ready for her to latch on, she starts sucking on her fingers or feigns sleeping. I didn't know a three-week-old baby could be a tease.

Our First Week

Netty came home from the hospital on Friday. Jon had classes throughout the day, so he stopped by to visit us before we went home, but my mom ended up taking us home. It was nice to finally be home from the hospital. During the first night, the nurses came in every twenty minutes to check Netty's temperature because it was a little low. The next night they didn't come in quite so much, but it was still annoying.

Once home, I slept most of the day and night, getting up to feed Netty and not much more. I am so grateful that my mom was here to take care of the cooking and cleaning and to stay up with Netty. I definitely needed the sleep. She left on Tuesday, and I must say that I am missing her more than I've ever missed her before.

On Monday we had a doctor appointment. She was 6 pounds, 1 ounce, almost back at her birth weight. She is in the 7th percentile for weight and 52nd percentile for height (she definitely gets that boost in height from the Phelps side). After her appointment, she had her heal pricked at the hospital. I know she was miserable, but I'm pretty sure it was harder on me than on her. Luckily, her jaundice has pretty much cleared up, so we don't have to go through that again.

Now that HoneyGram is gone, Netty and I spend a lot of time hanging out while Jon is at school. I didn't take a lot of pictures while HoneyGram was here, so now I have to adjust to taking all the pictures. We're settling in to a chaotic routine that's not so routine. Netty will sleep for several hours in a row if I'm holding her, but only in ten-minute increments when I put her in bed. She eats really well, though, and is fairly content when she is awake. She is definitely a sweetheart.