4 weeks: Dad goes back to work and Grandma Zuber arrives

Evan went back to work on Monday after taking three weeks off to spend with Eloise. But, he did come home mid-day for a quick visit because he missed his little girl. It was great having both of us home those first few weeks to enjoy our new little family together and support each other as we learned how to care for our precious little Eloise. Each day we would give each other breaks and take Eloise on our own, and we both said we missed Eloise like crazy even though she was just in another part of the house for an hour or two. So I can't imagine how hard it must be for Evan right now, or how hard it will be for me when I return to work. She is so adored by her parents. We are over the moon. In fact, when she was born, one of the first things Evan said was, "I can't wait to have another one." That's how hard he fell right from the start.

Thankfully I only had to weather one day "alone" (aside from the mid-day visit), which actually went just fine. My mom flew in from Arizona Tuesday afternoon for a week-long visit. I picked her up from the airport with Eloise in the backseat. After hugging her hello, she opened up the back door and got in to ride next to Eloise instead of in the front seat with me! All the way home I heard her ooohing and aaaahing over little fingers and toes, squeaks and sighs.

Grandma in the backseat with Eloise

My mom brought a couple newborn photos of me. I really think Eloise is a mini-Evan. Here's the three of us side-by-side. I don't know. We all look like newborns.

I have to share the one taken of me by the hospital photographer. Boy was I ugly, thank goodness Eloise did not look like this:

In other exciting news, Eloise had her first bottle on Tuesday! Evan gave it to her. They both did great. Eloise looked a little confused at first but then got in a groove and drank it. I imagine she may have been thinking right taste, wrong container. Now her daddy can give her a bottle a day. It was unexpectedly tough on me, in fact I teared up because it broke my heart a little to see her drinking from a bottle and not from me. Way to rain on Evan's parade, right? I really do think it's a good thing for Evan to have another way to bond with her.

Glug, glug, glug