Haven's first week

We spent Haven's first four days of life at the hospital, which we did really enjoy, we might add. It was nice to have support there from nurses and doctors to help new and naive parents like us get accustomed to the ups and downs of parenting. The hospital has adopted a new way of care with the newborns now, and we had Haven in our room with us the entire time we were there so it really gave us the opportunity to experience the long nights before we went home, making the first night at home a little more handle-able.

We got home on Friday (8/10) afternoon and settled in, although getting a routine down still hasn't taken place. All of a sudden our house, once void of any sign of babies, became an explosion of Haven. Baby stuff was thrown everywhere due to our inexperience as parents. We were still in the stages of excitement over the whole thing and really didn't mind having to get up in the middle of the night.

Now, 1 week since Haven's birth, we are feeling some of the aches and pains of parenting. We are pretty sleep deprived, but that doesn't take away our excitement of having our little one around. She's extremely precious and adds a whole new aspect to our lives that we could never have known before. Neil had to go back to work today, to Sharli's dismay. It's so nice having him around since Haven really loves her daddy. She quiets down in his arms like it's the most natural thing in the world (which it is!).

Sharli's mom and step-sister arrived to help on the 12th and their help has been greatly appreciated, especially since Neil is back at work. Unfortunately, grandma Stacy got pink-eye today so we have to quarantine her to a spot in the house for at least 24-hours so Haven doesn't get it. It's pretty hard on her to be here for the one reason to spend time with her new grand-daughter and she can't even hold her.

Neil, Sharli, and Haven are planning on being back in North Dakota over Labor Day weekend to spend time with grandma and grandpa Kiner, grandma and grandpa Ziebarth, and aunts/uncle. We are little nervous for the travelling when Haven is so young, but have talked to other parents about traveling with a baby and feel a bit better about taking the trip.

We are expecting Grandma Kiner (now going by the title of "Nanna") next week. We feel so bad that Haven's birth fell over a very important time in harvest, so she hasn't been able to come right away. We know she really looks forward to holding her first grand-daughter so we are excited to have her here.

That's all for now. Hopefully we'll get a new update up in a week or so!