The Grandparents (Evans)

On February 1, when you were only 3 weeks old, we said goodbye to Seattle and flew to Phoenix to visit your grandparents on your daddy's side before our big move to New York City. Our seats were in the very last row of the plane, and (lucky for me) you slept during most of the flight.

When we arrived at the Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, June and Gordon Evans were anxiously awaiting our arrival since you are their first granddaughter. We drove to their house in Sun City West, and they couldn't wait to hold you in their arms.

Your grandma fed you your first bottle of breastmilk -- you gulped it down without any problems. In order to increase my breastmilk production, I pumped a few ounces after every feeding during the first few weeks. You wanted to feed every 2-3 hours so it was very tiring! But after I fed you, I would pass you to your grandma or your grandpa who were happy to burp you, sing to you, play with you, and then put you down for a nap.

Your grandma would always say "Good girl!" to you and placed any black object in the house near you. During your first few weeks, you could only see in black and white. Your grandma also bought you a book called "Black on White" by Tana Hoban which has large black and white pictures -- you loved looking at the butterfly, maple leaf and elephant.

Your grandpa would always say "Oh, dear!" whenever you started to cry and would bounce you around and hum to you until you fell asleep in his arms. Instead of putting you down on the couch for a nap, he would just let you sleep in his lap for hours while he watched TV or read the newpapers.

Your grandparents took very good care of us -- June made healthy meals so that I could feed you on demand. I especially enjoyed freshly squeezed orange juice every morning and her salads for dinner. She also put all sorts of snacks in our room like trail mix and chocolates since I was always hungry after breastfeeding.

We had a very relaxing time in Arizona -- it was sunny and 65-70 degrees almost every day. In the morning after I took a shower and fed you, I would put you in the stroller and we would take a walk for 45 minutes around the neighborhood to get some fresh air. You enjoyed our morning walks since you always fell asleep in the stroller.

Your daddy called us everyday to check in and asked June to make us Welsh pancakes. Your grandpa had no objection to that request! One afternoon, your grandma made us yummy Welsh pancakes (warm crepes with lemon juice and powdered sugar) while Gordon and I were reading the papers on the patio. What a special treat!

One day, we also had a play date with Dennis, Madeleine and Madison Durkin in Scottsdale. Your grandparents dropped us off for a few hours and we just hung out watching the FBR golf tournament on TV. Afterwards, we had a nice dinner with your grandparents at a french bistro nearby called Le Zinc. You were a good girl and slept during the entire dinner.

After 9 days of R&R in Sun City West, it was time to fly to New York to see your daddy who missed your terribly. We flew to JFK on February 10th just in time for your one-month birthday. . . .