Helen's First Week

2 - 9 November 2004

What a week. It was Helen's first week of life, and I took a bunch of photos. I was trying to not use the flash on her, for fear of damaging her eyes or making her unhappy. As a result, many of these are a bit blurry because either the camera or the subject was moving.

The first night home Rachel tries to comfort her by giving Helen a little massage on her cheekbones. Rachel was moving in the second to last one there, and I think that it turned out to be a nice photo, because that's probably how Rachel was feeling, while Helen is fine.
full full full full full full full full

So that first night at home saw me up with Helen at various times, so I decided to try and take some pictures of us, using my little tripod.
full full full full full full full full

Rachel took a few shots of Helen and I in bed that morning.
full full

And I got some as we were hanging out in front of my computer in the afternoon.
full full

The next night, Helen was really hamming it up, and I couldn't miss the opportunity to take a few shots, even if there wasn't much light.
full full full full full full

That next morning, she was a little conked out.
full full full full

Grandma didn't mind.
full

It was a little chilly that next night, so we made sure that she was wrapped up.
full full full full

Lots of sleeping that next day, I really like the shots of both Rachel and Helen independently snoozing.
full full full full

That next night, she slept a little, but gave me some good faces. I used the tripod again to take some self-portraits of father with daughter.
full full full full full full full full full full

She was reasonably alert Saturday morning, and I captured one of her wide-eyed looks.
full full full full

Rachel's brother, Gus, and his wife, Alexis, came to visit us for the weekend.
full full full full full

Here are some pictures of Helen just after nursing, very content.
full full full full

Uncle Gus, Aunt Alexis, Helen, and I took a little walk around the block, and when we got back, Helen was tuckered out.
full full full

I managed to get a few shots of peaceful sleep.
full full full

By this time, mom had recovered a little from what we think might have been a little stomach flu from late in the week.
full full

Like Rachel's mother, Gus and Alexis volunteered to stay with us Saturday night, and take care of Helen, so that Rachel and I could get some sleep in and recharge our batteries. They didn't mind and it allowed them to spend some quality time with their niece.
full full full full full full full full

Monday morning, the day of her one week birthday, she was again quite alert and I managed to get some great pictures.
full full full full full full full full

Unfortunately, after Rachel had kind of recovered from her stomach flu, she got some migraine symptoms that started on Sunday. She has started feeling a little better, but still hasn't gotten her appetite back. However, that doesn't stop her from spending some quality time with her daughter.
full full

-Ross Beyer

Back to Photo Page