A serene smile still lingered across his face. Five days ago, Rob Boehm learned how much joy a 7-pound package can bring.

Boehm and his wife, Allison, didn't think they would be celebrating Father's Day until next year. But after three weeks of bed rest and sporadic contractions, Allison Boehm was induced and Isaak Robert was born at 10:26 p.m. Tuesday at St. Alexius Medical Center.

"It was an unexpected treat," Rob Boehm said. Isaak wasn't due until June 24.

Up until the moment when Isaak was born, Rob Boehm was nervous, as any expecting parent is until they can see their child. Isaak immediately let his parents know he was OK.

"He had some lungs on him and he cried a lot," Rob Boehm said. Twelve hours later, as he lay cocooned in a blanket, nestled in his dad's arms, Isaak rested peacefully.

The first time he held his son, it was a little awkward, but he got used to it quick. He felt pure joy.

"I didn't know I could have felt that way about anything," he said.

Isaak's parents couldn't tell which of the two he most looks like, but Allison said he definitely has his father's mouth and long toes.

For more than a year, Allison and Rob Boehm had been trying to conceive, but to no avail. After listening to friends and family telling them not to worry, they bought a house in New Salem to ease their minds. A month or so later, the good news came.

To prepare to tell her husband she was expecting, Allison Boehm bought some booties, and when he got home from work that night, she played a little trick on him.

"Pick a hand," she told him, both of her hands behind her back. He picked the hand with the booties, but at first, didn't make the connection. He thought they were for his sister, who just had a baby.

Then Allison Boehm showed him what was in the other hand.

A positive pregnancy test.

"It hit me right then, 100 percent," he said.

Allison and Rob Boehm were high school sweethearts and have been married for almost three years. Both come from large families and knew they wanted to have children.

"Since I've known him, he has been good with kids," Allison Boehm said. "He's always out in the yard playing with all of the nieces and nephews."

Rob Boehm's father, Don Boehm, knows his son and daughter-in-law are going to be good parents because both come from close-knit families with strong family values.

"He's just a good wholesome person," Don Boehm said, "I hope he teaches his son honor and respect and belief in God."

Although Allison and Rob Boehm don't have big plans for Father's Day, they want to get Isaak home and show him his blue room decorated with safari animals.

"Rob has always been a patient person, especially with kids, and he loves to teach them new things. He is going to be a great father," said Terrie Swanston, Rob Boehm's mother. "It's always tough being first-time parents. There's a lot of things that come up that they don't know about, but I know they'll do great. And if they get into trouble, they can always holler for mom."

After the delivery, Rob and Allison Boehm consider their lives more complete, but the arrival of Isaak was only the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.

"At first I was nervous, not knowing what to expect," Rob Boehm said. "But what I ended up with was great."

(Reach reporter Kayla Cogdill at 250-8251 or kaylacogdill@bismarcktribune.net.)