Anna's Blessing Day

Mr. Mom

Long before I decided to get into this crazy mess of being a full-time dad, I already had a significant amount of respect for mothers and the tireless workload placed before them. However, now that Heidi's back working full-time and I'm daddy all day during the week, I have begun to realize just how much work being a "mom" is!! Don't get me wrong, I love every moment I get with Anna and I consider this a very special time in that I won't ever be able to spend so much one-on-one time with any of my other children. I just didn't realize how much went into taking care of the munchkin on my own! Heidi has really been a good sport in going back to work (dang health insurance) and we know that this setup is only for a couple more months. In the meantime, I'm doing my best to juggle being a father, realtor, and Spanish interpreter all at the same time (not to mention trying to prepare everything for our move across the country!). To all you moms out there, thanks for what you do and know that you'll never hear me question how much work you put into each and every day.

This is a typical day in the Miner household (along with Anna eating and pooping). She found that if she fusses JUST enough when I put her down to sleep, she'll get a nice, comfy pillow known as dad's belly. This then effectively paralizes me so that the tasks I had in mind to complete get put off once again!

This is our version of a fig leaf! :) Anna loves bath time (as long as the in-between naked time isn't too long or she freezes). She also makes it clear if mommy or daddy makes the egregious error of not getting the bath water to her preferred temperature. She could stay in the water forever (little fish that she is), but all bets are off once bathtime is over. She will scream until purple in the face if we don't get her dried off and in warm clothes within about 2.5 seconds. Still, it's a lot of fun.

A few pics have been posted on our friends' blogs of this storied meeting of the three trouble-makers (Anna, Grace, Aubrey). We managed to take a bunch of pics, but not get a lot of good ones. This was our best of the bunch. It looks like they're locking arms and doing a jig! :) It's so much fun to have dear friends with little ones roughly the same age (don't worry, we still love our friends without kids just as much). We look forward to spending time together often and seeing them grow up as friends.

DREADING TODAY, BUT I DID IT!!!

Yes, today was a big day for the new Mommy! I left my precious daughter in very capable hands for 8 hours! I HAD to go back to work today. I have to say I think leaving Anna is one of the hardest things I have yet experienced as a new parent. I cried a lot last night, and many (8+ if you want to count) times this morning. Luckily once I got going on my day, the hours went by quickly. I love my job and my co-workers, so that made it a little easier. We'll see how next week goes when I have to work a full week!

Happy Easter

Happy Easter! What a great holiday full of Spring Celebrations but most importantly the focus on the amazing life and ressurection of our Savior. It is my turn to go to church today (we haven't taken Anna just yet) and I am excited to feel the spirit of this day and focus on Jesus Christ.

This past week has been awesome. Anna is growing more each day. She is so alert, loves to squeak and grunt, makes the cutest faces, and is starting to smile and mimic our faces! Last night I stuck my tongue out and she copied me! It was priceless. I wish I had it on camera, but she did it again at 3 AM so I am hoping she'll do it more often! We have done more this week including going on walks (she LOVES the Baby Bjorn),

She loves it because she loves sleeping on her tummy and right up against us. I think it is comforting to her. We have also enjoyed some shopping, going to a few restaurants, celebrating my niece's 5 year old birthday!

having an Easter egg hunt, having a baby shower with my child life co-workers where Anna gots lots of books and toys from the Gurus of the best stuff out there!
And catching a little cold. The bulb syringe has become a must and both mommy and baby HATE it! Hopefully it will be short lived. Until then I have a stuffy nosed little one who is an angel through it all, mostly sleeping it off, but I feel so bad! She is too cute!

GO BLUE!!

Well, it's official! After a lot of researching, praying, interviewing, praying, talking with hospital administrators, friends and family, and more praying, Heidi and I have decided that I will attend the University of Michigan starting this fall. I will be going to get a Master's degree in Health Services Administration, so that I can begin a career in hospital administration. It's a two year program, so I won't have to put the life I had been accustomed to (a.k.a. life without homework) on hold for too long. We're really excited and humbled about the opportunity to attend such a prestigious program. Michigan has been ranked as the #1 health administration program in the country for 15 straight years now, which should hopefully pave the way for some promising career opportunities in the future. We're also excited to be neighbors with our good friends, the Tophams, though of course we're equally as sad to leave friends and family behind. We don't have a clue where we'll be after I graduate, but we're hoping to be able to come back to Utah or at least be close by.

It appears we'll be leaving towards the end of July or beginning of August, so we have four months to get things ready (i.e. sell or rent our house, pack, etc.) and more importantly, play hard with the time we have left in Utah. While there are a lot of mixed feelings in moving across the country, going back into debt, etc., we have faith that this is what will be best for our family.

Of course, I can't post this blog without mentioning the fact that the Utes just happen to be playing football at Michigan at the end of August. It looks like I'll be forced to go to the game! I'm sure I'll make some enemies pretty quickly when I'm wearing the opposition's colors to the very first game I ever attend at Michigan!! If any of you want to come join me at the Big House in August, you have a place to stay in Ann Arbor (that is, of course, unless we're living in an 800 square foot apartment with barely enough room for a dresser. In that case, you're welcome to stay on our front lawn!!). :)

Streaky

I know the terms predictability and parenthood don't belong in the same sentence, but with a newborn I am realizing this more each day. As perfect as I think Anna is, I wish I could day the same for her sleeping habits. Last week she had 3 when she slept for 6 hours straight! Those were some FANTASTIC nights. Then in between those days she decided to wake up every 1 to 2 hours to eat! I swear she has Basinett radar. She will fall completely asleep (while eating) and an earthquake couldn't wake her, but when we slowly reach that basinett the eyes open! She is also a nightowl, much like her parents. I tried to get her to sleep last night at 9:30, but it wasn't until midnight that she agreed to sleep in the basinett - luckily we were up until then watching the blasted Utah game. Despite the late night, she had a good stretch sleeping for 5.5 hours, eating for 15 minutes sleeping another 2 hours, eating again for 20 minutes, then sleeping again for 1.5 hours. It is nice to wake up more rested! I cannot complain today... we'll see what tomorrow brings.

Life is good!

Well life has treated us well the last little bit. We are adjusting to life as parents, and love every moment!! As you saw from the previous post we have been busy! Anna has finally reached 7 lbs! Hooray! The scale was being odd so I know she is over 7 but I am not sure on the ounces. Though that seems tiny to most (because that is a typical newborn size) she is getting lots bigger to us! Today Anna had her first experience in the Baby Bjorn. She slept the whole time we walked the neighborhood.


Here are a few other things we have been able to do lately...

Our little sweatheart! She has changed so much lately and is getting more alert and fun each day. She is smiling a little more and will hopefully develop her social smile soon ( some days I think it is there!)

















Alan and Whitney came in town from Michigan. We were so happy to get together with all our friends and their babes. Here are the girls with the babies. (Whitney and Lincoln,Leslie and Aubrey, Mealnie and Grace, Lauren and Wesley, Heidi and Anna, Ann and a doll- she is a newlywed!)

The boys: Alan and Lincoln , Spencer and Aubrey, Taylor and Grace, Dave and Wes, Keith and doll, Dave and Anna.

Daddy Time! Anna seems to sleep the best on US! Though she has gotten better at sleeping in her bassinett, sometime we do enjoy our own nap along with her. I snapped this picture when Mia and I returned from a run.... yes I can finally exercise!

Anna met her new friend Audrie Dowdle! Anna looks so big, but they are almost the same size and Audrey is a month younger!

Anna loves to hold her head up! She is so strong for a premie. Dave caught this picture at the perfect time with her smile.

Anna got to meet her Cousin Grace this weekend. You would never believe that Grace is 11 days younger than Anna. It was fun to have them together!

We got to get away for a few days up to East Canyon. It was a wonderful break from "house arrest." There were SOOO many deer all over the place. Poor animals need food!

I had a good time decorating cupcakes for a neighbor's baby blessing.

Anna's little legs have never fit socks. We like to call these her "Ugg Boots"

Mia celebrated her 1st birthday! We cannot believe how fast the time has gone. She has been a great dog and gets better everyday. We are lucky she has calmed down a ton in the last little bit, getting used to less attention and being careful around Anna.







That is it for now. More to come.