Paying Homage

Pete has had quite the semester! On top of having a seriously pregnant wife and then a new baby (and no longer pregnant but more hormonal wife) he took the MCAT, took 18 credits in school and started a new job this semester! And, of course, did it all with grace.

Now that the semester is over I just want to highlight a few of the amazing things Pete has accomplished since January:
-first of all he dealt with all my demands and breakdowns while I was 8-9 months pregnant. I was really unable to do much about the nursery except worry that we wouldn't have what we needed to welcome a baby. So he would go out shopping with me and help me make decisions on baby things and then carry the stuff to the car and then get home and set things up with his tool kit. What a man!
-even with his really busy schedule he took the time to go over my birth plan and read through some of the books I had picked out that I wanted him to read so we could be on the same page. He was nothing but supportive of me and my wishes.
-studying for and then taking the MCAT. He worked so hard to improve his practice test scores when they weren't what he believed he was capable of. He took it when I was 37 weeks pregnant and received the scores back when Afton was a few days old. I can't tell you how proud I am of him. Not just because he got a good score but because he was very humble and prayerful about the whole process. We feel like we really have been blessed and I know it is because of his attitude. I feel excited and optimistic about our opportunities of getting into medical school-although Pete still worries a lot. :)
-he has been the most willing dad. He is eager to help and perfectly willing to get up in the middle of the night with Afton or stay up late putting her to bed even though he has a full schedule the next day.
-he started a new job a couple weeks after Afton was born and has been busy with that but is taking it in stride and enjoying his hard job!
-he took 18 credits in school this semester and will most likely come out with a 4.0 (again). Crazy kid!
-he also got a new calling in our ward the week before Afton was born. He is serving in the teachers quorum and does a good job at making time for that.
-he worked on a research project during the semester and was able to present his research at a conference in early April.

I could go on and on about the good things he is doing. (And I have to once in a while because he won't bring it up in his own.) He really has accomplished so much this semester and still made time for Afton and I. We sure do love dad!!

One Two Buckle My Shoe

Afton turned two months old this last week and had her two month appointment with the doctor this morning. I was rather nervous about her shots but excited to find out her growth progress. I was guessing she was now somewhere between 9 and 10 lbs. she weighed in at exactly 10 lbs even and was 22 inches long. I thought that was great (and it is) but why do they give you those charts that list what percentile she is in? That just stresses me out. The doctor has never brought it up besides saying she looks good, but I can't help but ask if her growth is ok. And is it alright that she is only in the 16th percentile... Blah blah blah. I think she is growing so big! And I feel that she is healthy, so I really need to stop worrying!

Anyway, on to the sad part: I was holding her little hand watching the nurse get the needles ready while Afton was looking up at me being her happy little self when all of the sudden, bam! She gets poked! She looked at me like "how could you let this happen?" and I just had to keep reminding her that mommy still loves her and was so sorry for letting her get hurt like that. She screamed and cried like I have never heard and the nurse left the room. Part of me just wanted to sit in the room and hold her and comfort her until she was completely calm. But the other far too considerate part of me couldn't stop thinking that I should get out of the room so the next patient could be seen. I held her for a minute and then put her in her carseat. She calmed down a bit and fell asleep as soon as the car started moving. She did ok the rest of the day although she has been a bit more upset than usual (which still isn't a lot). She acted like she was in pain around 3:00. So I went to the pharmacy and got some infant Tylenol. And then tonight I gave her a warm bath and massaged her legs. She is a trooper!

At two months Afton:
-is smiling a lot. She smiles when we sing and talk to her. And she still smiles while looking off into the distance...I really would like to know what she is seeing!

-laughs in her sleep. It's just a couple little short laughs but it's so cute.
-coos in really high pitches

-is starting to grab things that are close to her--mostly my hair
-likes to be sung to and have her face stroked and hair played with by her dad. She doesn't like it as much when I do it.

-really lights up when she hears her dad's voice. But likes to follow mom with her head/eyes when dad is holding her.
-is very curious when she is wide awake and doesn't like to be put in positions where she can't look around

-still isn't a big fan of bathtime
-is wearing her bigger newborn outfits and smaller 3 mo clothing

(Wearing the outfit Daddy picked out for her on his trip to Colorado)

 

-is still figuring out her nighttime sleep pattern. She started sleeping 8 hours a few weeks back and was doing that pretty consistently. But has gone back to 6 hour stretches recently. (I think this is due to the cold she got a week or two ago and is still working at getting that nose all cleared out).

(Drifting off to sleep)

 

-is a serious angel! She sleeps a good amount and is just good-natured when she is awake. We enjoy her sweetness so much and I appreciate it now that I am back at work because it allows me to get work done and take her to the office. ~knock on wood!~

Afton's Special Day

On Sunday, April 14 we blessed Afton! We were able to hold the blessing at Pete's parents house and have our families come together for the blessing and dinner. We had so many loved ones there to make it such a special day! But we were also missing a lot of family as well. We wish everyone could have been there! It was the perfect day!

Afton wore the same blessing dress that I was blessed in. My mom made it for me and I am so grateful she kept it all these years so that my daughter could wear it! It is still beautiful and looked better on Afton than it did on me! ;)

Our little family.

All the men who stood in the circle to bless Afton. We are so grateful for so many worthy men who bless our lives!

(From L to R: Great Uncle Kyle Blacker, Great Grandpa Millar, Grandpa Millar, Dad, Grandpa Sundwall, Great Grandpa Sundwall, Great Uncle Rick Diehl, Great Uncle Mike Sundwall, Great Uncle John Stevens, Uncle Zach & Great Grandpa Stevens)

Afton was just too perfect all day. She was so sweet and happy (she is like that most of the time, honestly) I think she likes to be the center of attention.

Afton and Daddy.

Had to slip this one in there. Little Jennsen enjoying a cookie. So cute!

Four Generation photo with Afton's Great Grandma Millar and her Grandpa Millar.

Just enjoying being held by Daddy.

 

My mom and Michelle (Pete's mom) helped to make the dinner wonderful. It was such a great day to be able to celebrate little Afton surrounded by so many people who love her so much. We feel so blessed to have such a loving and supportive family and I believe Afton can already feel that love. She is one lucky little gal!

Candid

One morning last week I was scrolling through my pictures on my phone, as I often do, to re-look at pictures of Afton. The previous evening Pete had taken Afton right after I fed her so that I could take care of some things I needed to do. And I guess I left my phone on the chair he was sitting in. I am sure glad I did, because I found these wonderful gems he had taken....

 

 

When he got home that evening I mentioned how funny they were and that I had no idea he had taken them. Then he pulled out his phone and showed me a few he had taken on his phone as well....

 

I swear she looks posed or something! She is just to die for! We ADORE her!

 

I wanted to capture this sweet moment of Afton cuddling with Grandma Rita but the lighting was terrible so this is the best picture I got. So sweet.

Pete's family sure knows how to make Afton smile. They all stand around making funny faces and noises until she finally cracks a smile. Pete's dad was smart enough to pull his phone out during one of those moments and captured this!

6 Weeks and Counting

Afton turned six weeks old on Easter Sunday! I feel like since she was born we have heard and been saying, "oh that happens at six weeks," like her giving social smiles, laughing, her eyes developing more, etc. In my mind it has just been THE milestone since that is when I would go back to work as well. I also read a lot of books that said at six weeks you could begin sleep training. So again, it has just been a serious milestone in my mind. On Thursday before she turned six weeks she started smiling more often. She has this big open mouth smile that is new and it is so fun to see her turn her head and be more interested when we talk to her!

 

Here are a few pictures of Afton at five-six weeks of age:

Aunt Maggie came to play and stroked Afton's hair up. Afton loved it and fell right to sleep and this amazing hair-do was the result. We do it to her often now just because it is hilarious!

We are figuring out the Moby Wrap slowly! It is nice when I am trying to make dinner and Afton refuses to sleep :)

~The positions Afton falls asleep in always make me laugh. She looks like she is dancing in this one~

Pete gets to come home to have lunch with us most days before going to work. We enjoy that part of the day the most!

Afton on Easter Sunday. Sitting propped up all by herself!

I love her dainty little hands in this one.

 

Afton seems to big and so old to me! I constantly think about and miss those early newborn days. And yet I love the stage she is in now! I always tell her not to grow up anymore because I love how she is now. But I am realizing that each stage seems to get better and better! (which is good since I really can't stop time like I would like to)

Dear Afton,

Dear Afton,

You are a pure joy. Yesterday I couldn't help but notice the ability you have to bring a smile to every face that sees you. I am constantly getting comments from people anywhere I go. I know you won't remember it and I don't know if I will either, so I wanted to be sure and write it down. There are so many people who love and adore you. I love getting to watch you make others happy! You are a good-natured baby and are pleasant to be around. You smile freely when you are awake and have a sweet disposition when you sleep. The comments about your dark, thick hair are never ending and I can't blame anyone who comments because even I am surprised every time I look at you. I never get tired of hearing people say what a beautiful baby you are and every time I see you after being away from you, even if only for a few minutes, I am in awe of how precious you are! It's not just your looks but your expressions and mannerisms are just adorable. I can't believe how utterly obsessed your dad and I have become with you. You make our home a better place. You make me love motherhood. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect babe. I love you!

Love, Mom