What a Week!

This past week, I took my first long business trip away from Anika--5 days in lovely Warroad, Minnesota.  (The best part was the walleye.)  Alicia was good enough to send me a picture of the day each day I was gone, but it was amazing how big she (Anika, not Alicia) seemed by the time I got home.  Anika had quite the week.  She gained more than 6 ounces, started making eye contact for extended periods of time, cleaned her room for the first time, went to yoga, took her first road trip (to Rochester with Melissa and Eva to visit Amy, Josh, and Callan), went to her first birthday party (Parker Harrington's super hero party), changed her bowel activity in major ways (I'll spare you the gory details), and learned how to read thanks to multiple trips to Barnes & Noble with Alicia.  I'll let you guess which is most exciting to me.  Nothing earth shattering we know, but every change seems like a big one when your daughter is so tiny.  Here are some of our favorite pictures from the last couple of weeks.  Enjoy!

Anika hanging out in the kitchen while Mom helps Dad cook Valentines Day dinner

Yes, that's lobster tail, with risotto, made by Dad--with some help from Mom (lobster inspired by Andy B.)

Two beautiful girls

Anika expressing her distaste towards the bow about to be put in her hair

Anika's first bow (I admit, it could look worse)

Hanging out looking cute with Mom

Anika's animal buddies

Anika finally got up the energy to clean her room (now if we can just get her to sleep in it)

No sign that her belly is getting any smaller; it looks like there's a bowling ball inside

Beautiful dress that Mom wore when she was Anika's age--will look great this Easter

I already like Anika's fashion sense--minimalist

Who is this man who keeps taking pictures of me?

Lying close to Mom

Snuggling up with Dad--my new favorite way to pass an afternoon

Buddies

It is truly baby season in our lives.  Here's a picture of the moms at our friend Melissa's shower, about two months before Anika and Melissa's daughter, Evangeline, was born.  Julie, you're next!

Miss (Elijah), Julie, Amy (Callan), Becky (Ellery), Melissa (Evangeline), Alicia (Anika), Rachel (Josie)

In the first 6 weeks, Anika has proven to be quite the socialite, having accepted visitors and traveled all over the Twin Cities for play dates.  I think this is pretty amazing considering Anika sleeps 16 hours a day, still can't talk, and only bathes every 4 to 5 days.  I don't know what her friends see in her.     

Callan and Anika (not sure how I feel about Callan already laying around with his shirt off around Anika)

Elijah and Anika (is that her arm under his head!?)

Parker and Anika

Kaia, Alicia, and Anika

Josie and Anika

Evangeline and Anika

It's going to be such fun to watch this group of little ones grow up together.  What blessings!

Five Weeks!

Anika's now five weeks old.  She weighs over 8 lbs, 6 ozs.  Pretty soon I'll be walking her down the aisle.  Here are some recent pictures:

Greatness Comes in Pairs

Greatness comes in pairs:

Ruth and Gehrig

Jordan and Pippen

Batman and Robin

Melissa and Alicia

And now we have Evangeline and Anika.  Incredibly, Eva was born 3 weeks early just 2 days before Anika was born 4 weeks early.  We went to visit James, Melissa, and Eva the night before Alicia went into labor.  I guess once Eva arrived, Anika just couldn't wait to meet her.  Who knows where this life will lead them!  Turning double plays? Standing up in each other's weddings?  Presidential running mates? Stand-up comics? So thankful for these two little peanuts.

 

Eva and Anika's First Trip to the Mall

Can't Imagine Having Twins