Skills...

This girl has got them. 

I've always been amazed by the agility, flexibility, and strength that these little bodies develop in such a short amount of time.  If only we could retain this capability to get in shape so easily throughout the rest of our lives.

Since moving to California I haven't done much in the way of exercise and I've gained a couple of pounds. But really nothing even remotely close to the amount that would warrant having someone ask me if I am pregnant. 

Yet, one of my patients today did just that.  Hello!  I thought it was a well known rule that you never ask that question unless it is blatantly obvious and even then it's still not always safe. 

I tried to give her a way out by responding, "No, I think it's just the shirt I'm wearing."  

Any normal person would have taken the escape and ran with it, but instead... 
"No. You really do look like you could be pregnant." 

Alrighty then.

Mike got me an awesome treadmill from craigslist today and I'm going to be putting it to good use.

A few days late....

Because among many other things,

He will go as far as getting into the actual crib

So that he can lull her to sleep.

One A.MA.ZING dad.

I meant to post this on Sunday, but I was missing my laptop along with all my pictures.  Mike took them (the girls and my laptop) to visit family in northern California.  I had to work and missed the trip.  Not only did he not have a problem going by himself with 3 kids on a 6+ hour trip (which is more than I can say for myself) he was all about it.  See what I mean.

Happy Belated Fathers' Day

Sterile Technique

Scrubbing and gowning up for surgery. Yes. I paid big money so that I could learn how to do this in PA school.  And now Mike is doing the same--paying big money .... and learning the proper way to wash his hands and put on gloves and a gown in order to achieve "sterility".  So that one day as a new student on that first surgery rotation he can botch it.  Because it will happen.  He will "break" the sterile field.  And a gasp will be heard in the OR room from the nurses and scrub techs.  They live for these moments--when they can make the newbie feel like an idiot.  And he will have to step back and re-establish "sterility".  Ahhhh the joys of being a PA student. 

I wish I had gotten pictures of me all gowned and scrubbed up when I went through PA school. But alas, since I didn't, I'm reliving those days through Mike. 

More Time Outside

Last year around this time, we were headed back to Utah from a PA conference in San Diego.  We stopped in Chino for a few days to find the place where we would be living once Mike started school in the fall.  We only had 2 days and we settled on our current apartment.  It has served its purpose this past year, being close to Mike's school and my work.  But there have been enough frustrating things that, with our lease coming to an end this month, I didn't want to miss my window of opportunity in finding a more suitable abode. 

We found it last week.  A nice little house.  With a YARD.  A closed in--fenced all the way around--yard.  I've decided since living in an apartment that kids NEED a yard.  It gives me them another option when I'm at my wits' end they are restless.  And no parent feels guilty for telling their kids to "Go outside."  It's good for them.  Plus I'm looking forward to not having to haul groceries, strollers, kids, bags, and garbage up and/or down stairs.  Often simultaneously. 

Did I mention that I'm very much looking forward to the girls getting more time outside? 

Pictures taken a few weeks ago at an outdoor wedding.

Girls, girls, girls

We had my brother visit this week.  He and I have managed to go through many of life's milestones at the same time, i.e., graduating college, getting married, and having 3 kids--all girls--pretty close to each other.  With them in town it was girls galore.  There was a lot of squealing, giggling, and princess-dress-parading.

We spent a day at New Port Beach.  The weather was beautiful and the girls played until the grown-ups were worn out and called it a day.  So much fun!

Please come visit again!

Celebration

He has never cared for celebrating this day.

But will usually humor me--going along with what's planned.

I worked today and not much was done in the way of festivities.

I did however, let the girls in on the secret.

And with the help of the sitter, they came through

with homemade cards and a cake.

And although he would rather let this day pass by unannounced,

We can't help but celebrate the fact that he was born!

Happy Birthday Mr. Miller!