New puppy- some questions (please help me)

Pictures for additional cuteness.

I'm a new puppy dad, recently got myself a Cocker Spaniel puppy last Sunday (not my first rodeo, as my old family dog is one, so I'm well aware of what I'm getting myself into, though I didn't train her as I was too young so that's all new). She's about 11 weeks old and I'm currently working on crate training/separation anxiety and socialising her.

Firstly crate training; Crate training is going alright, I've currently got her eating, sleeping overnight (without breaking myself and snuggling her lol) and playing in it with safe toys/chews. She doesn't mind the crate, but it's not her favourite spot, her favourite spot being of course on someone, or at the very least something fluffy like a dog bed, but her crate does have blankets, so I'm a little puzzled with that. She'll stay in it willingly(ish), with the door open, but only when someone is literally centimetres from the door and there's nowhere better to go lay down. She doesn't rush out of it when the door is opened through, I should add. She's very chilled.

Which leads me onto separation anxiety training; It's been rough. She whines and cries for me even when I'm still in the room (though this is becoming more infrequent, she still has massive moments of wailing). Sometimes though her wails are to go outside since she's grasping that concept of potty training (sort of. She whines in the crate, and I find she needs to go when I take her out, but if she's out of the crate she MIGHT whine, 50/50 chance). I'm having a hard time figuring out which is which and its driving me crazy. I ignore all whines regardless until she's quiet.

So far as nights go, she was quiet on her first night and slept through it entirely (granted I slept beside her, and her crate door was open, though she never left it), second night was a mess- I misjudged how well she did and decided to prep her for a night alone, worked with her all day, and then finally tried. However she had an accident in her crate and got covered in it/wailed about that until I came in to finally check and found her. (My fault entirely). Slept nearby the night after that, though further away, to which she was quiet after some whining and slept through the whole night once more. Last night I tried again leaving her, was quiet after some whines and slept the whole night once more.

I guess my questions are as follows; - Am I going about this in the right way? I did tons of research beforehand but even then I'm messing up left right and centre. At least it feels like it. - How much time should she spend in her crate? Obviously nighttime, feeding times, times I can't supervise her (which isn't very often), naptimes and times where I'm actively training against separation anxiety. Is that too much time in the crate? It's not something I think I'll be using forever, but it's definitely staying for a while, at least until she's potty trained/out of teething/chewing on things she shouldn't. - Is the whining just anxiety related? It seems so random and oddly timed, like sleeping soundly through the night alone, but crying and wailing when I'm right there nearby, in view?

And also; - Am I spending too much time with her? I'm with her pretty much throughout her waking day. I do use my kitchen as a large safe playroom for when I need to go do something quickly and she can't follow (e.g. collect mail/toilet/chores) if I don't want to just use the crate, but I always come back and play/spend time with her afterwards, as long as she isn't whining (as to not reward that behaviour with attention). Should I be taking longer time away from her? Is she too young for that? Am I making the anxiety worse?

Context for that last question- I'm currently away from her for now, she's in her crate relaxing after eating/drinking, playing and a toilet break, though family members are nearby to her. This is how I've been doing it recently, to avoid her being solely attached to me. She spends time with my family too, both playing and in her crate with them nearby. But she is with me 99% of the time throughout the day.

Thank you so much to anyone who can answer even just one of these questions. I've done (and am actively doing) heaps of research, but nothing seemed to prepare me for the menace that was this lil girl.

Also her name is Seren! Means star in Welsh